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A Musical Education

Great Value in Music for Young Children Program

By Carol McLeod

Published St Marys Journal Argus, March 12, 2003

The Oprah Show recently featured ‘child prodigies’; artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs. One of these prodigies was a 6-year-old boy who played the piano well enough to put the rest of us to shame. While most of us don’t possess the neural workings of a genius, or even the coordination needed to play the piano, most of us love music and what it does for us. Long before I had children, I knew that music would be a part of their lives. It was at the top of the list of possible extra-curricular activities. Then last summer, I was introduced to Bonnie Seymour, a local piano teacher who also teaches Music for Young Children (MYC). My oldest daughter started music lessons in Bonnie’s Sunshine group that fall, at the ripe old age of four. She has loved it right from the start, and I am constantly amazed at how much she has learned in such a short time.

She is two thirds of the way through Sunshine 1 now, and can play the C Major scale with both hands, plays “Mary Had a Little Lamb” all by herself, sings in key, can find A on the keybouard quicker than I can, and her social skills have improved greatly. She does not shy away from performing in front of an audience. She willingly plays the keyboard without any prompting from us, and is usually the one who says to me, “time for music homework!”

So what is the secret behind Music for Young Children’s success? I asked Bonnie for her thoughts on the program and why it works so well. She says, “it is so easy to teach because it is so child-friendly. I am a crafty person and love making the games and teacher aids. MYC allows me to express myself and to teach in a style that children can truly relate to”. Bonnie began her music training at the age of four. She learned the organ and flute and then eventually turned to the piano, which she says “has taken my passion completely”. She was first introduced to the MYC program 14 years ago and was “very impressed with it because I saw a great need to be able to offer music to very young children. All children are born with a natural love of music. Most of us know children love music because they will sing, dance, or move when music is played. I believe that if children are introduced to music and establish happy practice habits from a young age, they will always have an inner love of music. People turn to music when they are hurting, happy, thinking. It encourages, uplifts, gratifies, and makes us smarter. Why not give that gift to our children and let them grow up with music inspiring them from the start?”

The secret behind the program’s success is the method of delivery. First and foremost, Bonnie makes the class fun. They play age-appropriate games, and practice incentives include stickers that eventually lead to small rewards. Children as young as two can start in the Sunrise program. This part of the program has all the elements of the MYC program, less the keyboard component. The rest of the program is for children ages 3-9 and is broken up into age appropriate groups. All groups are keyboard-based, parent-participated, and fun! The children learn keyboard, singing, rhythm ensembles, theory, basic composition, listening exercises, harmony and more!

The Sunshine Program is for children age 3-4, and takes five years to complete. For the Sunbeams (ages 5-6) the program is four years, and for the Moonbeams (ages 7-9) the program is three years. Upon completion of the MYC program, the children will complete their Grade 1 Royal Conservatory of Music or Conservatory Canada practical exam and their Preliminary Rudiments written exam. The program is intensive and graduates of MYC far surpass the requirements of these exams in all areas. They then will be able to continue their musical education with any instrument and succeed.

A few weeks ago the children spent a Saturday at Bonnie’s “Winter Camp Day”. The children earned this day as a reward for daily practices. It was intended to brighten a long dreary winter and lift their musical spirits. Bonnie “threw caution to the wind” and set up a huge tent in her basement, which evoked some interesting responses from her students! They made “really cool” drums out of coffee cans and balloons, ate snowmen snacks made out of marshmallows and candies and sang some songs. The children also spent time composing their own songs. The compositions were then entered into a “Composition Festival” that MYC holds annually. The children were very proud to play their own masterpieces. When the class was done my daughter drummed us all the way home, singing “Hop, Hop, Ti-ti Hop” and the drum is now one of her treasured possessions.

Bonnie has some new programs starting over the next few months. First, beginning March 17 there will be a new Sunrise program. It is for children aged 2-3 ½ years old. This class will run for 10 weeks and they will be introduced to the basics of music by keeping a beat (walking, running, and standing), some theory (loud vs. soft), some simple crafts, stories, songs and more. The classes run for about 45 minutes every Monday morning in Bonnie’s home. If you have thought at all about music education for your child, then Summer Music Camp is an excellent way to try out the program. Camps will run from 9am-12pm daily for one week. Critters come to Camp for ages 3-4 runs July 14-18, and for ages 5-6 from July 21-25. Children will be introduced to some of the critters on the keyboard, and will sing, make crafts, play games, learn some basic rhythm ensembles and more. Composer Camp for ages 7-9 will run from August 11-15. All camps will be relatively small (maximum of 10 students per camp) so register early. There is also a program called Music Your Best Choice that Bonnie will be offering to adults of all ages in the fall. This program is specifically geared for people who always wished they could play the piano. It will run on Tuesday mornings beginning in September. For more information on this program call Bonnie or pick up a brochure at the Friendship Centre.

If you are at all interested in starting your child’s music education, I strongly suggest you give MYC a try. I am amazed at what my daughter has learned and retained so far. Not only do they learn the basics of music, but they also learn valuable lessons in letter and number recognition, pre-reading skills, and through the group dynamic they learn the ever-important skills of interacting with peers. Bonnie’s demeanor and way with children make learning music a pleasure. I speak for both my daughter and I when I say that I am looking forward to the rest of the program. Maybe by then I’ll be able to find A on the keyboard as quick as she can.

Music Lessons During the Day = More Flexibility for Parents

Published in the St Marys and area 2006 Recreation, Activity & Leisure Guide, April 2006.

Want to put your child in music lessons but don’t know how to fit it into your already busy schedule? Consider this: The Ministry of Education has recognized the importance of music education in a child’s development, and section 21.2E of the Ontario Education Act states that a child may leave during the school day without being marked absent only if “the child is absent from school for the purpose of receiving instruction in music and the period of absence does not exceed one-half day in any week.” Consideration is given to the child’s timetable, and the music instruction will not conflict with any core classes. The aim of music instruction is to enhance learning, not to take away from it. By parents making use of this clause they allow themselves more flexibility and less running around in the evenings.

Bonnie Seymour is a qualified piano teacher with 19 years experience teaching children and adults of all ages. She gives lessons from her home that is conveniently located across the street from Arthur Meighen School and 2 blocks from Holy Name. Lessons run for a half hour, and are scheduled during the least intrusive part of your child’s day. She has a safe arrival program set up with both schools, so parents can rest assured that their child will be safe. If you would like more information on the Act and how music education can benefit your child, please call Bonnie at 284-0942.

“Music enhances the process of learning. The systems they nourish, which include our integrated sensory, attention, cognitive, emotional and motor capacities, are shown to be the driving forces behind all other learning.” (Konrad. R.R., Empathy, Arts and Social Studies, 2000.)