Early Childhood Music

Awaken your child’s inner musician

An early start changes everything

When children start doing music early, they absorb music the way they absorb language— naturally. It makes all later musical learning easier.

Children are born with high musical aptitude, just as they’re born with an aptitude for learning language. Exposure to lots of language in the first five years of life allows children to learn their native language. Children exposed to music at these ages also learn music like a native language. The most sensitive age for musical acquisition is 0-18 months, and children remain especially sensitive to musical input for the first five years of life.

Children exposed to a wide variety of music early in life develop the necessary neural pathways to understand music deeply. They become natural performers and composers and enjoy music to the fullest.

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Ali Garcia

“My daughter has developed so much in a short time! Chantel is a warm, kind, and patient teacher. She uses science backed curriculum, and lots of fun props in class as well! After this experience, my toddler will now sway, bounce, and dance to the beat of music more than she did before! At home she also is starting to make sounds from the songs as sing in class. Thank you cadences and keys for a fantastic experience!”

Children learn through play.

Imagine a music class where children not only play while hearing music, but children play with music. Picture this: the teacher sings a familiar song combined with some familiar movement. Then, she stops singing and leaves a silence where there’s usually a few notes. What will the children do? Stare in surprise? Make a random sound? Try to fill in the gap? (All of these are steps in the journey towards understanding music!)

Early Childhood music students get to use fun materials like scarves, rhythm sticks, egg shakers, and a parachute; hear songs and chants with and without words; and practice moving to the music in every class. There are no expectations about children’s responses, but lots of opportunities for growth as children experiment with sound.

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How Early Childhood Music Classes work

Early childhood classes are mixed age for 0-5 year-olds and their caregivers. We meet once a week for 30 minutes. At each class we will play with songs, chants and musical patterns. Children will have opportunities to absorb music, invent their own musical responses, and imitate. Classes are organized into 9 week sessions in which we become familiar with a specific set of songs and chants before starting a new session. You will also have access to mp3s to listen at home. As you become familiar with the songs and games we do in class, you’ll be able to do them at home with your child and help them grow musically! This class lays an excellent foundation for kids who will go on to play instruments or sing in choirs, or for children who just love interacting with music. Click on "Camps/Workshops” to sign up for 9 weeks of classes; if you’d like to drop in for a free trial class, email me here.

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Kamber Goff, mother of 6:

“My kids always look forward to music class with Chantel! She brings so much joy to her teaching, and her classes are fun and well-paced. She’s good at responding to and engaging with the kids, and she’s very knowledgeable about childhood development and musical learning. I highly recommend her early childhood classes!”

FAQs

It’s fun! We play music games to develop children’s musical senses, using songs and chants without words, and materials like rhythm sticks, drums, egg shakers, scarves, etc. Children will all have opportunities to respond musically, but it’s also ok if they don’t visibly respond to the music in the environment; they are absorbing the musical content!
Adults in early childhood classes should be attentive to the children, move to the music, and, if you are comfortable, echo the music when requested! You are your child’s most important music teacher– smile, have fun, and be engaged, and the children will too!
There are space constraints, so extra adults will have to wait in a separate room of my home. If you have an older child who needs to be present with you, please contact me before or after registration and I will do my best to accommodate you.
Yes! I will prorate the cost using a manual override. Contact me at chantelmkrause@gmail.com if you’d like to join midway through a quarter.
My curriculum is based on Music Play , part of the Jump Right In preschool music series by Edwin E. Gordon and others.
2nd and 3rd children can get a discount with code "SIBLINGS" when you sign up!
I have experience teaching children with cognitive differences and with physical disabilities. I'm happy to make accommodations as I am able! Please send me an email if you have specific questions about this at chantelmkrause@gmail.com.