Group Classes

This dynamic and engaging closed group class is designed specifically for Dave Barber’s current adult students to continue learning about playing the guitar in a collaborative setting. ​Over the year, you will look at various aspects of guitar playing, with a strong focus on performing as a group.

​Together, you will delve into essential topics such as timing, jamming etiquette, and performance etiquette to ensure seamless and enjoyable musical interactions. You'll build on the art of playing together, developing a keen sense of listening and complementing your fellow musicians.

​A key element of this course is expanding your song repertoire. The group will explore a wide range of genres, including folk, country, rock, and blues, providing you with a diverse musical palette. As the group navigates through these genres, dynamics will be emphasized, helping you understand the importance of volume and expression to create captivating performances.​

Join us for this next round of Adult Group Guitar. Connect with fellow guitar enthusiasts and discover the joy of playing together in a supportive and enriching environment.

Join us for an exciting 10-week drumming program starting April 5, where rhythm, teamwork, and cultural appreciation come together in a fun and inclusive environment!

Participants will embark on a rhythmic journey, exploring traditional West African rhythms on Djembe and Dunun stick drums. Each session begins with a warm-up and technique instruction, ensuring that even beginners feel comfortable. Through engaging rhythm games and poly-rhythms, students will strengthen their sense of timing, coordination, and teamwork while gaining insight into the cultural significance of drumming.

This program nurtures confidence and creativity, allowing even the shyest participants to shine. Drums are available free of charge, and students will have the opportunity to perform at the end of the term. Come drum with us and discover the power of rhythm!

Start Date: April 5, 2025
Location: TBA
Cost: $100 (plus registration fees)

Ages & Groups:
5-8 years: 10-11am
9-12 years: 11:15-12:15pm
Teens: 1-2pm
Adults: 2:15-3:15pm

Join us for a dynamic 90-minute Improvisation Workshop led by three university-educated musicians and educators with decades of experience: Daniel Cramer, Will Cramer and Gord Graber. Whether you’re new to improvisation or looking to expand your skills, this hands-on session will guide you through the fundamentals of musical ad-libbing and introduce advanced techniques used in rock, jazz, and country.

Designed to be fully experiential, this workshop encourages participants to bring their instruments and explore improvisation in a supportive, engaging environment. We welcome all musicians—from guitarists and horn players with some improv experience to beginner string players with classical training who may need a confidence boost.

Step outside your comfort zone and discover the joy of spontaneous music-making!

Location: The Legacy Den, 441 Main Street, Penticton

This ensemble is designed for our existing violin youth (Level 5-7 RCM) to develop their ensemble playing skills under the guidance of our senior violin instructor, Sandra Wilmot. Over four 45-minute sessions in March, April, and May, students will refine their technique, improve musical communication, and explore ensemble repertoire. The program concludes with a performance at our year-end recital in June, giving students a chance to share their progress. Class is limited to 6 students
Fee: $60
Dates and Time: 4 Thursdays, dates TBD,
Time: 7-7:45pm

In this FUN, informal, friendly, and safe singing environment, local musician Yanti leads participants through a vocal back-and-forth practice known as SongCatching, using the songs of the Ubuntu Choir Network as taught in the oral tradition. All voices and levels of experience are welcome. ​

Mondays, January to June (no group on statutory holidays or during spring break)
Time 5:30am-6:30pm
Drop-In Fee: $10 payable at the door
Location: Leir House, Community Art Room (ground floor)

Get comfortable and bring out your instruments (ukuleles, guitars, tambourines, etc.) for strumming, stomping, and shaking to some favourite songs. This is a no-audition drop-in group. You don’t need to read sheet music and no previous experience is required.

​Mondays, January to June (no group on statutory holidays or during winter or spring break)
Drop-In Fee: $10 payable at the door
Location: Leir House, Community Art Room (ground floor)

For Ages 4-5

Meet Mozart Mouse, Beethoven Bear, and other music friends, who will introduce your little one to the language of music.

