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Original poster

music playgroups for one year old

30 replies

Clure · 27/03/2006 20:37

Was wondering if anyone attends music type playgroup/meetings with their little ones. I've attended a "taster" jo jingles and a friend has mentioned kinder music. I'm a part time music teacher - anyone got any advice/experiences to offer? Thanks

OP posts:
threebob · 27/03/2006 20:43

Hi Clure - are you thinking of starting your own, or looking for one for your little one?

Nbg · 27/03/2006 20:47

Have just finished KinderMusik with my dd who is 2.5.

It was very good and something different to do with her.
The one main thing I noticed after we finished (did it for 4 months) was that her speech came on a hell of alot and she even knows the words to all the songs on the Cd's you get given.

It's given her a real sense of timing and movement and just boosted her love of music.

Original poster
Clure · 27/03/2006 21:01

Threebob - I'm just looking to go to a group with my DD. My time is taken up with teaching primary age children and looking after my DD so no time to start up a group of my own - nice idea though!

Nbq - thanks for that, my friend seemed impressed after one session of kindermusic. Will look into local groups

OP posts:
threebob · 27/03/2006 21:07

Okay, I can't help with specifics as I am in NZ, but you are looking for a class that doesn't have millions of children, the music is slow enough that children can do the actions in time. Not all the music should be on CD, the teacher should be able to improvise to meet a situation such as a child bringing in a toy animal. The teacher should also understand why he/she is doing specific activities - not just because it's on that weeks CD.

But lots of children have fun at ones that don't meet my personal high standards.

CarolinaMoon · 27/03/2006 21:11

Shock at music on CD.

I've taken ds to a non-franchise music group in my village since he was tiny - we sign songs, mostly with actions, and the teacher plays guitar and a bit of keyboards.

We have a section in the middle where the kids play various shakers and drums, and there are other props like balls and beanbags which vary from week to week.

It is fab and ds loves it (even though he's still too small to do many of the actions himself).

carol3 · 27/03/2006 21:27

Have been going to jo jingles since dd3 was 10 months she's 2.5 now she loves it and so do i ! The props and songs are great dd3 asked me every day wheather its a jo jingles day Smile

Original poster
Clure · 27/03/2006 21:58

Carol3 thats so sweet at your dd3 asking if everyday was a jo jingles day! Smile

I teach music from foundation stage to year 6 in two and a half days at a primary school in a what used to be part of an education action zone (so a bit of a challenge!!) Brilliant though. I have to say there's nothing like real live music, and the younger children are excited when the instruments come out!

I think that signing along to songs is great too Carolinamoon - we do "signalong" at our school and it certainly helps those children who need visual prompts to help with their listening skills.

In foundation stage I certainly place a lot of emphasis on singing, action songs and rhymes and playing/clapping etc along with the rhythm of the music. I also use visual signs to get children to start and stop, also to sing or play loud or quiet. Now begun to use signs to get them to sing (internalise) a song in their head.

Oooh sorry I'm getting carried away. Anyway really I want a foundation for DD to enjoy music and all the skills it promotes. I obviously sing and clap and have bought her simple instruments to play (she's invented a few of her own too - like tapping her hairbrush on mummy's mirrored wardrobes!!) but I'd like to make it more of a social thing.

Have just sent a couple of email enquiries to local council. See what comes up.

OP posts:
CarolinaMoon · 28/03/2006 14:19

oops, that was a typo - should have just been "sing" Blush

Can your HV provide details of any local groups?

jamese · 28/03/2006 17:01

I take my DD(2.3) to mini musicians. She has been going since 6 months old (joined a different class once she could walk). She loves it. They do play a CD, but all the children go up to get different instraments, or hats and ducks etc for each song. I agree with comment re speech, DD seems to be ahead of her friends who don't go in that area. Only problem we have is that she is so shy she won't actually joined in much when we are there, but on the way home and at home she sings for ages. Would certainly recommend that worth going to.

jmum6 · 28/03/2006 17:06

I'm a minimusican fan too. We've been going for the last 6 weeks and I'm disappointed that it's stopping for EAster Hols. Can't wait until it starts up again.

My ds loves the instruments, and is beginning to get the idea of putting things away again after playing with them. It is with a cd but as we're given the cd we can learn the songs at home as well.

