Children's Saturday Morning Music Classes for 2008/2009

Pre-school Music Class
These classes engage children’s natural enthusiasm for exploring and playing with sound. The main aim is to create a fun atmosphere and positive association with participating in music games and exploring simple musical instruments. Using rhymes, songs and action games, the building blocks of music - rhythm, pulse and singing - will be developed throughout the year. It is also widely recognised that participating in musical activity helps with children’s all round development including physical co-ordination, language skills, concentration, memory, social interaction and listening.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to join in the sessions for the first few weeks until their child feels settled in.

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Primary 1 Music Class
These classes engage children’s natural enthusiasm for exploring and playing with sound. The classes will include participating in music games and developing motor skills with simple musical instruments. The building blocks of music - rhythm, pulse and singing - will be further developed during the year. There will also be plenty of opportunities for creative music making using simple musical structures and stories.

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Primary 2 Music Class
In these classes we will continue to develop basic musical skills in pitch, rhythm and dynamics. Using musical games, songs from all over the world and taking inspiration from many styles of music, children will have direct involvement in making and creating music. Using voice and an array of percussion is part of every session, working individually, in pairs or as part of the group. Children will continue to develop listening skills and performing skills with the instruments available, as well as being encouraged to explore creative possibilities.

As children reach this stage in their musical development it is important that we are sensitive to their musical preferences as they are almost ready to begin learning a musical instrument. This class will introduce the children to an array of musical instruments including all the instruments available in Primary 3. Special guests will be invited in to introduce the instruments and our staff will be in regular contact with parents and guardians to discuss their children’s progress and developing musical interests. We will be able to advise on the next stage of your child’s musical development.

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Young Composers
It is often thought that composing music can only be undertaken after studying music theory for many, many years, but this could not be further from the truth! Working in small groups (maximum of 8 to a class), the children will begin their investigations of basic compositional techniques by writing music using pictorial and graphic means, before working towards using more traditional notational methods. As composition cannot truly be separated from performance, the children will perform their music over the course of the year, with their final pieces being performed and recorded by professional musicians.

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Choirs
Children love singing and the more they do it the better they get at it. Even from an early age children can easily sing in tune. Singing with other children helps them to enjoy and feel confident about expressing themselves with their voice. It also helps them to develop their inner sense of pitch and rhythm. There are two choirs running this year for children aged primary 3 to 7.

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Instrumental Classes ~ 1st and 2nd year
Instrumental classes are offered in Violin, Viola, Cello, Mini-bass, Guitar, Drums/Percussion and woodwind to children in Primary 3 and upwards for two years. The classes are taught in small groups and aim to establish musical understanding and good habits from the very beginning. Pupils will be expected to practice their instrument for 10-15 minutes at least four times per week. After completing the two-year foundation course, children will then be encouraged to join one of our chamber ensembles as well as begin individual instrumental instruction with a private teacher outwith the music school. Please contact us for advice about purchasing/hiring instruments before term begins.

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