Lately, I’ve been considering offering pre-piano music classes for children and their parents — someday, when I have a private studio in my home again (Right now, I teach piano privately through my university’s community music school.). My goal in providing these classes someday is to better prepare young children (think ages 0-5, especially) for private piano lessons. So, this semester, I enrolled in an Early Childhood Music class to learn about the various methodologies (such as Orff, Kodaly, Gordon, Feierabend, etc.) for teaching music to young children.
I’m excited to think about starting up these classes someday. Here’s some things I’m been thinking about…
Things to consider:
- Location/space – large, open room.
- Parents’ presence – required or not?
- Materials – songbooks, musical instruments, colored scarves, rugs, cd player, etc.
- Class size – six to ten, perhaps?
- Ages – 0-18 mo., 18 mo.-3 yrs, 3-5 yrs.
- Class duration – 30, 45, 50, or 55 minutes.
- Sessions – 7- or 14-week sessions.
- Goals – music literacy; musical experience; aural development; building the parents’ & children’s repertoire of music to share in the home; music as expression; building of pre-piano skills; etc.
Types of Activities:
- Songs with motions
- Listening & responding with movement (classical, folk, jazz, pop, etc.)
- Fingerplays
- Chants
- Musical games
- Other activities
I think these classes will be fun! And I’m hoping that introducing such classes will give my beginner piano students a head start once they begin private lessons. Has anyone offered similar classes in their piano studios before? I’d love to hear about it.
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/89186997@N00/ / CC BY 2.0
I am glad to hear you are considering early childhood classes. I have taught Musikgarten for over 15 years and I have loved every moment. I am a trained concert pianist and what makes program special is the teacher resources, the strong pedagogy and its connection to children. I hope you consider checking out their website. Also I welcome you to visit my website to see how I have turned this into a full time business that I teach in my independent studio along with individual piano lessons. I am the happiest music teacher!.
I just put up a post on my blog with some of my thoughts for you – I was going to type them here, but it was simply too long! :o)
.-= Rebecca´s last blog ..Early Childhood Music Classes: 18 Months – 3 Years =-.
Thanks Ellen & Rebecca! It’s so inspiring to see what other teachers are doing. =)
I have been teaching “Music for Little Mozarts” classes for 4-6 year olds in my home along with private lessons for the ‘older’ kids.
It’s an Alfred program, and even though I don’t like the Alfred methodology for the older kids (I can’t stand the idea of positions), the “Little Mozarts” is really fun and has all the movement, rhythm, music appreciation, while also teaching keyboard skills. I use 4 octave keyboards low down so they can sit in a little chair and have proper hand position, and only accept 4 children per class, since they can be a handful at this age and I don’t require parents to stay.
Let me tell you, we have SOOOOO much fun. I just keep hearing from their moms how much they love it.
I think you would enjoy doing something like this. Kids that age really get into it and want to please you. And it really does prepare them well for private lessons. I am actually considering starting a general music class for even younger children or those that don’t have a piano or keyboard at home, but want music classes.
The only problem that I am having is convincing the general public to put kids that young in a piano class. Most people have it in their mind that 4 is too young to learn piano, so they aren’t even looking for lessons. But once they find me, and see what it is like, they LOVE it.
By the way, I just found your blog and have really enjoyed reading it. I love all the resources you have on here. And I will be checking out Ellen’s and Rebecca’s ideas too. Thanks so much!