UNM is following federal and state guidelines regarding COVID-19. Participants assume the health risks associated with attending classes during the pandemic. Masks are required indoors regardless of vaccination status (except for children under 2). Please maintain a 6’ distance between members of other families and do not gather in the lobby of the CFA. Class sizes are limited and offered on a first come first served basis. Please stay home if you or a member of your household is ill. All required forms must be submitted prior to attending class.
Schedule of classes, modalities, and protocols subject to change at any time in compliance with updated guidelines, protocols, and health orders.
A Community Music School
Opening Doors to a Lifetime of Music!
To be added to our email list to receive updates about classes and registration or for more information, please contact musprep@unm.edu.
Summer 2022
Registration Opens on April 1!
Saturday Music Classes
8 Saturdays
June 11 – August 6 (no class July 2)
Opera Storytellers Camp
Santa Fe : June 6-10, 9:00am – 3:00pm
Albuquerque: June 13-17, 9:00am – 3:00pm
For information on string lessons and classes please visit the UNM String Lab School website:
Early Childhood
- Play is the work of children! Children play together in a community with each other and with their grown-ups and teachers to explore and experience music through singing, rhythm, and movement activities.
- Early childhood music classes are inclusive and open to all! We welcome and celebrate all variations of families, learning modalities, and developmental abilities. Playful music-making in the community with other children of all abilities and developmental stages creates a safe and fun space for children and adults to explore and develop their musical selves.
- All our early childhood classes are adult-child classes.
- All classes begin on the hour. PLEASE BE ON TIME TO CLASS!
Family Music, ages birth-5, 9 am
An Adult-Child Class
Saturdays 9:00-9:45 a.m.
Judy Castro, Teacher
This class is designed for families with more than one child in this age group, though families with single children are welcome!
Each child in the family must be registered.
Family Music, ages birth-5, 10 am
An Adult-Child Class
Saturdays, 10:00-10:45 a.m.
This class is designed for families with more than one child in this age group, though families with single children are welcome!
Each child must be registered.
Music, Rhythm, and Movement, ages 6-8, 11 am
Saturdays, 11:00-11:45 a.m.
Terri Reck, Teacher
This class is for children ages 6-8 to explore and experience music in a playful and natural way through music movement games.
Ukulele
- All classes begin on the hour.
- PLEASE BE ON TIME TO CLASS!
Ukulele Fam Jam, ages 6+, 11 am
Saturdays, 11:00-12:00 pm (one-hour)
Judy Castro & Sean Umstead, teachers
This class is for children and their grown-ups at any experience level. No prior musical experience required.
Drum Fun
- All classes begin on the hour.
- PLEASE BE ON TIME TO CLASS!
Drum Fun, 6+, 10 am
Saturdays, 10:00-10:45 am
Sean Umstead, teacher
This class is for students 6 years and older. One adult is welcome (but not required) to participate in the class and learn alongside their student. One adult participant is included with registration – If more than one adult wishes to attend, additional registration is required. Students will develop musicianship and explore diverse musical genres while improvising, moving, playing games, reading music notation, and performing on various drums and percussion instruments.
Piano
- All classes begin on the hour. PLEASE BE ON TIME TO CLASS!
- Piano students are expected to regularly practice at home and should have access to a piano or keyboard during the week.
- Piano students should keep their fingernails short.
Beginning Piano for Brand New Students, ages 6-8, 9 am
Saturday 9:00-9:45 a.m.
Natalia Tikhovidova, Teacher
This class is for brand-new students with little to no experience who would like to join mid-year.
Beginning Piano 1, Continuing, 10 am
Saturday 10:00-10:45 a.m.
Natalia Tikhovidova, Teacher
This class is for students who took one semester of beginning piano in Spring 2022.
Beginning Piano 2, Continuing, 11 am
Saturday 11:00-11:45 a.m.
Natalia Tikhovidova, Teacher
This class is for students who have taken two semesters of beginning piano (Fall 2021 and Spring 2022).
Intermediate Piano, Continuing, 12 pm
Saturday 12:00-12:45 pm
Natalia Tikhovidova, Teacher
This class is for students who were in the 11 am Intermediate Piano class in Spring 2022.
Guitar
- All classes begin on the hour. PLEASE BE ON TIME TO CLASS!
- Guitar students are expected to regularly practice at home.
- Guitar classes will focus on classical guitar technique.
- One parent/guardian should attend class with their student in order to understand teacher expectations, what students should be practicing, and help guide their student. Students are expected to practice at home during the week.
