'A child sings before it speaks, dances almost before it walks. Music is in our hearts from the beginning.'
– Pamela Brown

Complementing our acclaimed Music for Me courses, this engaging 8-week course explores basic musical concepts through a variety of fun and engaging activities. Children's sense of rhythm and pulse will be developed through 'body percussion', rhythm games, drumming and simple dances from the Latin American, North American, Irish and other traditions. And their sense of pitch and aural awareness will be developed by singing songs taught using the Kodály Method of ear training and solfège (do-re-mi). Move Your Feet classes are ideal for children who have already taken one of our 22-week Music for Me or other pre-instrumental courses, but they also provide a fun and fascinating introduction to music for children without any previous musical experience.

45-minute classes are structured into three main elements:

1. Movement to Music. Dances from around the world as well as improvised movement will be used to develop children's natural feel for a variety of time signatures and rhythmic patterns.
2. Solfège and Ear-Training, using Kodály Method songs. This part of the class develops pitch recognition, ear training and part-singing.
3. Musical Games. Each week a different musical concept will be explored through a fun game. For example, ‘Tap the Secret Code’ is a musical version of ‘Chinese Whispers’, in which children pass a rhythm from one to the other. Drums and percussion instruments will also be used so that children can apply the rhythmic concepts they've learned in the Movement to Music part of the class to an instrument.

Third Term Schedules & Fee

8 weeks, April 21 – June 23, 2012
(No classes on May 5 & June 2)

CLASS 1 (ages 4-5)
Saturdays 12.15 – 1 pm

CLASS 2 (ages 5-6)
Saturdays 1.15 – 2 pm

Tuition Fee: €100

Sian Murray, Teacher

Sian completed a BA in Languages and Cultural Studies at the University of Limerick and went on to complete a Cert. in Professional Musicianship at Newpark Music Centre and a Masters in Community Music at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. Her BA afforded her the opportunity to work as a researcher and assistant to composer Bill Whelan, exposing her to a spectrum of musical cultures, especially the Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban traditions. Sian worked as a Special Needs Assistant, Language Support teacher and regular classroom teacher in primary schools in Limerick and Dublin, which led her to pursue a Masters in Community Music as a way to marry her interest in music, children’s education and special needs. Since graduating, she has continued her work with special needs children, while also working with the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s Music Factory camp for children. Sian also has a keen interest in how dance and movement can benefit the musicality, confidence and general health of children and is an active member of the Latin dance community in Dublin. In addition to her teaching work, she has sung professionally with the band Nick Carswell and the Elective Orchestra for eight years, and provided backing vocals in the National Concert Hall and on The Late Late show for Liam Ó Maonlaí.

Enrolment

Enrolment for this course requires a completed enrolment form and full payment of tuition fees. (Go to Enrolment & Booking Form Downloads for a 2011-2012 General Enrolment Form.) Places are available on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date of enrolment. Early enrolment is recommended, as places in each class are limited to twelve.

Purchasing this course as a gift? Go to Enrolment & Booking Form Downloads for a Gift Certificate Booking Form.

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