Music kindergarten group for babies and toddlers

A Wood Dalling mum has started a music kindergarten group for newborn to 17-month-old babies – and their parents and carers.
 

 
Tiny Beats & Tuneful Tots will be held in the Bircham Centre, Market Place, Reepham, on Thursdays from 10.30–11.15 am.
 
The classes will be held on 28 September; 5 and 12 October; 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 November; and 7 December.
 
The group is the idea of Willemijn Slijboom, a mother of 10-month-old Lotte and a music and violin teacher with a BMus (Hons) degree from Birmingham Conservatoire).
 
The lessons are 45 minutes in duration, followed by 15 minutes to socialise with other parents, carers and children. First sessions for free, afterwards £5 per session; siblings welcome.
 
The classes are based on the principles of Zoltán Kodály, which encourages parents/carers through play, songs and musical games to bond with their babies.
 
“We help children to listen, to feel and to prepare for singing,” said Ms Slijboom. “There will be bouncing and tickling rhymes, finger plays, nursery/folk songs, peek-a-boo games, play songs, call-and-response, lullabies, listening and dances.
 
“Babies will receive a solid musical foundation in a child-centred way and step-by-step will enjoy experiencing and developing their senses of pulse (steady beat), tempo (fast/slow), rhythm (short/long), dynamics (loud/soft) and pitch (high/low), discover new sounds, such as tambourines and bells, build listening skills and develop concentration skills through a variety of musical activities.”
 
The classes aim to promote babies’ awareness of their bodies as they begin to develop motor skills and co-ordination skills.
 
With the help of parents/carers, babies will discover their knees and toes and extend their concentration.
 
Simple percussion instruments from “Eggz” to claves and soft toys will be used to internalise the pulse.
 
The musical concepts will be introduced in an enjoyable way and presented within the framework of age-appropriate games.
 
The classes are fun and will aim to share the joy of music. There is plenty of variety in the group, from going round the mountain to blowing candles or listening to a piece of Vivaldi while sitting on a parents’/carers’ lap.
 

 

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