1. At Melody in Me, the parent and child share the joy of music making in the class time.

2. Early Childhood Music Education Each of us has two native languages... both are learned early... both stay with us a lifetime... One is MUSIC!

3. Early Childhood Music Education Research has shown that very young children can develop an awareness of pitch and musical concepts. If left untapped, this natural feeling for music may never be developed. Several studies shown: musicians who learn to play a musical instrument at an early age appears to have larger areas of the brain devoted to touch perception of fingers, as well as more highly developed nerve fibers linking both halves of the brain.

4. Children Development

5. Our Goal Our goal is to provide the musical training, which will aid the child's growth and development and enhance all future musical activities. Bringing students to music … step by step With total musicianship

6. Why Group Lesson A group lesson format helps children through this difficult starting-up phase by making music study an enjoyable activity. Group teaching is the most enjoyable way to begin music study. Each lesson provides a diversity of musical experiences: playing piano, singing the melodies and harmonies, playing rhythm instruments, reading and writing music, learning accompanying skills and some activities that are not possible in private lessons like ensemble playing and group performances. Children develop relationships with other students who also play piano. This peer support helps keep students in the piano experience.

7. Course Philosophy Melody in Me features Harmony Road Music Courses. It provides a wholistic approach to musical training. Not Just a Piano Class.... Our goal is to bring students to music step by step. The music will become a natural part of the students daily life. Students experience musical concepts and absorb patterning through ear training, solfege singing, and rhythmic activities. As concepts are absorbed, students will gradually develop note reading and keyboard performance skills.

8. TeamWork Parent involvement is a key factor of a student’s success.

9. How can parents help Regular attendance keeps learning continuity strong. Try not to repeat the teachers directions to your child. Quietly help find a page in the book or a piece of equipment if needed. This is a class for parents and children! You will be learning music too. Activities will be repeated and reinforced and there will be adequate time to achieve our musical goals. Keep a positive attitude. Children will have good and bad days. A positive enthusiastic attitude will keep the learning experience enjoyable.

10. How can parents help Share at home activities with your child. Do the same variety of activities that have been experienced during class. When assisting children with keyboard playing – please don’t push the child’s fingers down on the keys. Simply point above the key if help is needed.

11. The Learning Process Kids learn by experiencing Imitative singing – to develop pitch and develop melodic patterning : By Copy, By EAR With Hints, and By EAR. After melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic patterns are introduced. Sort patterns will soon become a part of longer phrases. Phrases will be combined to make songs! The voice is our first and most natural instrument. When patterns are heard by the ear, sung by the voice, then played with singing on the keyboard - a wonderful circle of musical learning is achieved.

12. Solfege singing Solfege singing is the musical language that opens the ears, frees the voice, and enhances keyboard playing. Solfege refers only to musical activities, so it is considered a right brain activity. The physical act of singing and saying letter names is considered a left brain activity. We use the fixed DO solfege system to help students develop a very strong sense of pitch, and awareness of key centers. It enables most students to develop inner hearing which leads to composing and arranging activities.

13. Rhythmic development Our first goal for rhythmic development is to feel and keep a steady beat or pulse. We learn in By Copy clapping and body rhythm to learn patterns. Add verbalization of rhythmic syllables to set patterns and note value. (tahn=qtr note, tahn__= half note, ta ta for 8 th note, extra… Learn proper use of rhythm instruments and apply rhythms to keyboard playing. Write rhythms. Identify rhythms by hearing and by seeing.

14. Keyboard Bring music from the ear-through the voice to the fingers. Then the keyboard serves as the outside music teacher, helping connect ears, eyes, fingers, and minds.

15. Reading Skills Reading experiences will be developed in an appropriate manner for specific age groups. Young students should experience and internalize patterns – then see them- make them with magnets, respond physically, point and sing or say, and write patterns. Older students should experience this same internalization process… But will obviously be expected to sight play sooner because of their ability to abstract symbols and their experience with other reading processes.

16. Course Flow

17. Contact us For more information, please visit our website www.melodyinme.com Or email us music@melodyinme.com Or call at 630-302-7190

18. Be Enthusiastic & enjoy music Children will grow with their music. We want their lives and yours to be enriched by wonderful Music!!! We all have two native languages. Both are learned early … Both stay with us a lifetime … One is MUSIC