LOVE IT!

jmum6 · 28/03/2006 17:07

Jamese - are you local to swindon/wiltshire?

CarolinaMoon · 28/03/2006 17:26

I've got to repeat my Shock at the CDs.

What's wrong with the teacher playing a guitar and just singing ffs??

jmum6 · 28/03/2006 17:29

Why?

CarolinaMoon · 28/03/2006 17:34

well, to me, part of the point of a music group like that is to get across to the children the idea that we can all make music, that we can play instruments etc. Music coming out of a CD player just doesn't do that.

And we've got a CD player at home. And it's not that hard to learn songs like Sleeping Rabbits or whatever anyway.

And tiny children seem to find it easier to listen to very simple arrangements - just a voice or a guitar or some simple percussion.

jmum6 · 28/03/2006 17:38

I agree that it would be lovely, but the children do accompany the cd with a lovely range of instruments as well as learning all about rhythm, beat, pitch etc etc.

I like the way we have the same cd and sing along in the car or at home.
Besides I didn't know half the songs so I really needed the cd to learn the correct words and tunes!

threebob · 28/03/2006 20:12

The CD ones - do they do any unaccompanied singing at all?

hellywobs · 28/03/2006 20:21

We've done Jo Jingles and Kindermusik as well as a more local one called the Len Tyler music school. My son loves Jo Jingles and does it now at nursery as well.

jamese · 29/03/2006 09:11

Jmum6 - yes I live in Swindon. Which MM do you go to? I go to the one at Lawns on Friday morning 11.00.

Re comment about CDs - I guess I agree it would be nice to be unaccomanpanied, but this doesn't seem to be an option.

Also agree with Jmum6, when I first went along with DD I didn't know that many songs, and they didn't have a CD then, it is much easier to learn the new ones we are taught when you can play them at home and in the car. DD loves the CD

threebob · 29/03/2006 10:19

Just to be nosey - how much do you all pay. A woman told a teacher at the school that she thought $4 a session was too much. It's the price of a cup of coffee.

jmum6 · 29/03/2006 10:25

Jamese - I go to minimusicians at north swindon library on tues, 1.15.

Was thinking about this during the night - couldn't sleep- and I think the cd is actually important because it gives the children and adults confidence to join in, as if unaccompanied they can be more self conscious and hold back.

I think the sessions are £3 but we pay in a block to cover a term.

Original poster
Clure · 29/03/2006 20:34

About the CD thing. I think where possible its good to have live music - the reception class I taught in today LOVED the guitar I brought into sing with them (despite the fact that I am not a guitarist and know about 5 chords!) However not everyone is confident in playing an instrument and so CD's are a good back up. Also the fact that mums can take them home and enjoy singing with their little ones - good role models to promote singing as well as having fun together. Repetition is important to a child's learning and development. I'm still making enquiries about local groups. Have a phone number for a group called music makers. Not sure if this is just a local or franchise group.

OP posts:
CarolinaMoon · 29/03/2006 20:38

I actually took ds to a music group a few months ago where the teacher didn't play any instruments, she just sang and the kids had the usual drums and shakers. She was a fantastic singer though.

I just can't see the appeal of a music group run by someone who's not confident leading the singing by themselves, with or without an instrument.

Original poster
Clure · 29/03/2006 20:48

Agree with you Carolinamoon. If you are going to lead a music group you do need to have confidence in your abilities as a musician - whether its singing or playing.

OP posts:
TaiTai · 29/03/2006 21:30

I take my baby to a local music group. Like a poster above I've been taking her since she was about 5/6 mths old but have switched groups to one with more space now she is moving about. DD loves music and really enjoys the classes. The new class is very good, with an exuberant teacher who sings and plays guitars. We all get up to dance at times and the children play instruments to accompany some songs and are taught actions. Someone above mentioned not knowing the words - dd's teacher provides laminted copies of the song lyrics to share around re the more obscure songs. I really recommend it. Where are you, Clure?

TaiTai · 29/03/2006 21:32

er, that's only one guitar the teacher plays! She doesn't do both acoustic and electric guitar, in case you were wondering Wink. Although a rock-out version of "twinkle twinkle" may be a way of spicing up a tired old classic...