Sound Beginnings - Ages 0-4 + Parent
 Sound Beginnings is a 30 minute once a week class for a parent  with children 4 and under.  All children can attend together for a family rate.  We study kindergarten skills (ABCs, colors, shapes, days of the week, etc) as well as music skills (solfege, major scales, pitch matching, steady beat, etc.).  It's a delightful class and I highly recommend it before starting Let's Play Music.  Registration is per semester and semesters can be taken in any order.  

Fall Sound Beginnings (Brown Teddy Bears): (Starting Sept. 3) 
Fridays @ 9:15 or 10:00am
*Tuition is $45 per month for 4 months. Each additional enrolled sibling is $15 per month. Sibling drop-in rate is $5.00 per class. 
*Registration fee is $15 per semester. Materials are $35 per semester. Students will need to make a one-time purchase of a Blue Tote ($8) the first semester they register. 

*Parents of 4 year-olds. Please scroll to the bottom of this blog post to read about the differences between Sound Beginnings & Let's Play Music. I am hoping that the information that I provide will help you decide where your child will fit best next year. 

Let's Play Music - Ages 4-8
 Let's Play Music Let’s Play Music is a fun music theory course for your child. Students begin at age 4-6 and graduate three years later.  This three year program solves the problem that a child is most ready to learn music at an early age, but his fingers and letter skills are not yet ready.  We take full advantage of the brain’s ability to absorb musical concepts and teach skills in  an age appropriate way. Solfege hand signs, folk songs, games, imagination and creativity are important components of each lesson. 

1st Year: Red Balloons & Blue Bugs: Preparation for the keyboard.  Ages 4-6 
Skills Taught: Students are introduced to the 5 lines and spaces of the staff, sing the major scale on solfege syllables with hand signs, learn to keep a steady beat, match pitch using a minor 3rd, play melodies, and ostinati on tone bells, learn the three primary chords on the autoharp,  learn to divide and subdivide beats, read rhythmic notation patterns, distinguish major and minor tonalities, play steps and skips from the staff onto tone bells, and much more!  

Classes run from September 2021 to April 2022
Thursdays @ 4:00 OR Wednesdays @ 1:45
*Classes are 45 minutes long, tuition is $65 per month for 8 months. 
*Parents attend class every other week. 
*Registration fee is $25 for the year. Materials are $88.   

Presto- Ages 7-12
Presto is a 2-year course for older beginners that didn't get the chance to take Let's Play Music or who have started some piano but would like to learn to play the Let's Play Music way. Presto puts a large emphasis on correct piano technique. Students must have a full size (88 keys), weighted keyboard at home to practice on. An acoustic piano is even better. Parents do not attend Presto classes, with the exception of end of semester celebrations, however, Parents are expected to support their student at home at least one day per week  as a "Bench Pal" to go through fun, engaging and bonding activities together. Younger students may need more support throughout the week.  It is for children ages 7-12. 

Classes run from September 2021 to May 2022
Tuesdays @ 3:45
*Classes are 60 minutes long, tuition is $100 per month. 
*Registration fee is $35 for the year. Materials are $74.  


Considerations for 4-Year Olds
Hi Parents of 4-year-olds!If your child is 4 years old or will be before September 1st, he or she is old enough to begin the amazing Let’s Play Music program, which makes learning piano fun! If your child is already 5 years old, then he or she is definitely ready. You may be wondering whether to enroll in Sound Beginnings or Let’s Play Music, since they both accept 4-year-olds.

Here are some things to keep in mind:
1. Whichever program you choose, all music exposure and participation in any way is beneficial and will help develop inner musicianship, so you can’t go wrong.

2. Finger Dexterity: Can your child hold a pencil correctly,  “3” on their fingers the right way, and write their name? If yes, their fingers are ready. In the 2nd Year of Let’s Play Music, the children will begin playing the keyboard/piano in class and at home. With consistent practice, I’ve seen even the smallest students be able to develop quite amazingly at the piano.

3. Class length: Let’s Play Music is 45 minutes and Sound Beginnings is 30 minutes.

4. Parent Attendance: In Let’s Play Music a parent/caregiver attends every other week. In Sound Beginnings a parent/caregiver attends every week.

