Children's Performing Arts Programs in Los Angeles, California

The Colburn School:
The Colburn School is a non-profit independent institution located in downtown Los Angeles across from the Walt Disney Concert Hall, consisting of two divisions: a non-degree-granting School of Performing Arts (1400 students and growing) and a degree-granting division - The Conservatory of Music (maximum 110 students). The Colburn School is a community-based school that provides music, dance and drama training from introductory to advanced levels to students from ages preschool through adult. The School of Performing Arts has existed for over 50 years; the Conservatory is in its third year.

Training Programs:
Training programs in Music, Dance, Drama, and Early Childhood for beginners through to advanced levels available. Programs available to students from preschool age through to adult. Private lessons are also available.

- Music:
The Music Department in the School of Performing Arts has a wide variety of courses and instruction available. Individual instruction from beginning through advanced levels is offered on orchestral instruments, piano, saxophone, guitar, recorder, and voice. Chamber music, large ensembles and jazz also are offered.

- Dance:
Dance classes include Boys Movin', Children's Ballet, Children's Modern, Creative Dance, Mexican Folkloric, Tap dance.

- Drama:
Drama contributes in many different ways to a students learning and to their personal and social development. The program begins with improvisation, body movement and theater games, and progresses to monologue, scene work, script analysis, and character development.

- Early Childhood Curriculum:
The Early Childhood curriculum introduces young children to music and the performing arts. The program is designed to explore music, theory, voice, dance, and drama. In most classes, parents are invited to participate at the level of involvement determined by the teacher; parental involvement is encouraged in classes for very young children.

By moving through the sequence of Early Childhood classes, the instructor and parent learn what the child’s special interests and abilities are. With this knowledge both can work together to choose the most appropriate course of study for the child. Please note that, following the completion of the Early Childhood program, openings for study in other departments at The Colburn School may be somewhat limited.

Enrollment in Early Childhood classes is according to the age of the child. Although classes are designed to follow the advancement of the child’s age, classes themselves may be repeated if faculty determine it would be beneficial to the child. Advancement to the next level is made when the department is confident that the child is ready. This determination will be based on teacher observation of the student’s consistent skill competency.