Helping children develop the happy habit of learning music since 1980.




Sunrise

Pre-keyboard music and movement (3 years)

The natural energy and music children ages 2-3 years old have within them is amazing.  They are generally constantly singing, moving to a rhythm or beat and always ready to move!  Sunrise is an exciting and innovative pre-school music & movement program with a flexible format that fits the level of development of these children perfectly.

Our Teddy Bears help teach the children rhythms and puppet friends Buzz, Buddy and Mellow guide children on their music journey and instruction with singing, and ear training. Our child-centred curriculum includes stories, songs, and games to ensure that all children feel and achieve a high level of engagement and success.

There are three blocks (or levels) to the Sunrise program.  Sunrise Block 1, 2 and 3 - each 10 weeks in length.

Each block builds upon the last, so as the child's foundation in singing, rhythm and ear training builds and grows, so does the curriculum.

Once a child has finished either one, two or the full three blocks of Sunrise, they are naturally ready to move seamlessly into Sunshine 1 (SS1).



Sunshine 1 & 2

Sunshine 1 , the youngest of the keyboard programs, is the starting point of the MYC® Method for 3-4 year old beginners, building their foundation in music reading and playing the piano.  Students experience movement through beats and rhythms, as well as developing their fine motor skills with rhythm instrument ensemble playing.  Children start learning the geography of the piano and note-reading through our MYC Critters (and their stories that children can relate to).  By the end of the SS1 level (after 36 weeks), children are able to play their first scale (C Major) and are reading from the staff.  Their pre-reading experiences such as identifying like/different sorting, patterns, and reinforcing and recalling the music concepts through fun at-home activities with gluing and colouring are all part of this level.

Please visit the Music for Young Children website for more information on the different Sunshine levels.



Sunbeams 1, 2 and 3

Sunbeams 1 (SB1) is the entry point of the MYC® Method for 5-6 year old beginners.  They are first introduced to piano geography and rhythms through our MYC Critters to help set their foundation of music knowledge and education; however, the pace of learning for these Sunbeams matches their developmental stages.  Vocabulary development is the focus for this age group- at this stage we introduce “big kid” terminology to introduce concepts, finger numbers, and keyboard geography.

Please visit the Music for Young Children website for more information on the different Sunbeams levels.


Moonbeams 1, 2 and 3

Moonbeams 1 (MB1) is the entry point of the MYC® Method for 7-9 year olds.  The older beginner program is designed to support the students’ growing sense of independence.  Reading becomes the primary focus for gathering information, while the songs, ensembles and keyboard repertoire incorporate early piano literature, folk songs, technique and harmonization.

Please visit the Music for Young Children website for more information on the different Moonbeams levels.


My Choice 1 & 2

Students in the My Choice levels of MYC® are generally between the ages of 10-12 years of age.  The significant difference with My Choice is not the curriculum, but the structure of the class, in that the parents are not required to attend every lesson with their children.  Since these students are older, they are able to learn on their own, with the teacher, still in a group situation.


Music Your Best Choice

Music Your Best Choice is our adult program, for people who have either learned piano many years ago, and want to re-engage in their learning and playing, or it is for the first time, beginner adult.  By adult, this can mean an older teenager, university or college student, a working professional, or someone who is retired.

The program can be taught in either a group situation or privately.

(Photo courtesy of Northumberland SNAPD Magazine)