5. Parent Involvement: In addition to attending class, participating with your child, and listening to the class CD together, both programs have activities to do with your child at home to enhance learning. In Sound Beginnings these activities are optional. In Let’s Play Music, at home activities and practicing are required for success. 1st Year students practice the tone bells at least once a week and complete a simple theory assignment. By the end of Let’s Play Music, students will be practicing the piano 15-20 minutes per day. Don’t worry, we work up to this very gradually! Younger students tend to need more committed parents and may need their parent to sit with them at practice sessions several times a week.

6. Tuition: 1st Year Let’s Play Music tuition is $260 per semester ($65/month). Sound Beginnings is $160 per semester ($40/month). Siblings may attend Sound Beginnings classes for only an additional $10 per month. In Let's Play Music, siblings must be the right age for the class and must pay full tuition. I can not offer family-rate pricing for Let's Play Music Classes.

7. Commitment: In LPM, it is anticipated your child will remain enrolled in the studio throughout the 3 years of Let's Play Music. Sound Beginnings is a commitment for one semester only.

8. Student Age: If your child turns 4 in June, July or August of this year, I would lean towards recommending Sound Beginnings for another year. There are actually some parents who prefer to start their children at age 5 in LPM because they will be able to play at a higher level more easily by the time they complete the program. However, maybe your goal is for your child to gain musicality and an excellent foundation before moving on to other instruments or to a favorite private piano teacher. Either way is great! The first year of LPM is designed for 4, 5 AND 6 year-olds!

9. Kindergarten Readiness: I like for my 2nd year Let's play Music Students to be in Kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade. So, if you are planning on waiting a year to enroll your child in school, I would also recommend you wait a year to enroll your child in Let's Play Music. Students need to be in 1st-3rd grade when they graduate the three year program. 

10. You know your child best, so if you think he or she would have a hard time in a more mature class where parents attend only half of the time, then by all means, enroll in Sound Beginnings for another year. If your child is excited about playing the piano and learning at a higher level, then Let’s Play Music may be the best choice. 


I hope this has been helpful. If you still have questions about your individual child, please let me know. I'm so excited to teach your child music, whichever program you choose! I truly love all my students, and I appreciate your trust in me to teach them. ​

I am NOW REGISTERING for Let's Play Music and Sound Beginnings! Hurry and register before classes are full!

You can now register online through my website! Just click the "Register Now" buttons on the pages, or go to the registration page and click on the class you are registering for! There is also an online process for ordering materials! YAY! Once you've registered with me, I will give you my special teacher code which will allow you to register and order your student materials from the Let's Play Music website. 

Spots left for 2014-15 school year:

Let's Play Music- Red Balloons (Wednesdays at 4:15pm): 4 spots left (*I MAY add another class if Wednesdays at 4:15 fills)

Sound Beginnings- White Horses (Fridays at 10:30am): 4 spots left

Hi Friends! Its time for another round of Let's Play Music Sample classes! Since I am the first teacher in Vancouver offering these classes, I need YOUR help to get the word out about this AMAZING program! Bring your 4-6 year olds and friends! You and your child will smile, move, learn, and have FUN!  Class space is limited, so Contact Me to reserve your spot


                              Let's Play Music FREE Sample Classes in April:

                                                 Wednesday, April 17 @ 9:30-10:15 am
                                                                                 OR
                                                       Friday, April 19 at 4:00-4:45pm

Hope to see you there!
-Ms. Maura

Well, I've decided to change directions with my Baby and Toddler classes. Starting in September, I will be teaching Sound Beginnings! A fabulous program that will provide a solid music and preschool foundation for your little ones (age 2-4)!

As you may (or may not)  have known, I was going to start my own baby and toddler curriculum, but after researching and thinking a lot about it, I've decided to get trained to teach Sound Beginnings instead. This program directly aligns with all of my own beliefs and philosophies about music and young children, and uses many of the same songs and activities I would have used in my own curriculum! (Why re-invent the wheel!?)
 
I will be training in mid-May and will hold sample classes after training, but I will start registration BEFORE May! Find out more about Sound Beginnings on the  Sound Beginnings page on my site or on the Let's Play Music website.

