Music Within

What is “Children’s Music?” Most of us automatically think of music created by adults for children. At Opus 118, we believe that all children are born with the inclination to sing, chant, move, and dance—that they already have music within them ready to be expressed. Recent research in early childhood music education points to the importance of acknowledging the music that children naturally present to us, as it is linked to their cognitive, emotional, and social development, The “Music Within” curriculum strives to embrace children’s creative and spontaneous music making through interactive, improvisatory instrumental, movement, and vocal play driven by the needs and reactions of the children involved.  By exploring the music that lies within, new musical concepts and skills can be honed in uniquely meaningful ways.  This attunement to the musical development of children will allow for more profound and enjoyable learning experiences and will likely foster the joy for music that children so naturally relate to.

Class A: Ages 2-3
Together with their caregivers/parents, class A will explore rhythms, songs, movements, and sounds through creative and improvisatory activities.  The imaginative and spontaneous musical expressions that children of this age naturally produce will be encouraged and guided through interactive story-telling, dance, singing games, group singing, and instrument play, as children express their inner musicality.

Class B: Ages 4-5

Children will find their own ways of making music through activities that encourage vocal and instrumental play, as well as movement and dance.  Visual symbols for sounds will be presented along with songs as a method for beginning note-reading skills.  Music vocabulary will be introduced, as children continue to explore, improvise, create, and exchange musical ideas.

If you need more information please call Karen Geer, Dean of Programs at (212) 831-4455 x 102.  If you would like to register, please fill out the attached form and mail it to the Opus 118 office, or fax it to us at (212) 831-5155.

Download: Music Within Registration Form (PDF)