Music and Movement Classes

BENEFITS OF MUSIC AND MOVEMENT PROGRAMS

A growing body of research confirms that music has value beyond being fun and enjoyable.  It is an essential component for balanced emotional and cognitive development.  The following are specific skills that are promoted by music and movement programs.  

Social-Emotional Skills

  • Learn and practice self-regulation
  • Experience self-esteem, self-confidence, 
  • and self-efficacy
  • Share and take turns.
  • Develop cultural awareness 
  • Understand emotions
  • Cooperate and build relationships

Physical (Motor) Skills

  • Gross motor development
  • Fine motor development
  • Balance
  • Body Awareness
  • Bilateral coordination or crossing the midline

Thinking (Cognitive) Skills

  • Counting
  • Patterns and sequencing
  • Steady beat
  • Memory
  • Discrimination or observation of differences
  • Pretend play and symbolic thinking

Language and Literacy Skills

  • Spoken language
  • Dual language learning
  • Receptive language
  • Phonemic awareness

See https://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/201003/ParlakianWeb0310.pdf.

ELEMENTS OF A QUALITY MUSIC PROGRAM

While singing and dancing are core components of a quality music and movement program, there are many other components that must also be included to obtain the full benefit of all music and movement classes can offer.  For example, focused listening activities are important to help develop a child’s focus of attention and ability to discriminate between sounds.  Below is a list of some of the activities research has shown to be important elements of a quality music program.

Greeting Songs

Traveling Movement

Singing Games

Tonal Patterns

Listening Time & Games

Audiation Exercises

Rhythm Patterns

Finger Play

Call and Response

Stationary Movement

Instrument Play

Solo Performances

Creative Movement Stories

Chanting

Improvisation Activities

MY MUSIC PROGRAM

My goal is to provide a quality, research based music and movement program to the children at your center at an affordable cost.  All music classes I provide are taught by me personally.  I am a trained musician with a passion and love for introducing toddlers and young children to the wonderful world of music.  My background includes a bachelor’s degree in music as well as specialized training and certification in early childhood music and movement classes.  This background, combined with my experience teaching in multiple daycares and preschools throughout the Jacksonville area, provide me with the skills necessary to prepare and provide well thought out and high quality musical learning experiences for the children at your center.

All music classes are planned to include a variety of the activities that are essential to a quality music program, such as greeting songs, singing games, traveling and stationary movement, listening activities, solo performances, instrument play, and tonal and rhythm patterns.  I also make an effort to plan my music classes to integrate and reinforce the curriculum and subject matter being taught at your center.  For example, if your curriculum is studying science and measurement, my music class that week might include an traveling movement activity using a metronome to teach the children about how time is measured in music.  If your center is teaching about water animals, we might learn about Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of Animals and do a traveling movement activity to his composition The Aquarium.  

In addition to handling all preparation and instruction for the music class, I also have a number of musical instruments I bring to classes for the children to use, including shakers, rhythm sticks, frame drums, glockenspiels, and resonator bells.  I also bring a ukulele to every class to accompany some of the singing in class, as well as any visual aids or recorded music and sounds needed for the class.  

The music I use in my classes includes traditional and classical music as well as a number of original songs I have written specifically with young preschoolers in mind.  New, original songs greatly enhance music classes by providing age appropriate music with a more modern sound and also by covering topics that are not found in traditional childrens’ songs, e.g., landforms, opposites, or modern family dynamics.  You can review a list of some of the songs I have written by clicking My Music above.  

All music classes are provided on a school year schedule and follow all breaks and weather closures for Duval County Public Schools.  For questions about pricing and schedule availability, please contact me at the number or email above.  I look forward to talking with you more about how I can help bring music to the children at your center!