I am so excited to start teaching this age group, mainly because my own children are this age, and they are the sweetest things on earth! Whenever we do song games or activities in our home, it is pure joy and happiness. I hope I can help bring this joy and happiness to other families as they enjoy making music together in these classes! :)

-Ms. Maura

I have scheduled 2 free sample classes for Let's Play Music during the first week of March! If you have a 4-6 year old, or a 3 year old who will be 4 before August, you won't want to miss this opportunity! You and your child will smile, move, learn, and have FUN! Class space is limited, so Contact Me to reserve your spot!

Let's Play Music! March Sample Classes:
Tuesday, March 5th @ 9:30-10:15 am
or
Friday, March 8th @ 4:00-4:45pm

Hope to see you there!

-Ms. Maura

I'm excited to be gearing up to start teaching my baby/toddler classes soon! I've been planning centers and activities and trying to figure out logistics/baby-proofing everything! One goal I have for these classes is to teach parents and families musical activities that can replicated at home with their little ones. I believe that the parents and family are the first and most important music teachers for a child. The more a child is exposed to musical skills, concepts, and activities in his home environment, higher his musical aptitude will be!

My toddler classes are a little different than other toddler music classes you see out there. Most toddler/preschool music classes have a teacher guide the parents and children through a fun group time that usually includes instruments, movement, singing, bonding, etc. My classes include a free exploration/discovery time in addition to the fun-filled group time! 

Some people may ask why this free exploration time is even necessary or worth the time.
 
I want to share with you the Top 3 Reasons as to why I've included a free exploration time in my toddler classes.
 
1. Free exploration/discovery time is a time for you to play and bond with your child in musical, social, physical, and emotional ways without a teacher or program telling you what to do/how to do that bonding play together. My classes provide the structure for natural play and interaction to occur between parent and child in a comfy home environment.

2.The child is in charge of his own learning during discovery time. The child makes choices about what and how to play with. An adult helps guide the play, but does not instruct. This is called child-centered learning! Child-centered learning requires children to be active, responsible participants in their own learning.

3. The parent learns activities and gleans ideas to replicate at home. I want to teach the parents that they can easily have music interwoven in their daily lives with the things they already have, even if they, themselves, see themselves as 'not musical'. 

I hope you and your little loves will join me for some musical learning and fun! :) As soon as I get a class filled, we'll start! Click on the Registration Tab to register!

-Ms. Maura

    One of the things I learned from one of my music mentors in college is that music is a language. She helped me understand that we are all musical beings, we just have to have the right exposure, experiences, and people to help us find our own musical "voice". One lesson I dinstinctly remember in one of our classes, she talked about how a baby learns the word refrigerator. Parents don't sit a baby down with alphabet flashcards, spell out the word, sound out the word, and then show a picture. A baby learns the word refrigerator by hearing it and experiencing it in their everyday lives. In this video below, Victor Wooten talks about this very concept, relating it to music, as my college mentor taught me.

 I strive to become a teacher that helps students experience music, rather than be told how to play music. Just play! Experiment! Discover! As Victor Wooten said, "Music comes from the musician, not the instrument!" The instrument is the means by which to communicate the musical language that is within each of us!

Time to go play some music!

-Ms. Maura

I came across this video and I just think it is amazing! I don't know anything about this kid, but I know he's got rhythm!

I know sometimes it might be annoying or irritating to let our children explore the sounds in their environment, but allowing them to explore and discover through their play, is crucial to their learning. I'm not saying we should all sit our children in front of a washer and dryer and tell them to drum, but if your 18month old starts to bang on the washer while you're putting a load in (like mine loves to do!), then let him explore that sound for a few minutes! He will learn how his physical actions effect the sounds he can make, dynamics, beat, rhythm, etc... Who knew that a simple home chore could be so musical!? :)

On the twelfth day of Christmas...

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you enjoyed the 12 Benefits of Music Education series. These 12 I shared just scratch the surface into what music does, and can do, for children and adults alike. Now go hug your loved ones and sing a Chrismas carol or two! :)

I hope to see many of you in January as I start teaching toddler classes, private piano and guitar, and group voice classes. I will also be holding some sample classes for Let's Play Music starting in February...I'll keep you posted on those!

-Ms. Maura

On the eleventh day of Christmas...