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Pre-School Music Classes

11 replies

Gillian76 · 03/02/2006 13:40

I was thinking about taking DS.

Does anyone know of any good classes or ones to avoid?

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MissChief · 03/02/2006 13:41

some can be great, others cringe-worthy, some super-strict & structured. Have to try them out & see what suits you both.

Gillian76 · 03/02/2006 13:42

We have Jo Jingles nearby and a few local groups.

Can I just go for a "trial" session or sign up for a term?

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MissChief · 03/02/2006 13:44

if they're any good they should offer you a trial. We did JJ - found it good but way too structured for my boisterous boy, suits some children brilliantly though. Try it out

LIZS · 03/02/2006 13:49

Think they vary according to each teacher although the bigger ones have a standard format and theme for each term.

Gillian76 · 03/02/2006 16:42

Anyone been to Music with Mummy?

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Milliways · 03/02/2006 22:28

We did Kindermusic through the Nerkshire Young Musicians Trust .

DS learned to read music, play the glockenspiel, sing in rounds & parts, play percussion, perform in concerts & then offerred opportunity for junior choir, recorders, violin or a whole range of instruments (they have come & try evenings). He took up the classical guitar & is still playing 3 years later.

Milliways · 03/02/2006 22:29

Oops - that is Berkshire!

meggmoo · 03/02/2006 22:30

Personally I hated Jo Jingles, perhaps it was the teacher but it was so flat and ds didn't seem to like it at all.

I loved Kindermuzik I don't go now but we loved it and went for months and months.

Gillian76 · 03/02/2006 22:35

I like the look of the Kindermusik website but we don't have anyone nearby, AFAIK.

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SqueakyCat · 04/02/2006 20:36

We've done music with mummy, Jo Jingles, tiny talk (a bit different but still all singing) and a small local group run by a church.

Music with mummy was least 'commercialised' / branded. I like that. Also the 'themes' and 'bring things in'. Teacher was good. material all quite old-fashioned, lots of 'new' songs, not much in the way of 'gimmics', listening slot with music to listen to, random instruments rather than all get the same thing.

Jo Jingles was heavily branded and structured. They all have the same instruments at the same time. My DSs both love it (ages 1 and 3). The teacher is fab, so I like it too. There's a 'theory' slot when she talks about pitch, loud / quiet etc. All kids have the same instrument at the same time, and there are about 6+ different instruments, which are introduced well. At least one gimmic / toy in each session, which is a big hit with the kids. Most of her classes are far too big, though.

Tiny talk: structured and branded. teacher not v good. Didn't enjoy. I hated sitting on chairs with baby on my lap - I prefer sitting on the floor. Good play and drink time afterwards. Only for kids under 2yrs though.

Local group - friendly, had play-and-drink time, pretty unstructured and chaotic.

IME, the basics are much of a muchness (you go with child, songs are sung, instruments shaken, you go home) the biggest things are the teacher (current JJ teacher gets DS1 to do stuff no-one else has ever got him to do), the class size, and play-and-drink-time (currently a turn-off for us, but can be v important if you want to meet people.

There's also Monkey Music which is widely franchised.

Gillian76 · 04/02/2006 21:15

Thanks, Squeakycat. Plenty of food for thought. Think I will see about going along to a couple and see what "works" for us

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