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The Salvation Army is hosting a class for local adults looking to better their knowledge of music theory.

Patricia Clark, music director at the Rome Salvation Army, is putting this free class together so community members can achieve their ambitions of learning how to read music.

“No one who wants to learn music should be stopped because of price,â€� she said. “I notice out here that a lot of people want to do music, but itÐÔÊӽ紫ý not necessarily the private lesson cost, itÐÔÊӽ紫ý the intimidation of learning music. ... You learn music; then it demystifies music itself.â€�

By understanding how music works, people often feel more confident in deciding to learn an instrument, Clark said.

This class is designed to take adults through the basics of learning to read music, no experience necessary. The topics featured during this hands-on course include learning to find notes on the piano, reading sheet music and rhythms, learning scales and playing chord progressions.

“I’m not going to go fast,â€� Clark said. “I did not learn fast and, therefore, I don’t expect anybody else to learn fast. ItÐÔÊӽ紫ý going to come from questions they generate.â€�

There will be four sessions across the month of July, with each one taking place on a Monday evening. Classes will be from 6-7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 7, July 14, July 21, and July 28, in the Salvation ArmyÐÔÊӽ紫ý multi-purpose room, 310 E. Second Ave.

These classes build on each other, so it is recommended to attend all meetings, if possible, she said. Participants should be 16 or older, as it is designed to be an adult friendly learning environment. Students do not have to bring anything with them. Everyone is welcome, regardless of oneÐÔÊӽ紫ý musical ability, she said. ItÐÔÊӽ紫ý all about a desire to learn.

Anyone interested should email Clark at paclark22@icloud.com to register by Monday, July 7.

“My purpose is to get people who are hesitant because they don’t know music theory, and they think itÐÔÊӽ紫ý hard,â€� she said. “We will start with baby steps and work our way up to them understanding how music works. And then if they want, they could choose to either understand their instrument more or they could pick an instrument and start.â€