Early Years

Catering for children from birth to 4 years of age, these fun classes for families are a wonderful way for your child to begin their musical journey.

The classes include songs, rhymes, movement activities (such as rocking, bouncing and dancing) and a range of age-appropriate props and percussion instruments.

Each term is carefully planned to ensure variety, progression and adequate repetition. In addition to this, the toddler classes have different themes each term such as the weather, teddy bears, food, jungle animals.

Families are encouraged to continue the fun activities with their children at home in order to provide the repetition needed at this stage of their child’s development. To facilitate this, we provide the lyrics for the songs and rhymes as well as audio tracks to sing and dance along to at home.

Mini Musician classes are designed to contribute to all areas of your child’s development:

• Communication and language: age-appropriate songs and rhymes
• Personal, social and emotional development: interacting with other children and adults and exploring emotions through music
• Physical development: a range of movement activities using props and instruments which help develop coordination, fine and gross motor skills and balance.
• Literacy: developing the ability to copy rhythmic and melodic patterns aurally which will then lead to reading music notation in Music Kindergarten.
• Mathematics: counting songs, rhymes and movement activities
• Understanding the world: each term has a few different themes with props and pictures helping create context and develop understanding
  expressive arts and design – responding to music and encouraging creativity

Mini Musician classes are capped at 16 families per class in order that your child can focus and receive the attention they deserve. With different songs and activities each term, there is always something new and fun!

Age:  Birth to 4 years (pre-school)

When and Where:

Mondays (morning session) – Wanstead Library

• 9:15am – 10:00am Babies (0 – 18 months)
• 10:10am – 10:55am Toddlers (18 months – 4 years)
• 11:00am – 11:45am Toddlers (18 months – 4 years)

Wednesdays – John Savage Centre, Hainault

• 2:00pm – 2:45pm Toddlers (18 months – 4 years)

These classes for parents and children provide an excellent musical foundation for future musical success. Children develop their musicianship and ensemble skills in a fun, nurturing environment where parents and carers are part of the learning process. Using teaching techniques from Kodaly and Dalcroze, pupils develop their singing voice, inner ear, motor skills and the understanding required to play a musical instrument. Children learn through singing, moving, listening and playing a variety of tuned and un-tuned percussion instruments. Weekly homework activities develop routines for future musical practice and take learning into the home environment.

Please be aware that parents/carers are expected to attend the class with their child and take an active part in supporting their child’s learning.

Music Makers: Academy builds on skills and knowledge from the “Foundation” class and although parents/carers are still involved in the lesson, children become more independent. In Music Makers classes children develop:

• Their ability to play music with awareness of others – ensemble and advanced listening skills
• A sense of beat through pulse/rhythmic activities
• A sense of pitch through singing and playing pitched percussion
• Self-confidence through “turn taking” activities and performing
• Their ability to listen and respond to recorded and live music
• Their ability to make musical choices/decisions
• A firm grounding in reading musical notation
• A positive attitude to music and music making

When and Where:

Wednesdays – John Savage Centre, Hainault

• 16:15 – 16:55 Music Makers: Foundation (Reception – Yr. 1)

Thursdays – Nightingale Primary, Ashbourne Ave, London E18

• 16:30 – 17:15 Music Makers: Foundation (Reception – Yr. 1)

Progression Routes: Music Makers: Academy

Music Makers: Academy

Music Makers: Academy builds on skills and knowledge from the “Foundation” class and although parents/carers are still involved in the lesson, children become more independent.

In Music Makers classes children develop:

• Their ability to play music with awareness of others – ensemble and advanced listening skills
• A sense of beat through pulse/rhythmic activities
• A sense of pitch through singing and playing pitched percussion
• Self-confidence through “turn taking” activities and performing
• Their ability to listen and respond to recorded and live music
• Their ability to make musical choices/decisions
• A firm grounding in reading musical notation
• A positive attitude to music and music making

When and Where:

Wednesdays – John Savage Centre, Hainault

• 17:00 – 17:45 Music Makers: Academy (Yr. 1 – Yr. 2)