Knowledge Training for Lifelong Musicianship
Developed by teachers,
for teachers
The Chaffee Core Musicianship Curriculum (CCMC) is a multi-instrumental music curriculum for rapid mastery of fundamental musical knowledge—clefs, rhythm, key shapes for all instruments….
Its proven, time-tested, outcomes-based materials are designed for both new and veteran teachers, and helps students to become independent musicians.
Frustrated with constant remediation during rehearsals?
Do you want to shift from “What are you teaching?” to “What are students learning?”
Looking for a more efficient way to teach basic concepts?
Spend more time rehearsing and less time remediating!
Chaffee Core Musicianship will transform your teaching.
Videos
for topic introduction and review.
Written Materials
for worksheets and assessments.
Warm-up Activities
to expedite implementation.
Support
from the CCMP team.
Why CCMP?
A message from creator Clark Chaffee
Hello! I’m Clark Chaffee.
Like you, I seek creative, engaging ways to help my students to become confident, independent musicians. Over the course of my 35-year performance and teaching career, the most vexing problems I encountered were those that required constant remediation in class, like playing the incorrect rhythms, incorrect notes, and with questionable intonation.
I realized that these weren’t strictly technique issues - they were knowledge issues.
These challenges inspired me to develop the Chaffee Core Musicianship Project. CCMP provides knowledge-based solutions so that you, the educator, have the tools you need to impart quantifiable knowledge to your students, and the musicians we mentor have the foundation they need for lifelong musicianship. Please explore the site - our resources are free or low-cost, and my team and I would be happy to discuss how they can fit into your program.
CCMP Curriculum: What Learners Master
Rhythm Workshop
Through written materials and performance activities, Rhythm Workshop enables rapid mastery of the 24 most common rhythm patterns while establishing a common vocabulary and approach to problem solving.
Designed for all musicians - both instrumental and vocal - who work primarily from printed music, Rhythm Workshop will drastically reduce the amount of rehearsal time needed to fix rhythm reading errors.
Key Shapes & “Exploding FACEs”
Through performance activities and additional written materials, Key Shapes will significantly reduce the amount of time needed to fix wrong notes - whether they are out of the key or just out of tune.
The written materials in the “Exploding FACEs” lesson will rapidly instill students’ confidence in naming notes in all clefs.
Linking each key signature
to the shape it creates on the instrument
Using the “Tetrachord Cycle,” CCMP’s breakthrough curriculum links each key signature to the unique and easily identifiable shape it creates across all 4 strings and in every position.
Even though wind and percussion instruments do not have such easily identifiable shapes, CCMP’s activities are equally beneficial for all instruments.
Unique to CCMP is the use of the “Tetrachord Cycle” to dramatically reduce the time needed for players to become comfortable playing in any key and in any position.
Peer Coaching & Progress Milestones
At its heart, the CCMP curriculum creates leaders who lift up their sections and colleagues.
By providing objective, easily measurable benchmarks to track individual student progress, the CCMP method ensures rapid success for your learners - with simplified grading for you.
Master Clinician Clark Chaffee created CCMP to solve the problems faced by ensembles at every level.
It is now accessible to everyone!
Throughout his 35-year career, Clark Chaffee built award-winning high school ensembles by creating a music-learning curriculum that prioritizes knowledge development that is essential for skill development. During his tenure as Director of Strings at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, Chaffee refined the fundamentals of CCMP as part of the establishment of one of the premier public high school orchestra programs nationwide.
CCMP In Action
In a recent clinic, Clark Chaffee guides students through a Key Shapes exercise.
Here’s what teachers are saying about the Chaffee Core Musicianship Program
“Clark’s materials give a very clear and logical pathway to high-level musicianship. Although the program was initially designed for strings, the training (for example, key signatures, intervals, intonation, and singing training) adaptation for band is at a really high level. I would also recommend it for band instruments.”
-Evan, percussionist & band director
“Having that basic rhythmic foundation will help us once we start actually playing instruments. I love that the kids get to work with partners; they’ll learn each others’ names, so there’s that team-building aspect.”
-Allie, flutist & music teacher
“CCMP is directly applicable for middle school students and even some of my upper level elementary students! You can use the materials as-is with your students, and it was enjoyable for all of us, whether we are experienced string players or not.”
-Holly, violinist & educator
Questions?
Knowledge training for lifelong musicianship can be yours. Contact us today so that we can provide you the resources you need most.
Lori Rosolowsky, Program Liaison
lori@openskyartists.com
(267) 221-0627