​This one-hour, 30-week Tuesday class consists of exciting lessons with singing, listening, movement, rhythm activities, and the basics of piano playing. Mozart Mouse and Beethoven Bear and many other music friends join each class to help introduce all these music elements.​

The lessons centre around music adventures - learning about and exploring music. Students learn music note time values, Hi/Lo sounds, musical dynamics (quiet and loud sounds), and how to use the voice to sing. They experiment with rhythms using rhythm instruments, start to learn how to play the piano, and explore how to create and navigate their own musical world. This class is a social way to experience music and learn how music exists in society. The class works around children's learning styles and auditory, tactile, visual, and movement are all incorporated into each lesson.

Location: Studio 15, Leir House

Make this the year you step into the fun world of trad music, including Celtic, Old-Time and Bluegrass.

Fiddling is a popular social activity and in this group setting, PAMDA instructor Jeff Andrew will teach common fiddle tunes that you can play at jam sessions, fiddle camps, and other gatherings. You’ll also learn the ornamentation, rhythms, and bowing techniques that give each style its unique character.

The PAMDA Fiddle Group is open to players who know their way around the instrument in first position. Tunes will be taught by ear as well as from the page.

Please contact the instructor for more information before registering.

(No classes on statutory holidays or during winter or spring break.)

The PAMDA String Orchestra offers a welcoming environment for string musicians aged 16 and above, providing an excellent platform for players at Grade 4 level or higher who are comfortable with sight-reading.

Led by conductor Kelsey Zachary, you'll be part of a vibrant musical community, perfecting your ensemble skills and enriching your orchestral performance abilities.

Whether you're an aspiring musician or an experienced player looking to expand your horizons, our string orchestra offers an enriching journey of musical growth and camaraderie. .

Our rehearsals take place every Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Community Art Room (ground floor) of the Leir House Cultural Centre.

(No classes on statutory holidays or during winter or spring break.)

In this engaging and supportive class based on the syllabus of the Royal Conservatory of Music's program, your child will explore public speaking through poetry, monologues, and prose. Activities include guided recitation, creative exercises, and peer observation, helping students develop clear articulation, engaging delivery, and collaborative skills.

This semi-private class will help build your child's confidence, nurture their creativity, and help develop a lifelong appreciation for literature, performance, and self-expression.

There will be a special recital on Sunday, April 27.

Class is limited to 2 students each.

4 Tuesdays, April 1-22
3:30-4:15 for ages 6-8
4:15-5:00 for ages 9-11
Fee: $80

Expand your child's musical skills through movement, and further develop cognitive skills in fun and engaging ways.

The positive atmosphere of this one-hour weekly class helps foster lifelong connections with music, builds strong parent-child emotional bonds, and develops the foundation for basic cognitive skills including
attention, memory, perception, and cognitive flexibility. Through Smart Start’s neuroscience-based curriculum, you and your child will learn about the fundamentals of music by moving your bodies, singing, and playing. In every class session, you will learn multicultural songs and games with particular attention paid to beat, rhythm, and listening skills. You’ll also receive access to the parent portal which includes downloadable activities to try at home, curated articles and content on childhood development, and updates on your child’s growth throughout the course.

A care provider accompanies their child for all classes for this course.

$150 plus RCM app & reg fees

Develop your child's musical abilities through more independent activities and expand cognitive skills through creativity and self-awareness.

Set your child on the right path by engaging them in multicultural music, movement-based play, and neuroscience-based learning. This one-hour weekly class focuses on cognitive skills relevant to music, such as sustaining attention, remembering songs, and recognizing perceptual cues as well as developing gross motor function in toddlers by encouraging them to move their bodies in time to sounds and music. Children will also practice listening and singing, playing simple instruments like maracas and drums, and taking turns, leading to musical competence, confidence, a sense of belonging, and increased social skills.

