Music Wonderland Programme (4 y.o. - 8 y.o.)

"Music education should begin nine months before the birth of the child"
Z.Kodaly (Hungarian composer and educator)

The ‘Music Wonderland’ Programme is open to children (starting as early as 4 years old). In exceptional cases and depending on the development of a child we can enrol as young as 3.5 years old for the preparatory classes.

This is a unique approach to learning music and piano for a younger beginner. It allows children, not only to successfully learn music notation and develop their rhythmic and aural skills necessary for starting playing an instrument, but also to submerge into the magic world of music by listening to music performed by famous musicians, learning about composers and creating their own portfolio of stories and compositions based on the knowledge gained in the process of the lessons.

Every note represents a particular character from the Music Wonderland, with the use of magnetic boards and colourful educational materials.

Lessons can take place individually or in a group. The ‘Music Wonderland Programme’ was conceived and developed by EvgeniaTerentieva and is based on the 15-years of teaching experience working with children both in Russia and in the UK.

The programme is divided into 2 levels as listed below:

Info – Level I Preparatory classes (3,5 – 4 years old)

Level I "Pre-playing the instrument stage"

The programme presents:

• Dalcroze eurythmics
• Vocal development
• Creative movement, self-expression and imagination
• Music games and improvisation
• An introduction to music instruments
• Beginning to feel and recognise rhythmic notation
• Understanding the contrasting musical concepts

Classes are limited to five students.

Children entering Level I will be expected to complete at least one term. Upon completion of Level I they automatically transfer to Level II.

Info – Level II

Level II "Seeing – Singing – Playing"

As children progress through the curriculum they extend their ability to:

• Sing confidently and with good intonation
• Begin to read notation of pitch
• Begin to write pitch and rhythmic notation
• Develop their "inner ear" and improvise
• Understand musical concepts, form, structure and means of music expression
• Begin to recognise various music genres and styles
• Develop the co-ordination to play an instrument
• Recognise and play simple songs and passages
• Start playing piano (and possibly a second instrument)

A piano or keyboard in the home is required at this stage.