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What is Let's Play Music?
What is Let's Play Music?
Let's Play Music is a 3-year music theory course for young children that emphasizes total musicianship through piano playing, singing, classical music, note reading and ear training... and it's accomplished through play!
Children learn most effectively when they are PLAYING! If you were to peek in on a Let's Play Music class, you would see jumping, singing, skipping, storytelling, and laughing! Music educators have long taught that the young child learns best through play, experience, and discovery. As musical concepts and skills are presented in a playful, joyful setting, children absorb knowledge and ability.
Please check out one of the videos below and Let's Play Music's corporate website for more information about this amazing program! And contact me if you would like any more information about joining this exciting musical movement.
I have a couple of minutes for a brief overview...
I have a couple of minutes for a brief overview...
I have a 10 minutes and want to dig deep...
I have a 10 minutes and want to dig deep...
Let's Play Music provides a rich musical and educational experience with great depth and breadth, and is so much more than your typical group kiddie class, or even private piano instructions. But before we get into all that...
Why Music?
Why Music?
First of all, let's discuss why you would want to consider music lessons in the first place. There are a lot of things to consider in the upbringing and education of your young child. Which activity will they enjoy? Which will have lasting benefit? Which will have the most bang for the bucks invested in it? There is so much research that has proven the incredible benefits of music study in a child's overall development and growing intellect. One study, by the German Socia-Economic Panel, found that "Music improves cognitive and non-cognitive skills more than twice as much as sports, theater, or dance." That's some serious bang. A short list of benefits include:
-Improve reading and verbal skills-Improve mathematical and spacial-temporal reasoning-Higher school grades and IQ-Learn languages more easily-Become a better listener-Slow the effects of aging-Strengthen your motor cortex-Improve your working memory-Improve your long-term memory for visual stimuli-Manage anxiety better-Enhance self-confidence and self-esteem
To read more details about this list, read this article.
-Improve reading and verbal skills-Improve mathematical and spacial-temporal reasoning-Higher school grades and IQ-Learn languages more easily-Become a better listener-Slow the effects of aging-Strengthen your motor cortex-Improve your working memory-Improve your long-term memory for visual stimuli-Manage anxiety better-Enhance self-confidence and self-esteem
To read more details about this list, read this article.
Why Piano?
Why Piano?
So, music is great then. Where should you start? Well, again with the research - piano is the best choice for maximum benefit. This article and this infographic (click on the image to the left) explain the incredible things that playing the piano does to the brain. Amazing! In short, a pianist's brain is more efficient, better at multi-tasking, and better able to communicate between hemispheres because both sides of the body get used both simultaneously and independently. And that has great implications - marrying the logical left brain with the creative and sensitive right brain creates a more well-rounded individual! "Playing the piano activates the brain in ways no other game, gadget, instrument or tool can. It's the total brain workout!"
Why Let's Play Music?
Why Let's Play Music?
What makes Let's Play Music stand out from other music programs for young children? Or even private lessons? First of all, a private teacher will generally have a student wait to start until they are 7-8 years old - when the fine-motor finger strength, reading skills, and attention span are ready for traditional one-on-one instruction. Well, research has shown us that the "Music Learning Window", the time when the developing brain is at it most thirsty-sponge-like state, is between the ages of 3 and 9. Ears, brains, and voices are prime at ages 4-5. You can see that waiting for private lessons will miss over half of that window! Let's Play Music is developmentally appropriate for a 4-6 year old - not too much sitting still, no reading required in the beginning, lots of movement, and lots of fun. They don't even realize that they are learning, but BOY are they ever learning! Don't get me wrong - private lessons are GREAT! However, at this young age, playful interaction using the whole body, games, laughter, singing, solfege hand signs and syllables (Do, Re, Mi, etc.), puppet shows, dancing, and even the occasional rap, creates such a rich and exciting learning environment that kids can't wait to come to class. While many private students may fizzle out after 6-12 months, Let's Play Music has a very high retention rate through the full 3 year course, after which children are primed to truly excel in private instruction.
What makes LPM different?
What makes LPM different?
And what makes LPM different from other young child mommy-and-me, music and movement classes? In the words of Shelle Soelberg, the creator of Let's Play Music, these programs are, "similar to Let's Play Music and many of our basic philosophies are the same: play-based learning, folk songs and games, group lessons. However, we are very different in the fact that the Let's Play Music curriculum is strategically written to incorporate solid music literacy and ear-training skills into carefully sequenced lesson plans."
An LPM graduate would be able to move to private instruction at the age of 7-9, playing at a solid beginning level, and understanding music in a very comprehensive and intrinsic way. We teach them not only to enjoy and appreciate music, but to read it, to understand it, to play it, and to create it!
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