ISSUED: 27 March 2018
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University’s Community Music Program is offering summer early childhood music classes on Wednesdays beginning June 13 in the Frank Center. Tuition for each class is $70.
The classes, for children age 18 months to 7 years, are intended to help develop music, language, verbal development, and spatial-temporal skills. The students will learn the rudiments of music such as rhythm, tempo, and melodic movement by working with children’s songs from around the world, stories, and movement to music. They will play rhythm and Orff instruments during the lessons and explore summer sounds like bumblebees, frogs, and birds. They will also sing echo songs and learn simple circle dances.
The following classes will run on Wednesday, June 13, 20, and 27, and July 11, and 18:
- Musical Discoveries—9:15-10 a.m. for ages 18 months-3 years, with parent/caregiver. This interactive class for children and caregivers will introduce the young student to the rudiments of music. The class will explore songs, echo songs, creative movement, rhymes, and finger-play. Children will play a wide variety of rhythm instruments such as drums, rhythm sticks, wood blocks, and triangles.
- Music for Preschoolers—10-10:45 a.m. for ages 3-5 years, with parent/caregiver. This class is designed to prepare the child for later instrumental studies or voice lessons. The group will play wood, metal, and shaker instruments, sing songs and echo songs, develop their listening skills, and work with creative movement and circle dances. Younger children love to observe and copy older children. Older students will help to lead the group in musical activities and songs.
- Dalcroze Eurhythmics, Intro to Piano Class—11-11:45 a.m. for ages 5-7 years. The children will work on simple notation, rhythm reading, and a few tunes on the piano. Students will learn to express the elements of music such as time, rhythm, melody, pitch, and dynamics through movement. The movement activities will be accompanied by piano. Students will also work on their singing voice and will play different Orff instruments.
For more information about Shepherd’s Community Music Program summer early childhood music classes, contact Sherry Sykes, Community Music coordinator, at ssykes@shepherd.edu or 304-876-5248.
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