Music for Young Children - Lockport

Description

In March of 1980, Frances Balodis sat at her kitchen table in Dartmouth Nova Scotia with a clear goal in mind: To create a program that would fulfill the need for quality music education for young children.
Taking the experience from her education and 21 years of teaching, Frances along with her husband Gunars, set out to create a comprehensive music education program tailored to the strengths and abilities of young children. Today, MYC has more than 24000 students annually, 900 teachers and is taught on 3 continents. Over time the curriculum has been refined, reviewed and mastered to ensure that it is consistent and current with conservatories and the music industry. Frances and Gunars have since retired and sold the business to their daughter, Olivia Riddell, who along with her husband David, continue to take MYC into the future. Through it all, the core principles and dream has remained the same: Music is a gift that lasts a lifetime, and that all children and families deserve quality music education. A Music for Young Children class includes age appropriate instruction in piano, theory, rhythm & movement, composition, sight reading and ear training. Groups of 4 to 6 students, age 4 and up, meet weekly from September to May. Parents of children under age 9 participate in class and are involved in home practice. The emphasis is on FUN! Much can be learned through play. Sunrise is the Preparatory level for three year olds. Classes can have up to 8 children. They learn to read rhythm and melodic patterns, which they play on step bells. There is a strong emphases on singing and movement. Sunrise helps children succeed in school, as well as in learning to play an instrument. The youngest children, from 3 months to 2 1/2 years of age are introduced to the wonderful world of music through the Music Pups Program, which is based in Atlanta Georgia. Classes can have up to 10 children. They learn to keep the beat, and to sing back rhythmic and melodic patterns. There is a strong emphases on singing, movement, and experimentation with rhythm instruments.