Group Music Classes for Babies

Parenting with Music (PWM)

** For parents/ caregivers with babies age birth to 36 months

This “Parenting with Music” (PWM) class will teach you the important impact of music on the development of your child’s brain from newborn age to 36 months, and how to maximize this in your daily life and activities together during this rapid growth period.  This class is offered as a single semester curriculum in the fall, winter or spring; however, parents often enrol multiple times over this 3 year age span as their babies learn and participate very differently throughout this stage of rapid development.

• You and your child will learn traditional nursery repertoire, finger and toe plays, bouncing rhymes, lullabies and songs.
• PWM incorporates many aspects of the Suzuki philosophy, preparing your child for future instrumental instruction at an early age.  (More details below)
• Our instructors are trained in a comprehensive teacher-training program approved by the SAA (Suzuki Association of the Americas) and the ISA (International Suzuki Association).
• Classes are held once per week for 45 minutes.
• This class is offered as a single semester curriculum in the fall, winter or spring, but we do encourage repeat enrollment as babies learn and participate very differently at each stage throughout these 36 months of rapid development.
• Registration is ongoing and accepted at any time throughout the year if space is available.

The Suzuki Philosophy

• Every child can learn
• Ability develops early
• Environment nurtures growth
• Parental involvement is critical
• Children learn from one another
• Success breeds success
• Encouragement is essential

“This class provides meaningful opportunities for children to take turns, to watch and to listen to other children, to experiment with a variety of instruments in a purposeful way, and to take joy in their own success and in the success of other children in the class. It provided structure and repetition which are both essential in a learning environment for any child but especially for a child like my son, who is often more tenacious and spirited than I can handle! We knew what to expect and my children were far more willing and able to “practice” at home during the rest of the week….something that I have not seen happen with other classes because of the lack of repetition. Also, I gained valuable parenting insights from Suzuki philosophy, which the teachers provided both implicitly and explicitly with each class.”       (Charissa Flaman, past parent participant)

Group Music Classes for Toddlers

Parenting with Music 3  (PWM3)

** For parents/ caregivers with 3 year old children

This “Parenting with Music 3” (PWM3) class will introduce 3 year olds to age-appropriate methods and concepts to peak their interest and development of music-making skills.  Three year-olds have their own special way of learning songs.  They listen, absorb, and through repetition, rhythm and rhyme, learn to anticipate what’s coming next.  If at the beginning your child doesn’t seem to participate, he or she is still absorbing and learning.  When ready, your child will join in.

Near the end of this course, there will be a “weaning” process where parents/caregivers will exit for the last portion of each class to help prepare the child for future non-parented music learning.

• Children enrolled in this class must, at minimum, turn age 3 by December 31st.
• Classes are held once per week for 45 minutes.
• This class has a double semester curriculum running through fall and winter (Sep to Mar)
• We also offer a shorter introductory PWM3 class in the spring (Apr to Jun).

In classes, three year-olds:

• become increasingly aware of differences between their speaking and singing voices
• learn to control pitch and volume
• learn to feel the difference between the heart beat and how words are phrased in a song
• explore language and vocabulary
• learn to pitch match and echo clap
• begin to understand concepts around opposites
• learn foundations of musical language  (i.e. high/low, largo/presto)
• experiment with simple percussion instruments and begin to make their own instrument choices
• learn many songs and rhymes

Group Music Classes for Preschoolers

Age 4 Year Olds

This “Music in Early Childhood 4” (MEC4) class will begin your child’s independent music education in a group setting with other 4 year olds without parents present.

Four year-olds tend to anxiously want to be part of the group.  They enjoy participating and are more aware of how songs are organized and often make up their own.  We encourage this.  It conveys their individuality as they express thoughts and feelings about the world around them.

• Children enrolled in this class must, at minimum, turn age 4 by December 31st.
• This class has a double semester curriculum running through fall and winter (Sep to Mar)
• We also offer a shorter introductory MEC4 class in the spring.

In classes, 4 year olds:

• prepare concepts for future identification of musical terms, symbols and reading
• learn to focus their listening
• begin to concentrate on rhythm and simple patterns
• begin to learn about the 5 line staff and how simple melodies, rhythms and notes look on the staff
• sing game songs and experience fun activities that encourage active participation and beautiful singing

This two-semester program runs from September to March and offers a specific curriculum for each year of age.   Our proven methods of age-appropriate learning provide a strong foundation for early childhood music development and nurture a life-long love of music.   The materials and methods of these classes are based upon principles of Zoltan Kodály, Carl Orff and the Solfège System, which develop the child’s own instrument, body and voice before formal instrumental instruction begins.

