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Early Childhood Music Academy

The BYU Young Musicians Academy was established to encourage music in the home by offering quality music experiences for preschool children and their parents. Directed by Susan H. Kenney, professor of music education at BYU, this program offers the following weekly classes: Parents & Toddlers (20 months-2 years old), Music Explorers (3 years old), and Music Makers (4 & 5 years old).

On this page you will find:

What is the Young Musicians Academy?

The Young Musicians Academy is a series of classes for preschool infants, children and their parents. Based on the belief that young children learn best when they are free to play and make discoveries as they play, these weekly classes provide rich music environments where children may explore a variety of music instruments, recordings, songs and music toys without structured teaching. Parents and teachers serve as partners in the play, and learn ways to expand children's understanding as they observe, label behaviors and make music with the children.

Newsletters provide background information for parents on such topics as child development, music development, music and the brain, etc. Each newsletter also outlines some appropriate music activities to do at home. In addition, the children may take a recording, music game, or instrument home each week.

Beliefs

We believe that:

  1. The first 5 years of life are the most important for building a strong music foundation
  2. Parents and family are the first and most important music teachers
  3. All children are musical and can learn about rhythm, melody, form, dynamics and sound colors from birth.
  4. Young children learn best when they are free to explore and make discoveries, guided by supportive adults.

Three-fold Mission

  1. To encourage developmentally appropriate music making at home with very young children.
  2. To provide supervised teaching experiences for select college students enrolled in music pedagogy and music education.
  3. To gather research regarding music and the young child.

Course Descriptions

"I could solve my most complex problems in physics if I had not given up ways of thinking common to children at play." -Openheimer

Parent-Toddler Course (20 months- 2 years old)

This course provides the toddler with an environment that allows for free musical exploration. At least one adult attends this course with each child, and will be involved in 1) observing and learning from their child, 2) assisting their child in musical exploration by labeling musical sounds, and 3) interacting with their child in the musical exploration.

Music centers allow the children to explore freely, be creative, make choices, solve problems, and control their environment. Children are involved in the study of music as they explore tone color (timbre), long and short sounds (rhythm), high and low sounds (pitch), patterns of sound (form), and loud and soft sounds (dynamics). In addition, the children develop musical skills of singing, listening, playing instruments, creating, and becoming familiar with music symbols in ways appropriate to their age.

Group time allows the children to participate in musical activities with their peers. Musical exploration is continued as the children are led by an adult in group singing, listening, moving to songs and recorded master works, and other creative activities. Social awareness and acceptable social behavior are also developed during group time. Each week, a performing musician visits the class to expose the children to orchestral instruments and classic music literature.

Newsletters and take-home materials encourage music making in the home. They provide parents with ideas, instruments, music games, and research information about the toddler that give added perspective concerning the kinds of musical experiences to provide in the home.

Music Explorers Course (3 years old)

This course continues the exploration of music that began in the parent-toddler course. At least one adult attends this course with each child, and will be involved in 1) observing and learning from their child, 2) assisting their child in musical exploration by labeling musical sounds, and 3) interacting with their child in the musical exploration.

Music centers allow the children to explore freely, be creative, make choices, solve problems, and control their environment. Children are involved in the study of music as they explore tone color (timbre), long and short sounds (rhythm), high and low sounds (pitch), patterns of sound (form), and loud and soft sounds (dynamics). In addition, the children develop musical skills of singing, listening, playing instruments, creating, and becoming familiar with music symbols.

Group time allows the children to participate in musical activities with their peers. Musical exploration is continued as the children are led by an adult in group singing, listening, moving to songs and musical recordings, and other creative activities. Three-year-olds are learning to work together, and group singing games challenge the children to solve social problems while they are learning music. Each week, a performing musician visits the class to expose the children to orchestral instruments and classic music literature.

Newsletters and take-home materials encourage music making in the home. They provide parents with ideas, instruments, and research information about the three-year-old that give added perspective concerning the kinds of musical experiences to do in the home.

Music Makers Course (4 and 5 years old)

This course grants pre-kindergarten children an environment for free musical exploration, while helping develop awareness of musical notation and instrument playing, including the xylophone, piano keyboard, and recorder.

Music centers allow the children to explore freely, be creative, and develop intellectual and social skills as they make choices, solve problems, and play together. Group Time, which plays a major role in this course, encourages children to explore more specific musical ideas.

Both the music centers and group time involve children in the study of music as they explores tone color (timbre), long and short sounds (rhythm), high and low sounds (pitch), patterns of sound (form), and loud and soft sounds (dynamics). In addition, children practice the musical skills of singing, listening, playing instruments, creating, and learning music symbols.

While parents are not invited to the Music Maker classes, information for parents is provided in the form of take-home activities so that musical exploration may continue at home. Children in the class are encouraged to "teach" their parents things they learn.

Course Schedule

2009-2010 Courses

First Class September 5, 2009
Last Class April 10, 2010
Parent Toddler: Saturdays 9:00-10:00am
Music Explorers: Saturdays 10:00-11:00 am
Music Makers: Saturdays 11:00-12:00

Registration Information

Click here for the 2009-2010 Registration Form.

Contact Information

Susan H. Kenney
Professor of Music Education
C 584 Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU
Provo, Ut 84602
801-422-3011
susan_kenney@byu.edu

Parents of enrolled Students

Please check back later for more information.

Last modified: March 18, 2009 Maintained by CFAC Webmasters.

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