Our curriculum is founded upon extensive research as well as the philosophies of three of Europe's most significant music educators; Kodaly, Dalcroze and Orff. Classes are taught in small, age specific groups as follows:

3-11 months   1-2 yrs   2-3 yrs   3-4 yrs   4-5 yrs   5-6 yrs

Core music skills are developed each week through singing, exploring instruments, dance and creative movement and listening activities that captivate each childs imagination.

Our classes are age appropriate. Children develop at different rates, particularly when they are very young. The motor skills of a six month old are different from a 20 month old. Therefore, we structure our classes to specific age groups.

Multi sensory learning - The Hungarian music educator Kodaly has proven that the best way to teach a child is to give them lots of musical experiences: allowing them to experience concepts in as many different ways as possible: to feel it, see it, hear it and to know it.

Innovative teaching approach - we strive to make our lessons exciting as we know that when a child enjoys doing something fun they are much more receptive. All musical learning is initially evolved as an unconscious level of understanding - i.e. children are not intellectualising what they have learnt, but learning and remembering through their bodies (motor skills) and sensory channels. Children learn in small logical steps and experience musical concepts long before they can articulate what they mean. Our teaching style allows us to challenge every child at the right level within a mixed ability group

By the age of 5 all children can:

- Sing in tune
- Understand of the basic music concepts
- Are sensitive listeners
- Keep a strong sense of beat
- Can read and write basic stick notation
- Be aware of orchestral instruments and famous composers
- Improvise and explore music independently
- Are learning to sight sing with hand signs
as this will continue to develop inner hearing.

Song books and CD's are available to buy at the classes. At whatever stage your child is at they will work through these 3 books, gradually experiencing more complicated concepts.The colourful materials entice the children to embark on musical adventures and ensure a seamless continuity between home, class and future instrumental lessons.

It is at this stage that they can choose an instrument to learn through Colourstrings if they wish to. The children have developed all of the skills necessary to learn an instrument with ease and success and will be free to concentrate on the technical aspects of instrumental playing.
 

Growing as a musical community  

As the children grow, our classes change to meet their developmental, emotional needs and activity levels. Children are encouraged to stay in the same class for the year so that they establish close bonds with other children in the group which nurtures security and confidence.

Parent's Feedback

"I am amazed how much Halycyon has learnt within two years of attending these classes even though most of the time she appears to be just having fun."  Tracey Bednell, mother to Halycyon aged 2

 "My son loves listening, acting out and singing along to the tapes in the car and at home and now has the confidence to sing alone in the class."  Simon Johnston, Father of Jack aged 3"

Our Mission

" We aim to nuture a lifelong love of music and develop music literacy in a playful, imaginative way. We recognize that you, as a parent play a vital role in your child's early musical development and that everyone is musical, can learn to sing in tune, and achieve basic music competence.
We provide children with all the tools required to progress naturally onto an instrument if they eventually wish to. The earlier a child has a grasp of these concepts the better prepared they’ll be for future musical opportunities and experiences. "