- Required materials: a classical guitar with NYLON strings, a portable music stand, and a footstool. Required books are listed below with each class. Books and guitars may be purchased locally at Baum’s Music, 2908 Eubank Blvd. NE, (505) 292-0707, http://baumsmusic.com or Musicality, 6201 Pan American W Fwy NE, Suite C, (505) 889-2735, https://musicalitynm.com
- Plan to have required materials and books ready at the first class.
Beginning Guitar for Brand New Students, ages 8+, 9am
Saturdays, 9:00-9:45 am
Brian Moore, Teacher
This class is for beginning guitar students 8 years and older with little to no experience.
Required Book: FJH Young Beginner Guitar Lesson Book 1
Beginning/Intermediate Guitar, Continuing 10 am
Saturdays, 10:00-10:45 a.m.
Brian Moore, Teacher
This class is for students continuing from Beginning or Intermediate Guitar in Spring 2022. New students may be admitted with approval of the instructor.
Required Books: FJH Young Beginner Guitar Lesson Book 1 and Performance Book 1
Advanced Guitar, Continuing11 am
Saturdays, 11:00-11:45 a.m.
Brian Moore Teacher
This class is for students in the Advanced class in Spring 2022. New students may be admitted with approval of instructor.
Required Books: FJH Young Beginner Guitar Lesson Book 1 and Performance Book 1
Opera Storytellers Camp
Opera Storytellers Camp, SANTA FE
REGISTRATION CLOSED – Albuquerque still available
Presented by the UNM Music Prep School and the Santa Fe Opera.
Opera Storytellers is for children entering 3rd through 6th grade.
Write, compose, sing, act, dance, perform, play! Opera Storytellers create an original opera, activating their voices, bodies, and imaginations, expanding their individual potential through creative exploration and discovery.
June 6 – June 10
9:00am – 3:00pm
Location: The Santa Fe Opera
Opera Storytellers Camp, ALBUQUERQUE
Presented by the UNM Music Prep School and the Santa Fe Opera.
Opera Storytellers is for children entering 3rd through 6th grade.
Write, compose, sing, act, dance, perform, play! Opera Storytellers create an original opera, activating their voices, bodies, and imaginations, expanding their individual potential through creative exploration and discovery.
June 13 – June 17
9:00am – 3:00pm
Location: The University of New Mexico
Required Forms
Tuition Waiver Application
Donate to the Music Prep School
Donate NowMeet the teachers
Each one of our teachers is connected to the UNM Department of Music as a graduate, faculty, or both! Holds bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees in music education or music performance. They also teach in the Albuquerque area public or private schools and/or in their private music studios. They are passionate about and dedicated to “opening doors to a lifetime of music” for their students!
Family Music, Ukulele Judy Castro
Music Rhythm, and Movement - Terri Reck
Guitar - Brian Moore
Piano - Natalia Tikhovidova
Music Prep School Program Coordinator, Ukulele, Percussion - Sean Umstead
Music Prep School Director, Julia Church Hoffman
Tuition Assistance
Tuition assistance is based on financial need and determined by using the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch formula. Families who qualify for tuition assistance may use the waiver for one child in one class. Waivers are usually for 50 percent of the tuition.
We are grateful you are part of our musical community!
- Sanitizing all common use instruments and materials each day
- Hand sanitizer available in classrooms
- Disinfectant wipes available in MPS office
We encourage you to wash your hands often and thoroughly – sing a song or two you learned in music class while you wash!
If you are sick, stay home and recover.
For more information, please visit: www.unm.edu/coronavirus/
Location and Parking
We are located on the University of New Mexico Main Campus, in the Center for the Arts, 203 Cornell Dr. NE. Parking is available in the Cornell Parking Structure, on Redondo Dr., near Stanford/Central Ave. Parking permits are provided for our Saturday classes. Contact UNM’s Parking and Transportation services for more information about parking on campus: http://pats.unm.edu.
**The UNM Music Prep School has a no refund policy. However, if your class is canceled due to low enrollment, you may transfer enrollment to another available class or be refunded.
**UNM Music Prep School Cancellation Policy Due to Weather & Other Emergencies
If we feel it is unsafe for families and teachers to travel due to weather conditions or if UNM cancels classes or closes campus for emergency reasons, we will cancel our classes. There will not be make up classes or refunds if we have to cancel.
If we must cancel, we will put a message on our voice mail (505.277.8816) and will ask KOB and KOAT to add us to the cancelation list that is published on television stations, websitesand apps.
If you have any questions please contact us!
Julia Church Hoffman
Director
Sean D. Umstead
Program Coordinator
Office: Room 1412 in the UNM Center for the Arts
musprep@unm.edu
or (505) 277-8816