Early Childhood Classes

Our preschool classes are designed to provide positive musical experiences that allow children to discover music through musical play, movement, listening, keyboard correlation, and hands on experiences with musical instruments. Our classes encourage good listening skills, happy participation, and opportunity for self-expression. Most of our classes are not parent participation programs, but parent visits are scheduled every 8 weeks to help parents understand what learning processes have taken place. Our preschool classes are featured in two programs during the year. We present these performances to the children as celebrations where they can share some songs and fun.

MUSIC PLAY (ages 12 months – 3 years with an adult)
Exploring music and learning through playful experiences which include singing, movement, listening activities, musical stories, and experiences with melody bells and rhythm instruments which introduce very young children to the wonderful world of sound. No materials are required. Class is designed for parents who want to include an older sibling in the same class. Class meets 60 minutes weekly.

MUSICAL TREATS (2 years - young 3’s)
Children in this class discover musical learning through singing, rhythmic movement, musical games, and listening activities which focus on children’s classical literature, folk music, and musical concepts. Instrumental experiences include keyboard, rhythm instruments, and melody bells. Parents are invited to participate at the first lesson or two until the child becomes comfortable with the class and the teacher. No materials are required. Class meets 60 minutes weekly.

MUSIC FOR YOUNG CHILDREN (2 years - young 3’s)
This class has the same curriculum as Musical Treats, but parent participation is possible.

MUSIC BOX (3 years - young 4’s)
Songs, games, dance-a-stories, crafts, rhythmic activities, movement, and creative ideas related to the child’s world are correlated with themes encouraging children to respond to musical concepts. Activities are presented in a planned sequence, with the emphasis on fun. Musical instruments are used for instruction and self-expression. The children learn to match patterns, hear shapes of music and melodic patterns, and identify instruments, special recordings, and sounds. Parents may stay for a short time at the beginning of the class until their child is comfortable. Class meets 90 minutes weekly and Saturday classes may meet for 60 minutes per week.

PATHWAYS (4-6 years)
Students learn through four development strands:

Hearing - each child learns to listen with care, developing the ability to concentrate, discriminate, identify, and enjoy the relationship of sounds.

Rhythm - each child responds to patterns in songs and games with large and small body movements.

Reading -each child learns to identify the symbols of music, approaching music reading as a natural extension of the listening process.

Playing - each child develops facility at the keyboard, coordinating and refining the areas of hearing, moving, and reading. Piano lessons are saved for a later time, after the child has had a broad introduction to reading and understanding music.

Materials: I Can Play keyboard series and Hello Music workbooks, Levels 1 and 2. Class meets 90 minutes weekly and Saturday classes may meet for 60 minutes per week.

THE YOUNG MUSICIAN
(5-6 years and prerequisite of at least one semester of Pathways)
Students in this class may choose to continue as general music majors (no practice required) or may choose to begin skill development on piano or violin. (Children in this age range may be able to handle some lessons on an instrument, but they still need a whole-child approach to learning – singing, moving, creating, and learning through a wide range of experiences.) If a student majors in piano or violin, an instrument at home is required, and the child and the parent need to make a commitment to practice outside of class.

Materials: The Young Musician keyboard book I, Hello Music 3, assignment books, and other individually selected materials. Class meets 90 minutes weekly.