Newsletter

July 06

Issue 0306

	Next Term
	Saturday session Times
	Job Opportunities
	Response to your feedback

Next Term

Everyone should have had a note about September term classes. Music for Minors starts back week beginning 4^th of September and will run for 13 weeks until the 10^th of December. Class fees are now £3.50 for Bouncing Babies and £4 for all other sessions, there is still a reduction for additional children from the same family of £1.50 per week. Some children will be moving to the next group so please see me if you are unsure.

Saturday Sessions Change of Times

Please note new times for Saturday sessions:

Tapping Teddies (1-2yrs) 09:30-10:15

Wiggles and Jiggles (2-3yrs) 10:30-11:15

Musical Majors (3-5yrs) 11:30-12:15

Job Opportunities

I am still looking for people to run classes in other areas as self-contractors. Areas I have in mind for immediate future are Huddersfield and Dewsbury. You don’t have to be a fantastic singer (just able to sing in tune) or have musical knowledge, but enthusiasm, energy and some experience of being amongst young children is important! Full training will be given. If you think you would like to run a class or know anyone who may be interested please come and have a chat.

Your Feedback

Thank you to those of you who returned the feedback form. I always listen to any issues, concerns or comments made by parents or carers who attend Music for Minors although I may not always be able to address all issues I do try. However, I thought you might like to know what other people think and my views on their comments.

What you and your child like about classes?

“Group interaction, patience training and musical awareness”

· Music for Minors would not work if it wasn’t for the group. It is important children can learn together in a group situation to develop sharing and socialising skills. Learning to sit still and listen is a very important skill especially when children go to school, I appreciate it is very difficult for young children to sit still for long periods of time and I certainly do not expect them to especially the under 2’s!! Sessions are planned to encourage children to listen, sit still and hopefully engage them in something they enjoy! It is important to remember that children have their “off” days too, being tired, not feeling good does not help attention.

· You may or may not know almost everything in a session has a basic music principle. From clapping names (Wiggles & Jiggles / Musical Majors) to bounces (Bouncing Babies / Tapping Teddies) introduces basic pulse (beat of music), rhythm (pattern of sound) and dynamics (loud and soft).

“Themes”

Themes help engage children’s attention and help learning.

“Dancing”

Dancing is important for physical exercise, balance and co-ordination. As well as being fun it is also creative.

“personal attention”

I feel it is extremely important to give personal attention to all children and I make a conscious effort to positively praise children for something they do well. It is also important that parents and carers reinforce this by encouraging and joining in!

“the routine”

Every session is structured so children settle down and know what’s coming next. Even children in the Tapping Teddies class know when it is “soundwall” or “the box” time!

“playing musical instruments”

Playing instruments is fun and introduces children to something they may not have come across previously.

“Soundwall and singing the theme songs”

The Soundwall is an important part of the Tapping Teddies class. It is a time for individual play and expression. It also helps develop skills such as hand-eye co-ordination and gross motor skills (e.g. large arm movements - scraping and banging)

What you or your child, have enjoyed the least?

“(parents/carers) who don’t listen to you”

Thank you to whoever mentioned this! Although Music for Minors is for children it is also about parents and carers too! Sessions are about interacting with other children but also about spending time together adult and child. If parents aren’t listening or joining in why should the children? If your child isn’t joining in, you join in and you may find they feel like they are missing out on something if you look like you’re enjoying yourself! I understand that maybe you sometimes feel like a spare part especially when children get older but it is still important to listen and encourage your child.

“saying name” & Saying names “takes too long”

Clapping and saying names (Wiggles and Jiggles / Musical Majors) is really important. It introduces rhythm; helps break names down into syllables ready for eventually writing and helps self-confidence. I know it sometimes takes too long and children can loose interest which is why I am trying to cut the number of children in a class. It may feel like a laborious task every week for some of you but it really does pay off eventually. I have heard some of you get frustrated because children will say their name in the car or at home but not in class but this is just a lack confidence in a group situation; after all they are having to say their name in front of everybody and on their own. Be patient because they do eventually gain confidence!

Soundwall “takes too long… and loses interest”

The Soundwall is a time for children to experiment on their own and with encouragement. There will always be some children who you can’t drag away and there will always be some who are never interested. Sometimes children seem disinterested but it may be that they just don’t like to be so close to others so more encouragement is needed. If children have been coming to classes a long time or nearing the age of two they are probably becoming bored and need to be stimulated by moving to the next age group.

“can get distracted sitting and waiting”

Sitting and waiting is very hard especially for toddlers! This comes with time and repetition. Knowing what is coming next should help and frequent change of songs and music should engage children’s attention again. Do not worry if your child does not sit and listen for the entire 45 minutes it is not expected for Tapping Teddies and Wiggles and Jiggles classes. By the age of 3 children should have a good attention span but as I have said previously being tired or feeling unwell may change this. Please remember that children may not like every single part of the class but as songs and dances never last for more than five minutes it is important to stick it out!

Other comments / suggestions

“ask parents to take their child out … if they are crying, tantruming”

I have on occasion asks parents to do this. If ignoring your child’s tantrum and joining in yourself doesn’t work and they have worked themselves into a frenzy, then yes take them out of the room for a cooling off period. However, I feel that on many occasions this is not necessary and constantly taking children out of the room can be more disruptive. Sometimes children cry because something is upsetting them, perhaps it is sitting in a group for example. You could try sitting at the side for a little while with your child so that they can still watch and listen. Children also like to assert their independence and we do want them to be independent and confident so be persistent and encourage by positively praising them when they do something well and things will change in time.

“perhaps age group between age 3 to 5 too wide. Would 4 to 5 be more preferable?”

I would love to be able to offer a group for 4 + but as I tend to lose most children by the age of 4 to nursery, it’s not viable option.