For children ages 4-6
For children ages 4-6
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Let's Play Music is a fun, three-year music program for children ages 4–6 that teaches piano, music theory, ear training, and musicianship through play. Using games, singing, movement, and creativity, students build a strong musical foundation in a joyful and age-appropriate way. More than piano lessons, Let's Play Music helps children develop confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of music.
Philosophies and Methods
Philosophies and Methods
We develop the "complete musician"- Not only do we teach piano, we develop sight reading, harmony, melody & rhythm in such a way that these skills become natural.
We develop the "complete musician"- Not only do we teach piano, we develop sight reading, harmony, melody & rhythm in such a way that these skills become natural.
We solve the Piano Playing Dilemma- The child's brain is most receptive to learning music between ages 2 and 9 while neural networks are rapidly developing. Piano playing requires finger strength and letter reading that children don't develop until around age 8. We provide music exposure at the right time and in the right way.
We solve the Piano Playing Dilemma- The child's brain is most receptive to learning music between ages 2 and 9 while neural networks are rapidly developing. Piano playing requires finger strength and letter reading that children don't develop until around age 8. We provide music exposure at the right time and in the right way.
Inspired by leading music educators- Our teaching approach draws from the philosophies of Kodály, Orff, and Dalcroze, combining singing, movement, improvisation, percussion, listening, and creative play to build deep musical understanding.
Inspired by leading music educators- Our teaching approach draws from the philosophies of Kodály, Orff, and Dalcroze, combining singing, movement, improvisation, percussion, listening, and creative play to build deep musical understanding.
Play to learn- Children learn through play and repetition. Discovery, imagination, stories, games and laughter are all part of the Let's Play Music classroom.
Play to learn- Children learn through play and repetition. Discovery, imagination, stories, games and laughter are all part of the Let's Play Music classroom.
Full Body Involvement- Children learn by involving their whole body. We use minimal talking and explaining.
Full Body Involvement- Children learn by involving their whole body. We use minimal talking and explaining.
Experience Precedes Learning- Children learn through experience. Concepts and skills are introduced in games and songs without labeling or explaining. Repetition is key to reinforce the knowledge and skills, then when concepts are labeled, they stick!
Experience Precedes Learning- Children learn through experience. Concepts and skills are introduced in games and songs without labeling or explaining. Repetition is key to reinforce the knowledge and skills, then when concepts are labeled, they stick!
Audiation (hearing music "in our heads")- This is the foundation of all other music ability! We teach audiation by using Solfege syllables and hand signs, fundamental melodic patterns we use over and over, and pitch matching focusing first on a minor third. We intentionally sing middle C in each class and c all it "home" to train the ear to hear this pitch without any external cues.
Audiation (hearing music "in our heads")- This is the foundation of all other music ability! We teach audiation by using Solfege syllables and hand signs, fundamental melodic patterns we use over and over, and pitch matching focusing first on a minor third. We intentionally sing middle C in each class and c all it "home" to train the ear to hear this pitch without any external cues.
Staff Reading- We use our full body to learn how the staff makes the notes go high or low and move in steps, skips and leaps!
Staff Reading- We use our full body to learn how the staff makes the notes go high or low and move in steps, skips and leaps!
Rhythm is taught in 4 steps- 1st we learn to keep a steady beat. We clap, pat, stomp, jump, flap our arms and play simple instruments. 2nd Subdivision: We learn to subdivide our steady beat into smaller parts. This develops spatial skills which enhances math understanding. 3rd- We imitate rhythmic patterns with our voices, on instruments and with our bodies. 4th- Rhythm symbols tell us how our play fits in time. We use bug names to learn basic notation.
Rhythm is taught in 4 steps- 1st we learn to keep a steady beat. We clap, pat, stomp, jump, flap our arms and play simple instruments. 2nd Subdivision: We learn to subdivide our steady beat into smaller parts. This develops spatial skills which enhances math understanding. 3rd- We imitate rhythmic patterns with our voices, on instruments and with our bodies. 4th- Rhythm symbols tell us how our play fits in time. We use bug names to learn basic notation.
Chords & Harmony- Since the primary chords make up 90% of the music we listen to, we spend a lot of time singing about each chord and singing the chord notes individually. We identify the I, IV, & V chords by the primary colors; red, blue & yellow.
Chords & Harmony- Since the primary chords make up 90% of the music we listen to, we spend a lot of time singing about each chord and singing the chord notes individually. We identify the I, IV, & V chords by the primary colors; red, blue & yellow.
