The program focuses on exploring the elements of music through various mediums. Each session runs for 45 minutes and consists of four important mediums - singing, movement, percussion, and improvisation. Stories will also be explored in a number of sessions as an engaging stimulus to support improvisation in both written and oral forms. For example, felt stories.
Throughout the lesson, songs will include both live and audio music to suit the interests of all children. The majority of singing will be live to encourage students to take more risks with their singing. It is often much easier to learn a song if it is taught without music. This can also lend itself to explore the use of percussion to complement the song, keep the beat, and learn about pitch and tone.
Currently, I have dancing ribbons, hoops, scarfs, a small collection of finger puppets, hand puppets, and felt stories, tamborines, clave/rhythm sticks, triangles, maracas, egg shakers, sleigh bells, soprano glockenspiels, small set of bongos, and a fantastic Djembe! I am hoping to build on my musical resources. My next goal is to buy a gathering drum which can be used for a collaborative drumming experience. Enough for 8 little ones to drum together!
After each weekly lesson, I will upload to this website some information to help you further explore music at home with your child. This may include song lyrics from the lesson, art ideas, latest research into music education and suggested resources and links. The aim of the program is to help you and your child explore music together. Music can often be something magical and many research studies have now found that music education in early childhood helps our brain create more neural pathways. The more pathways that are connected in the brain, the higher amount of brain activity!