• Children are encouraged to actively discover concepts such as musical comparatives (loud/quiet, fast/slow, etc.), rhythm, beat and melodic contour through a variety of songs, games and movement.
• Repertoire and activities support musical literacy goals and success is measured through vocal skills development.
• Children attend once a week without parents

Group Music Classes for Kindergarten and Grade 1

Age 5 + 6 Year Olds

This “Music in Early Childhood 5/6”  (MEC5/6) class builds from the age 4 curriculum, introducing more advanced concepts and skills that prepare children ages 5 and 6 for future private instrumental lessons.

Five and six year olds are eager to learn and take an active part in the process.  They like to be considered individually yet continue to enjoy their group activities, solving puzzles and problems, and sharing results.  Game songs that incorporate both individual and group participation are a favorite in this class.

• Children enrolled in this class must, at minimum, turn age 5 by December 31st.
• This class has a double semester curriculum running through fall and winter (Sep to Mar)
• We also offer a shorter introductory MEC5/6 class in the spring

In classes, 5 and 6 year olds learn to:

• expand on melodic patterns
• expand on known intervals and rhythmic patterns from song material
• combine noteheads (melody) and stems (rhythm) to read and write music
• organize notation in measures to create time signatures and introduce conducting patterns
• hear what they see and sing what they hear through pitch matching exercises, inner hearing exercises and lots of singing
• understand the pentatonic scale (Do-Re-Mi-So-La-Do)
• explore the diatonic scale (Do-re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do)
• differentiate between “la” centred and “do” centred songs (minor and major)
• focus on absolute note names (i.e. ABCDEFG) and rhythmic terms (i.e. quarter, eighth notes, etc.)
• explore canons and rounds
• understand simple and compound meters: new rhythms and patterns are introduced
• further explore playing and learning of instruments (rhythm and Orff instruments)
• read full songs on a staff (notation, clefs, barlines, etc.)

This two-semester program runs from September to March and offers a specific curriculum for each year of age.   Our proven methods of age-appropriate learning provide a strong foundation for early childhood music development and nurture a life-long love of music.   The materials and methods of these classes are based upon principles of Zoltan Kodály, Carl Orff and the Solfège System, which develop the child’s own instrument, body and voice before formal instrumental instruction begins.

• Children are encouraged to actively discover concepts such as musical comparatives (loud/quiet, fast/slow, etc.), rhythm, beat and melodic contour through a variety of songs, games and movement.
• Repertoire and activities support musical literacy goals and success is measured through vocal skills development.
• Children attend once a week without parents

Pricing: Group Music Classes / PWM + MEC

Our Instructors

Nicole Wilton

Program Owner/Director

M.Ed, RMT, ARCT, B.A.

Nicole Wilton is a second generation Suzuki piano teacher in Saskatoon where she has taught for over 35 years. She maintains a private studio as well as being the Program Owner/Director of the Community Music Education Program, an early childhood music program and conservatory that she has managed for many years at the University of Saskatchewan. As of August, 2015, Nicole has taken this program off campus to run privately in the community which it serves as part of her own Wilton Academy Of Music.

Nicole holds a Master’s degree in Education, an ARCT in piano pedagogy and a Bachelor of Arts degree as well as various levels of Kodaly, Orff and Suzuki early childhood education designations. She is a frequent clinician, adjudicator and presenter at Suzuki workshops and institutes as well as early childhood conferences.  Nicole has achieved her Teacher Trainer designation with the Suzuki Association of Americas and is only 1 of 4 in all of Canada.   Nicole is a proud mom and grandmother.

Brette Kristoff

Early Childhood Instructor

M.A., B.A. Hons

Brette has been involved in the early childhood music program since infancy, and even while in the womb, as both her mother (Nicole Wilton) and grandmother are/were musicians and early childhood music educators. Growing up in a musical household, she was encouraged to explore her creative and musical sides, enjoying a well-rounded and exploratory education. As a child, Brette was introduced to piano, violin, guitar, and voice— her favourite being musical theatre. She has been involved in assisting and teaching early childhood music through the CMEP summer camps since she was 15 years old, also working as a nanny/au pair in both Saskatoon and abroad. She enjoys working and learning with children through music and play in the early childhood music programs.

Brette holds a Master degree in religion and politics and an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in religion and culture.

Skye Lennox

Early Childhood Instructor

B. Ed

Skye has been an early childhood music teacher with Wilton Academy for many years in our classes, daycares and preschools. She has a Bachelor of Education degree and has enjoyed sharing music through the Wilton program.
She is also a violinist and Irish fiddler. Music has always been an important part of her life. As an adult she became the first certified Irish fiddle instructor in western Canada.

In her spare time, Skye is working on her Masters of Political Studies. She loves spending time on her farm chasing her dogs and chickens around when she is not running to activities with kids!