Today is March 19th, 2024 - Fall Registration is Open - New Students are Welcome

Online Registration

Gasse

School of Music

(708) 488-8117

7641 Polk Street
Forest Park, IL 60130
info@gasseschoolofmusic.org

Piano

The GSM is proud to offer a piano program of international standards. Our teachers are highly trained and have large experience in performance as well as teaching. We focus our teaching on the student’s needs and interest, and are versatile enough to accommodate ages 4 to 94.

  • Early Childhood – We recommend starting instrumental lessons at age 4, but some children highly incentivized at home and with unusual maturity for their age may be ready at 3. The GSM uses the Faber’s Piano Adventures series for students this age unless the parents request the use of the Suzuki Method or any other specific system, which we also can use. Music reading is extremely important for a pianist, so we introduce the concepts of music reading from the beginning. We also prefer the students to use the supplemental books (Theory, Technique and Artistry, and Performance books) of the method. However, if a new student who previously has worked on a different method comes we continue with the method the student is used to.
  • Grades 4 to 12 students – For older students we offer the Accelerated Piano adventures for older beginners. We also use additional methods for Intermediate level such as Beyer Piano Method, Hanon Piano Exercises, Scale Books, or Music for Millions.
  • Adults – The GSM is proud to constantly have adults who come for lessons. Some of them took lessons early in their lives, other want to start from scratch. Many of them end up joining amateurs’ orchestras or small ensembles in churches or synagogues.

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Chamber music

We encourage students to join one of our chamber music groups as soon as they can keep playing their own part while listening to others and taking decisions about what they hear. Chamber music is definitively one of the most comprehensive music experiences and brings the opportunity to learn areas of music that neither private lessons nor orchestra can provide. It develops teamwork, leadership and musicianship while fostering the need for an improved personal technique.

Sight-reading

The ability to play as you read (sight-reading) is not only essential for professional musicians but also one of the basic needs to enjoy paying music as an amateur. The GSM teaches sight-reading to all our students from intermediate level up.

Special needs

The GSM is proud to accommodate students with special needs. Every year we have several students with some type of learning disabilities (ADD, Ausberger, moderate levels of down syndrome, and autismeven moderate levels of audition). We strongly believe that music helps those students to overcome their difficulties and bring the possibility to learn how to play an instrument.

Outreach programs

The GSM brings high level of music teaching to local schools, park districts and community centers. General music classes and instrumental lessons and groups are taught through our Outreach programs.

Performance opportunities

The GSM’s students are frequently requested to perform in public events for libraries, park districts, chamber of commences, or even weddings and receptions. We strongly encourage our students to play in real events unknown audiences; it is not only a very rewarding price for all their hard work practicing, but also an excellent learning opportunity.