Literacy and ABC Kindergarten Skills
Research has shown that singing improves reading. Our classes prepare children for kindergarten by exploring concepts and skills such as name recognition, alphabet and phonetic awareness, counting, identifying colors, rhyming, telling time, and sequencing.
Rythm and Beat
In class we experience steady beat and imitate rhythmic patterns with our voices, bodies, and through hands-on use of instruments. We incorporate Eurythmics which IS 2 movement based rhythm training that is perfect for toddlers.
Vocal and pitch development
Sound Beginnings channels the young voice into beautiful, in-tune singing by providing proper vocal modeling in the correct range. Solfege hand signs teach pitch relationships and the minor 3rd (SOL-MI) pattern is used to develop in-tune singing and pitch matching.
Fine motor skills
Little hands need to be strong in order to perform life and learning skills such as dressing oneself and writing. In class students gain finger dexterity and hand strength as they participate in finger plays to favorite nursery rhymes and manipulate tactile props and instruments.
Gross motor skills
Peek into a Sound Beginnings class and you will see skipping, crawling, dancing, and jumping! Full body movement builds large muscle strength, hand-eye coordination, aids brain hemisphere function, and develops balance in young children.
Classical music experience
Our classes teach intelligent listening and understanding of classical form in a fun and interactive way. Each semester we study the timbre of various instruments and our 'smart moves' dances involve the whole body in an enjoyable classical music experience.
Parent bonding
A child learns when a child feels loved. In class, purposeful touching, eye contact, partner activities and generational nostalgia develop the highly significant parent-child relationship.
