Young Music Makers

Welcome to Young Music Makers! I hope that you and your children will fully enjoy this experience with music, movement and imagination. It is important at this age that children hear, sing, and play as much music as possible. This class offers your Pre-K or Kindergartner a chance to experience a little bit of everything: a new song repertoire; lots of movement activities; a rich listening repertoire of musical stories from the classics; drawing notes on the staff; and the chance to play real pieces on tonal bars--from "Chopsticks" to Handel's "Gavotte."

Class Goals

	To present music in a way that children can love and revel in its magic. There are many developmental benefits, including intellectual ones, for children who grow and mature with music. It behooves us to get them "hooked" by making their first experiences with music as joyful and creative as possible.
	To expose young students to a wonderful repertoire of childhood songs and to nurture their young singing voices.

	To spark the child's imagination, knowing that imagination is a distinguishing mark of a fine musician and an invaluable resource for anyone at any age. "Imagination is more important than knowledge." (Albert Einstein)
	To experience the joy of being able to play real music on a simple tonal instrument and of making music with others in ensembles. Music is about sharing--something easily forgotten once children begin studying privately and spending time alone with an instrument.
	To develop a steady internal beat and an ear for different meters.
	To hear and reproduce fundamental tonal and rhythmic patterns. Children will be learning to sing pitches on "do" "re" "mi" syllables--what we call the "moveable do" system.
	To introduce children to the Classics.

Class Contents

	*Music Making*: Learning new songs; experimenting with simple percussion instruments and resonator bars; ensemble playing; using instruments imaginatively to tell a story.
	*Dances and Movement Games*: Traveling and stationary games, which help to internalize the music physically.
	*Listening*: Enchanting stories from the Classical repertoire--"Sinbad the Sailor," "Cinderella," "The Four Seasons," "Carnival of the Animals," and others--are featured.
	*Poetry and Stories*: Using the inherent rhythms of language to bring themes and concepts to life and to spark the child's imagination.
	*Tonal and Rhythmic Patterns*: Reinforcing aurally the fundamental building blocks of music.
	*Written Music*: First steps to visual recognition and notation of simple rhythm and tonal patterns.

Harmony at Home

A singing house is a happy house! Sharing the magic of music brings a family together in a lasting way and can help make the everyday routine easier and more special.

There are now three recordings that you may purchase for this class (purchase is optional): A cassette tape and learning materials (poster, instrument page, notation flash cards and parent's book) can be purchased from Musikgarten at 1 (800) 216-6864 for $19.95 plus shipping. (Check with me to see which unit we will be using for the session.)

Also available are the recordings Miss Jane's Children--a collection of children's favorites and original songs arranged for voice, violin, and piano (6.95 + tax)--and Classical Stories-- orchestral versions of 3 fairy tales arranged and narrated for children (8.95 + tax). Both CD's may be purchased from me directly.

Class Times & Fees

See Class Schedule