Baby/Pre-school Music & Preparatory

Wednesday mornings, 19 September to 5 December, 12 classes

Baby Music

9:45 to 10:30 am, 4 months to 3 years, $144 ($12/class/child)

This 45 minute class is packed with singing, movement, bouncing games, finger and toe plays, storytelling, puppets and activities using simple musical instruments. Every class starts with a hello and ends with a lullaby and cuddles. Adult accompaniment is mandatory, so come prepared to run, gallop and sit on the floor along with your child. The adults as well as the children will learn new songs, games and rhymes that they will be able to enjoy at home. Music education is an important part of a child’s healthy development. Children stand a better chance of wanting to continue a musical education later on if their first experiences in making music are positive and joyous.

Preparatory Music

10:45 to 11:30 am, 4 to 9 years, $144 ($12/class/child )

This 45 minute class is a hands on learning experience for children. Using a combination of techniques from Orff, Dalcroze eurythmics and Kodaly this program incorporates many of the arts and is often referred to as a “holistic” approach to music teaching. Singing, movement and dance, drama, games, puppets, storytelling, and the playing and exploration of percussion instruments are all a part of these classes. The teaching of beat and rhythm are a constant and depending on the age and capabilities of the class, simple notation might also be introduced. The children experience immediately the joy of making music and have so much fun in these classes that they don’t even realize that they are learning. This is the foundation on which further musical studies can be built.

To register Contact Denise at 613-393-1714 or dkswan@live.com

 Denise Swan:

Learning music should be joyful. So I wanted to find an approach to teaching young children that would be positive and fun, and would inspire them to continue learning. I have been teaching music to young children for over 25 years, since 1988. I specialize in teaching children ages 6 months to 12 years old. I studied music at York University and received my A.R.C.T. in piano pedagogy from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. I am a certified Orff teacher with additional certifications in music for babies and early childhood music. My training has included education in child development and I have worked with children with special needs. I’ve also provided several teacher training sessions and workshops. My teaching experience has been at various private music schools, day cares and in the public school system in both Ontario and British Columbia.