Format

Mini music is a long-established, popular group which takes place in a warm hall with a friendly atmosphere. The classes are devised by a qualified teacher with many years experience teaching music.

The classes are divided into three age-groups, one for babies and toddlers aged 6 months to 2 years, one for children aged 2 to 3 years and one for children aged 3 - 4 years. Each class consists of half-an-hour of music followed by half-an-hour of play with toys and refreshments.

Your child's class will include the following activities:

1. FINGER RHYMES
Using hand movement to accompany songs and rhymes is the best way of learning them and will also improve your child's co-ordination. e.g. Two little dickie birds
2. NURSERY RHYMES AND OTHER ACTION SONGS
Being able to move, clap or tap to the beat is a fundamental aspect of music and this will also give your child a strong sense of beat: e.g. Hickory Dickory Dock (sway from side to side)
3. CLAPPING SONGS
I always start with a clapping song. This is usually one of the first actions a baby learns and she/he will join in enthusiastically.e.g. If you're happy and you know it
4. SONGS WITH PUPPETS
Taking the puppet out of a bag is a learning process in itself and it may be a while before your child is able to do this alone. Seeing the puppet in action brings the song to life for the children. e.g. This little piggy (Pig puppet). Every three weeks I use a puppet theatre to introduce some puppets.
5. COUNTING SONGS
I always use a picture to illustrate a counting song, which is great for getting to grips with numbers. We also try to guess the colour of the picture each week. e.g. 5 little ducks
6. STORY TIME
This is for the 3+ class only. Using a wider selection of more advanced instruments, I ask the children to accompany me as I tell them a story using a picture with movable characters. For example, the children play up and down glockenspiels as Jack climbs up and down the beanstalk.
7. SONGS WITH PROPS
Each week I use different props to introduce a song. e.g. Down at the station (train whistle). Sometimes we use brightly coloured scarves with peekaboo songs.
8. LAP BOUNCING SONGS
Children loved to bounced, the higher and faster the better. e.g. Five in the bed
9. PLAYING A PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT
I have a good selection of suitable percussion instruments and the children are free to choose their own. Singing any rhythmic song while playing an instrument encourages the children to keep the beat. We also learn about playing softly, loudly, fast and slowly and even how to be silent.
10. MOVEMENT
Children are usually bursting with energy and so love this part of the session when we get up and start to get more active. e.g. I'm a little teapot. Every three weeks we have fun with a parachute.
11. LULLABIES
This is a quiet time at the end when children can choose a soft toy to cuddle while we sing lullabies and other gentle songs. e.g. Lavender's Blue
12. AND FINALLY....
...a chance to sit back and relax with a cuppa while the children raid the toy box and consume vast quantities of biscuits and squash!