Introduction

Our lessons are for children aged between 6 months and 5 yrs. Classes are taught in 4 age
groups: 6-18 months, 18-36 months, 3-4 yrs and 4-5yrs. Babies and toddlers have a 30
minute lesson whilst 3-4 yr old childen have a lesson lasting 40-45 minutes. Ocarina lessons
for 4-5 yr olds last for 30 minutes. None of our groups exceed 8 children. Ocarina lessons
are for groups of 4 children maximum. Carers must accompany the children in all but the
ocarina lessons.

Session Leaders

The sessions are led by either Julie Goodall or Sarah Cooper. We
both play instuments and teach music to our own children. Our
daughters are choristers at Salisbury Cathedral.

Aims and Objectives

We aim to make our sessions both educational and fun. More
specifically, our main objectives are:

* to encourage a love of a wide range of music

* to develop and improve listening skills, patience and concentration
skills

*to help children develop pitch and rhythm

*to help cildren develop and improve talking, singing and counting skills

*to improve self confidence, manual dexterity and memory retention

*to have fun whilst experimenting with a variety of instruments

Lesson Structure

(except ocarina lessons)

Listening - We listen to 1 or 2 short pieces of music each week which are of
contrasting types and styles. This listening encourages children to appreciate a wide
range of music. Research also suggests that different types of music stimulate different
areas of the brain, thus improving its function and assisting a childs development.

Rhythm - During this part of the lesson, children are given a range of rhythm
instuments such as tambourines, eggs, shakers and drums, and are encouraged to use
these in time to the music. These exercises help children to develop a sense of rhythm
and assist in the development of manual dexterity.

Scale - We use a straight octave of bells, chimes or glockenspiel and invite each child
(or baby and mum) to play these. This provides good practice in eye tracking (for
babies) and hand to eye co-ordination. This exercise also introduces children to the
idea of the scale.

Experimenting with Instruments - Children are given the opportunity to experiment
with a number of instruments, many of which are scaled down versions suitable for very
young children. The instruments we own include a violin, cello, flute, clarinet, guitar,
keyboard and piano, recorders and ocarinas.

Action Songs - These vary according to the age of the group being taught. Babies are
encouraged to participate in hand movements, with mum helping and singing along,
and older children are able to march sing and dance.

Pitch - 3 to 4 year old children will use A and E tuning forks in each session to help
develop a sense of pitch. Simple jingles are used involving counting and singing up and
down a scale.

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