Class Descriptions

First Music  Target Age: 2-10 Months

While encouraging adult/child bonding through musical play, this class is designed to address the infant’s natural curiosity about music. Listening skills and internal beat are fostered through singing, bouncing, rocking and playing simple instruments like drums, rattles and rhythm sticks. Wiggle and peek-a-boo games encourage the infant’s positive responses.

 

First Music Target Age: 11-17 Months

While encouraging adult/child bonding through musical play, this class is designed to address the older infant’s need to explore through movement and sound. Listening skills and internal beat are fostered through singing, bouncing, rocking and playing simple instruments like drums, rattles and rhythm sticks.

 

Musical Beginner Target Age: 18-23 Months

Toddlers are “movers and shakers” who instinctively love music! There’s a developmental reason for this natural musicality. Toddlers have entered what Maria Montessori called a “critical window” for nurturing musical intelligence. With the help of an adult companion, the child’s natural musical instincts are nurtured through singing, dancing, rhythm and tonal echoes, circle games and a variety of percussion instruments.

 

Musical Beginner Target Age: 24-35 Months

Older toddlers still need plenty of movement, but are now able to sit and focus for a minute or two, especially when instruments, scarves, finger-play and singing absorb their attention. With the help of an adult companion, the child explores drums, resonator bars, finger cymbals, rattles and rhythm sticks. Natural musical instincts are also nurtured through singing, dancing, echoing rhythm and tonal patterns and circle games. The aural approach gives toddlers a language for music that is assimilated in the same way as s/he learns his/her mother tongue.

 

Musical Explorer with Adult Target Age: 3 Years

While recognizing the child’s continued need for security, this class fosters growing independence and a love of nature through songs, instruments, stories, imaginative play and creative movement to address the development of listening, language skills and music literacy.

 

Musical Explorer without Adult Target Age: 3 Years

This class recognizes the child’s readiness for independence and fosters his/her natural interest in animals and nature through songs, instruments, stories, imaginative play and creative movement to address the child’s development of listening, language skills and music literacy.

 

Young Musician 1 Target Age: 4-5 Years

With the Young Musicians 1 level, children embark on a two-year journey of structured, sequential music education. Thematic units, featuring natural habitats like Woodlands, Marsh and Meadow include songs, stories, listening, movement, introduction to music notation and playing instruments (including xylophones and metallophones and a wide variety of other percussion instruments). Excitement for learning and preparation for academic success are fostered.

 

Young Musician 2 Target Age: 5-6 Years

This class continues the sequential approach to music education, including reading and writing music. Through songs, stories, listening, movement and playing instruments, children explore a variety of cultures like British Isles, American Indians, African Americans and Germany. Music literacy is promoted both aurally and visually, leading toward a successful experience in Keyboard.

 

Keyboard Youth 1 Target Age: 6-7 Years

Keyboard 1 begins to lay a solid foundation for successful private lessons. Music literacy is approached both aurally and visually. Instruction includes singing, dancing, drumming, playing card games and basic keyboard skills. Participants must have a keyboard or piano for home practice, and parents must exhibit a high level of commitment. The Young Musician 2 level is recommended as a prerequisite.

 

Keyboard Youth 2 Target Age: 7-8 Years

Keyboard 2 continues the carefully constructed, balanced curriculum that was introduced in Keyboard 1. As students gain facility and understanding, they enjoy the process and are less likely to quit. Participants must have a keyboard or piano at home.

 

Keyboard Youth 3 Target Age: 8-9 Years

Keyboard 3 continues the careful progression of music literacy, while students enjoy the group setting. Levels 1 and 2 are prerequisites. Music reading and independence of hands are emphasized, but ear-training continues. Level 3 students are comfortable transposing to many major and minor tonalities. Goals are accomplished through singing, dancing, drumming, card games and playing the keyboard. Participants must have a keyboard or piano at home.

 

Keyboard Youth 4 Target Age: 9-10 Years

Keyboard 4 lays a solid foundation for successful private lessons. Levels 1 – 3 are required for placement in Level 4. While actual time at the instrument is maximized, students continue to sing, dance and drum. Composition and improvisation are natural outcomes of the previous year’s sequential building blocks. Participants must have a keyboard or piano at home.

 

Youth Guitar 1 Target Age: 7+

Guitar 1 is an exciting new class at ECMS that will approach beginner guitar education with an emphasis on ensemble playing, music literacy, as well as music and motion concepts. The curriculum is written and developed by Anthony Williams, Director of ECMS. Each guitar student will need their own acoustic guitar to bring to class. Written and listening curriculum will be provided as part of tuition.