Music for Little Ones is a course of music lessons in a form of workshop especially structured for children from 3 to 5 years of age. We embrace a variety of musical activities, games and methods of learning music.
Sessions include:
- An introduction to music following Kodaly principles
- Learning rhythms, music terms and songs
- Group performances and musical entertainment
''My son really looks forward to 'Music for Little Ones'. He sings the songs all week. I have been impressed at how the basic music concepts are being taught. Most of all I'm pleased because my son loves the lessons so much.''
First Musical Academy also delivers workshops for little ones in Children Centres and Nursery Schools.
FMA has a Child Protection policy in place.
Leader: Alessia Mankovskaya
BMus (Hons) Russian Academy of Dramatic Arts
MMus (Masters in Music) Trinity College of Music (elective Psychology of Performance)
Author of work ‘Music influence on children from 3 to 5 years old’
According to psychological researches, sounds, harmony and singing provide all-round training for the brain. A study done at the University of California at Irvine found that classical music in particular, strengthens the connections in the brain that are necessary for logical thinking.
The lessons are divided into the following four parts:
- Listening to music - children are encouraged to listen carefully to classical music of different genres and then express their impressions or associations they have made through painting or in words.
- Introductions of instruments - in every lesson a new instrument is introduced to the children in terms of exploring their sound, appearance and some basic techniques.
- Music Alphabet - introduction to the music grammar (notes, signs and tonality).
- Singing - in every lesson children learn a new song with piano accompaniment or a backing track.
New Term Lessons Plan (All rights reserved):
1 st Session
Introduction to a music instruments – PIANO (high and low register)
Imagination development game – explore the variety of sounds a piano can create (birds, a storm, a thunder, etc.)
Music grammar – forte/piano – loud/quiet
Singing – I am a little snow man, Humpty Dumpy
2 nd Session
Introduction to a music instrument – PERCUSSION
Imagination development game – In the Forest (children imitate sound of forest with piano accompaniment)
Music Language Treble Clef
Art activity - learn how to draw a treble clef
Singing - London Bridge is Falling Down
3 rd Session
Music listening – Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro
Development:
Which colours they associated with this music?
Why? Which animal can be associated with the introductory theme of the opera?
Music Language: NOTE C (how it sounds, where it is written on the stave)
Singing – Little Horses
Rhythmical game – how horses ran? Feeling of the bit of the piece
4 th Session
Music listening - Bach Harpsichord Sonatas
Introduction to a music instrument – guitar
Introduction to the music world – how to find the note C on the piano and on the guitar
Rhythmical game – song Dog Bingo
5 th Session
Music listening – Vivaldi Seasons
Story telling – Ugly duck
Introduction to the world of music – New Terms
Singing – It Is Raining
6 th Session
Story telling – Gingerbread man
Music listening – Prokofiev Peter and Wolf
Art activity – to paint a picture related to the story
Singing - Little Horses, Dog Bingo (rhythm), Ladybird (new)
7 th Session
Music Listening – Rossini Barber of Sevilie
Area of development:
Which colours children associated with this music? Why?
Which animal is imitated in the introduction of the opera?
Rhythmical game – clap the bit (Dog Bingo, Black Sheep)
Music Grammar - notes A and B
Singing – Ladybird, Weensy Spider
8 th Session
Rhythmical Game – Humpty-Dumpty (recite the lyrics slow/fast/clapping)
Music Listening - Brahms Sonata for cello
Art activity – to paint Humpy Dumpty according to the music (happy or sad)
Singing- Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill
9 th Session
Music Listening – Bach Sonata for Harpsichord
Introduction to the world of music - Bass Clef
Drawing - treble clefs on the board
Rhythmical game – clap the first crotchet of each bar only then two and then four in the song ‘Little Horses’
Singing - Macdonald’s Farm
10 th Session
Introduction to a music instrument – VIOLIN
Introduction to the world of music - Bass Clef
Rhythmical game - clap the rhythm in ‘Ladybird’
Singing - Easter song
11 th Session
Music grammar – The Stave
Music listening – Tchaikovsky Swan Lake
Art Activity – describe and then ‘paint’ the mood of the music
Singing - Easter song
12 th Session
Introduction to the world of music – Tonality happy/sad (major/minor)
Music listening - Chopin (sad music), Mozart (happy music)
How to distinguish their music
Rhythmical game - Alice the Camel
Developing Imagination -with Alice the Camel
Singing - Alice the Camel
By the end of the current term the children will have learnt the following terms:
Stave/treble clef/bass clef/notes/rhythm/major/minor/forte/piano
Explore instruments (piano, guitar, strings and percussions)
Learn about 10 songs
