What a Fab Week

After such a long summer break I was wondering how I was going to feel about starting all my music-making up again.

Funny enough when people ask me if I work I hesitate a little. I often just don't think of what I do as a job. "It's not a proper job!" Surely I can't call having so much fun a job.

My Dad always taught me that we can't expect to enjoy our work - we do it because we have to! Well I think I've finally proved him wrong and I am sure he would be overjoyed to know that.

I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the last two weeks. Seeing old friends making new ones and once again realising the immense joy music brings, and not just to the children. I am sure all the participants in the Virginia Reel in Village this week would agree that it was such excellent fun, even if I did mess up the steps.

Most of you should have your packs by now I will email all Village people a copy of the home book in the next few days.

Just have a look through your resources this week, listen to the CD and come prepared to just be yourself next week in class.

Kate

Family-Celebration-Time

What a fantastic way to spend my Saturday mornings! I am lucky enough to see first hand the delight on the childrens faces as they play, dance, sing, jiggle and bounce with their family members.

I'm thankful to the parents and the carers who bring their children to my class and enjoy this special time they have with them at the weekend.

We are coming upto our third week now and on Saturday we will be enjoying some 'Kitchen' activities and dancing to Little Sacka Sugar like wooden spoons stirring the batter and plopping like eggs into the bowl... Now all we have to do as grown ups is watch the children's minds fizz with imagination and see what kind of 'mixture' we will all end up in in class!

I can't wait!

VicXX

Why Foundational Music Classes?

As a piano teacher I get a lot of enquiries from parents of children aged between 4 and 7. Most people are interested to hear that I do not give individual lessons to children under 7. Surely younger is better? Music research certainly suggests that it is key to begin music tuition before the age of 7. So what are my thoughts on all of this?

Over the years I have noticed two things. Children who come before the age of about 7 simply are not ready for one on one tuition. If anything I have seen more children put off by the formality of individual lessons. Their curiosity about music is flourishing but they are rarely have the maturity needed for regular practise and study.

On the flip side of this however I have noticed that children who do not take up music lessons until the age of 7 have often missed out on crucial foundational music skills. Tuneful singing is crucial to becoming a good musician and our singing skills need to be honed in the Early Years. Our concepts of rhythm and beat also need to be developed through dance and movement in our formative years.

At Musikate we believe that good foundations make good musicians. Children who have a rich early development in crucial skills such as singing and beat find studying an instrument so much easier.

Our Foundational classes are suitable for children between 4.5 and 7 years. Currently our classes are all full but we have an ongoing waiting list and as soon as we have enough children we start a new class.

If you would like your child to take one of our foundational classes please contact us as soon as possible so that they can be included in the next course.

Check out the Young Child pages on our website for more information.