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Ask Jane - Answers to Frequently Asked
Questions
(For additional questions you may have, please send me email.)
Family Music
 | My child is only 16 months old. Can she join Family Music? The
activities in Family Music are geared to children 18 months to 2 1/2 years old. It's fine
with me if you and your 16-month-old sign up for the class. Just be aware that there will
be certain things which your child may not be able to do. At this age, two months can make
a big difference!
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| We signed up for Family Music last fall. Can we take it again? Yes.
Each session uses a new repertoire of songs and dances. The continuity will be wonderful
for your child's growth and development and I think you'll find that music never loses its
magic for young children!.
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| I have a baby in addition to my toddler. May I bring the baby when we come? Yes.
But please either recruit a helper or be sure the baby is well fed before class. Fussy
infants are a major distraction to toddlers.
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| What is the value of buying the tape that goes with the class? Children
are generally more "tuned in" to what's going on in class if they are familiar
with the songs, dances and music games which we do each week. Purchasing the tape is
optional, however.
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| What should I expect of my child in class? The best advice I can give
parents is something I learned from another teacher: Check your expectations at the door
when you come into the classroom! The half hour of Family Music is meant to be a special
time for you and your little one to experience the magic of music together. As long as the
child is not being disruptive, s/he should feel free to participate (or not) at his/her
own comfort level.
 More information
about Family Music
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Singing House
| What is the value of having my 4-year-old take music ? Many
researchers specifically support the idea of instrumental instruction in the
preschool years. They believe that music instruction can boost a child's intellectual
development by taking advantage of the tremendous neural growth occurring at this age. In
my experience, young children are often simply not ready for instrumental lessons.
However, they thrive in a class setting which offers creative movement, experience with
simple instruments, and age-appropriate musical skills through games. The preschool years
are vital developmental years in all areas of a child's growth. If we wish to develop our
child's natural musical aptitude and take advantage of the intellectual benefits of music,
we can't afford to have a gap in their musical learning experience at this critical age.
More information
about Singing House
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Music Makers
| My child is turning 5 but not yet in kindergarten. May she sign up for the Music
Makers class? |
Each session of Music Makers is organized around a composition project. We learn the
basics of music notation and create our own musical composition by the end of the 6-8 week
period. Children who are in elementary school and already reading and writing have
no problem understanding how sound is translated into symbol and learning to draw notes on
the staff. The same activity can be very confusing and frustrating to a child who is still
in preschool. Some sessions of Music Makers are reserved for 1st-3rd graders because the
composition activity demands more experience with writing and direction-following. Pre K
and kindergartners will be much more comfortable in the newly-opened Young Music Makers
class. Please feel free to contact me through San Carlos Parks and Recreation (or email)
if you have questions about the appropriateness of either of these classes for your
child.
More information
about Music Makers
Instruments and Recordings for children
| What kind of instruments should I buy my three-year old? |
Children love simple percussion instruments. Rhythm sticks are a perennial favorite.
Children also love drums, triangles, tambourines, and small cymbals. You will find
reasonable quality instruments of this type at Morrison's School Supplies in San Carlos.
Clocktower Music on Cherry Street in San Carlos also has a few instruments as does
Draper's Music Center in Palo Alto. If you don't mind ordering from a catalog, West Music
has an amazing selection of instruments (1-800- 397-9378). Also Musikgarten carries some
very good quality instruments. You can call them at 1-800-216-6864 for their product and
price list.
If you don't have a piano at home, you may want to consider purchasing a Casio keyboard
for your children. Some children (pre-K on up) also enjoy small lap harps which cost
between $30 and $50. I've seen them at Clocktower Music and also at The Linden Tree
Bookstore in Los Altos. A tape recorder for your child makes a wonderful gift. For
keyboards and tape recorders try Fry's Electronics in Palo Alto.
| Where can I get cassette tapes and CD's for children? |
I have found a good selection of children's recordings at The Linden Tree in Los Altos.
Morrison's also carries some cassettes and CD's for children. Talbot's Toy Store has a
small selection of popular children's cassettes at each register. If you are looking for
classical music for children, then I would recommend calling Wireless Audio Collection
(1-800-733-3369) or Classics (1-800-949-9999) for a catalog. Shar products, which
primarily sells equipment for stringed instruments, also carries a few classics for
children (1-800-248-SHAR).
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