Music Classes for Children age 4 to 6 (without Parental attendance):

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 age 4, 5, and 6 attend once a week without parents

The following is a description of what your child will learn from year to year in our program:

Music for 4 Year Olds

** For preschool age children

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, four 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

Music for 5 + 6 Year Olds

** For children in Kindergarten and Grade 1

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, five and six year olds learn:

• expanding on melodic patterns
• expanding on known intervals and rhythmic patterns from song material
• combining noteheads (melody) and stems (rhythm) to read and write music
• organizing notation in measures to create time signatures and introduce conducting patterns
• pitch matching exercises, inner hearing exercises and lots of singing; they hear what they see and sing what they hear
• pentatonic scale (Do-Re-Mi-So-La-Do)
• introduction of the diatonic scale (Do-re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do)
• “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.)
• exposure to canons and rounds
• simple and compound meters: new rhythms and patterns are introduced
• continued playing and learning of instruments (rhythm and Orff instruments)
• reading full songs on a staff (notation, clefs, barlines, etc.)

To learn more about the principles of Zoltan Kodály, Carl Orff and the Solfège System, please see the PDF  “Methods and Terms used in our Programs”  in the Resources section of our website.