You and your child will participate actively in the class, while you support the development of your child's musical creativity and build further skills for musical interaction together. You’ll also receive access to the parent portal which includes downloadable activities to try at home, curated articles and content on childhood development, and updates on your child’s growth throughout the course.

A care provider accompanies their child for all classes for this course.

$150 plus RCM app & reg fees

Singing, dancing, playing games - children adore this active, play-based learning environment.

This neuroscience-based class supports the growth of your child’s cognitive skills through activities such as recognizing musical patterns, focusing on the most important aspects of music, and understanding connections across artistic representations.

In this one-hour weekly class, your child will learn foundational musical skills such as tempo, meter, pitch, and volume, and play a wider variety of percussion instruments. They’ll also play with picture-based pre-notation and collaborate in musical activities with other children designed to foster basic musical knowledge and encourage individual and group creativity. You’ll also receive access to the parent portal which includes downloadable activities to try at home, curated articles and content on childhood development, and updates on your child’s growth throughout the course.

A care provider accompanies each child in Smart Start™ (3 Years) for the first few sessions only.

$150 plus RCM app & reg fees

Singing, dancing, playing games - children adore this active, play-based learning environment.

This neuroscience-based class supports the growth of your child’s cognitive skills through activities such as recognizing musical patterns, focusing on the most important aspects of music, and understanding connections across artistic representations.

In this one-hour weekly class, your child will learn foundational musical skills such as tempo, meter, pitch, and volume, and play a wider variety of percussion instruments. They’ll also play with picture-based pre-notation and collaborate in musical activities with other children designed to foster basic musical knowledge and encourage individual and group creativity. You’ll also receive access to the parent portal which includes downloadable activities to try at home, curated articles and content on childhood development, and updates on your child’s growth throughout the course.

A care provider accompanies each child in Smart Start™ (3 Years) for the first few sessions only.

$150 plus RCM app & reg fees

Registration is now open for our Songwriting Bootcamp for Adults, an immersive musical journey for songwriters of all levels. Over three days of workshops, exercises, and coaching, you’ll:

- Explore the components of a song and how to start writing one, including lyrics, melody, and themes.
- Unlock creativity with exercises to overcome writer’s block.
- Learn what makes a great or popular song, and how to write a catchy hook.
- Discover harmony theory and which chords support your melody.
- Analyze favorite songs to write in your desired style.
- Get an introduction to home demo recording.
- Gain insights into the Nashville writing scene and co-writing collaborations.
- Develop confidence in performing your original song.

You’ll leave with tools, inspiration, and a completed song. The bootcamp culminates in an invitation to perform in the Songwriters Circle during the Ignite the Arts Festival.

Guided by award-winning musicians Dave Barber and Kirby Barber, this camp is open to all levels. Bring an unfinished idea to work on and join us for a creative adventure!

Wednesday-Friday
March 26, 27 & 28, 2025
10am-4pm
Tuition: $260+reg fees (nonrefundable)

Registration is now open for our 4th Annual Youth Songwriting Spring Camp.

This course focuses on songwriting and performance, and is aimed at facilitating self-expression through music, song, and spoken word poetry, combining elements of musical theory, improvisation techniques, and lyric writing.
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Joining musician leaders Corwin Fox and Tereza Tomek this year is Naomi Shore.

This program is suitable for complete beginners, as well as students with prior musical experience.
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Students will then perform their new songs at the first concert of the Ignite the Arts Festival weekend at the Dream Cafe on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Corwin, Naomi, and Tereza have developed and taught this incredible program for more than a dozen years and it has been life-changing for many of the young people who have had the chance to take part in it.

​Monday to Friday
March 24 to 28
12 to 5pm
Ages: 10 to 17

$230+reg fees (nonrefundable)

This year's Youth Songwriting Spring Camp is generously supported by Deux Mille Foundation and the Province of British Columbia