The Lab School in the School of Creative Arts together with Continuing Education will open its fall program in music instruction on Saturday, Sept. 23.

The program is designed for students ages 4 to 17 and offers group instruction for beginner and intermediate levels in string instruments: violin, cello, viola, or string bass, and — new this year — flute.

Students meet every other Saturday at either 2 or 3 p.m., depending upon skill level, in the School of Creative Arts’ Armouries building. They participate in 60-minute group lessons to develop technical skills, ensemble and ear training, concert etiquette, and master class performance experiences. The classes encourage social interactions with peers grouped by age and skill level.

The Lab School’s instructors and key collaborators are composed of University of Windsor faculty. At the heart of the Lab School’s offerings is its commitment to experiential learning, which fosters social interactions and musical development, with a research component that supports new ideas in music pedagogy as well as culture vibrancy and community development.

The school is also a centre and laboratory for research. Supported by funding from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council, the work of the lab focuses on how students learn and explores the implications of music study on communities. It is a collaborative endeavour that engages faculty, undergraduate and graduate students in the pursuit of this critical work.

The research assesses how string education may fulfill social benefits, well-being, cultural identification, integration, and belonging within the Canadian context. In the process, researchers have established innovative pedagogies and skills in string and flute performance while building towards a continued understanding of how music can play a role in politics, society, and culture.

For more details and to register, visit the Continuing Education registration page. UWindsor alumni, staff, students, and group registrations are eligible for a discount. Direct inquiries to continue@uwindsor.ca.