Classical Music- Classical music study can be playful if you use puppets to introduce instruments, repeating sections, themes, motives and variations!
Classical Music- Classical music study can be playful if you use puppets to introduce instruments, repeating sections, themes, motives and variations!
Cost
Cost
Registration fee: $30
Registration fee: $30
Student Materials:
Student Materials:
1st Year: $98 (Sibling set $25)
2nd Year: $72 (Sibling set $42)
3rd Year: $79 (Sibling set $50.50)
Semester Tuiton $280
Semester Tuiton $280
Class Details
Class Details
Classes are held weekly. 1st year classes are 45-minutes, 2nd year classes are 50-minutes, 3rd year classes are 60- minutes
Classes are held weekly. 1st year classes are 45-minutes, 2nd year classes are 50-minutes, 3rd year classes are 60- minutes
Parents attend 1st year classes with their child (without siblings) every other week and 2nd & 3rd year classes about once a month
Parents attend 1st year classes with their child (without siblings) every other week and 2nd & 3rd year classes about once a month
Let's Play Music is a 3-year program. When you enroll you are committing to the entire 3-years. The program builds on itself. Other students cannot join the classes after the 5th lesson of 1st year.
Let's Play Music is a 3-year program. When you enroll you are committing to the entire 3-years. The program builds on itself. Other students cannot join the classes after the 5th lesson of 1st year.
Semesters are 15-weeks long with 2 semesters per year
Students typically begin classes their kindergarten year or the year before
Students are encouraged to listen to the semester album daily
At-home parent involvement is critically important to the Let's Play Music experience
1st year students complete fun weekly homework. 2nd and 3rd year students practice at home daily and need a piano or full size keyboard at home. 2nd year practice sessions last 5-10 minutes. 3rd year practice session last about 15-25 minutes.
Classes start only in the fall
Classes consist of 5-8 students
What is taught each of the 3 years
What is taught each of the 3 years
1st Year: We use engaging games and songs using our tone bells to teach staff reading and rhythm reading skills. Our harmony instrument is the autoharp, which each student will independently play to produce harmony and accompany the class. We sing the major scale using solfege syllables and hand signs, learn the three primary chords, learn to keep a steady beat and subdivide a steady beat. We learn four puppet shows to classical music to help us identify repetition, patterns, and to distinguish between major and minor tonalities as well as dynamic contrast and musical expression.
1st Year: We use engaging games and songs using our tone bells to teach staff reading and rhythm reading skills. Our harmony instrument is the autoharp, which each student will independently play to produce harmony and accompany the class. We sing the major scale using solfege syllables and hand signs, learn the three primary chords, learn to keep a steady beat and subdivide a steady beat. We learn four puppet shows to classical music to help us identify repetition, patterns, and to distinguish between major and minor tonalities as well as dynamic contrast and musical expression.
2nd Year: We transfer the skills learned in 1st year to the keyboard. Chord notation, intervals, and harmonic improvisation are presented. Students are introduced to the keyboard, learn C position, middle C, identify and play intervals of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th, play primary cadences on keyboard, and accompany themselves on the keyboard. Students play in contrary and parallel motion, play the C major scale, sing in harmony, learn more complex rhythmic notations, learn note names on the staff, and learn note names of the white keys on the keyboard. Whew!
2nd Year: We transfer the skills learned in 1st year to the keyboard. Chord notation, intervals, and harmonic improvisation are presented. Students are introduced to the keyboard, learn C position, middle C, identify and play intervals of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th, play primary cadences on keyboard, and accompany themselves on the keyboard. Students play in contrary and parallel motion, play the C major scale, sing in harmony, learn more complex rhythmic notations, learn note names on the staff, and learn note names of the white keys on the keyboard. Whew!
3rd Year: Students learn all note names on the staff, identify accidentals, are introduced to transposing, play level 1-2 piano repertoire, learn about key signatures and ABA song form, and play in multiple keys. Students learn to build and identify a triad, find the root of a triad, and invert triads. They learn 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures, more rhythmic notation, adding a chord to a melody, and melodic dictation. Students utilize their cumulated knowledge to compose their own piece!
3rd Year: Students learn all note names on the staff, identify accidentals, are introduced to transposing, play level 1-2 piano repertoire, learn about key signatures and ABA song form, and play in multiple keys. Students learn to build and identify a triad, find the root of a triad, and invert triads. They learn 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures, more rhythmic notation, adding a chord to a melody, and melodic dictation. Students utilize their cumulated knowledge to compose their own piece!
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