First Steps in Music - For ages 2 & 3
We are launching a completely new music course for 2 and 3 year old children in the New Year with the emphasis on enjoying music.
An instrument at home is not necessary. It has been developed by Karen (our Junior Music Specialist) and has already been successfully piloted in nurseries in her home town of Southport.
Children and mums will be:
- Singing all types of children’s action songs and nursery rhymes
- Experiencing rhythm work and using percussion instruments
- Listening to all kinds of music together
- Recognising simple musical patterns by ear and eye
- Introduced to solfege singing
This will produce a fantastic basis for those wishing to ‘graduate’ onto our Junior Music Course. The sessions will be weekly, early afternoon, 40 minutes long, costing £4.50.
Junior Music Course – Keyboard Lessons for younger children
Junior Music Course is the best possible introduction that a young child can have to the world of music. Open to children starting between the ages of 4 and 5 these music lessons offers them a unique chance to make music during a critical period in their development. Ninety percent of our students achieve perfect pitch, and the benefits in terms of their physical, emotional, social and intellectual development are immense.
Junior Music Course classes are taught in groups of up to 10 children. By making music together, the confidence and self-esteem of the children gets a huge boost. Many parents report that their children’s listening and social skills are considerably enhanced. To maintain the concentration and motivation of a young child for each one hour lesson, the teacher will have prepared at least thirty different activities, blending concentration, relaxation, music games, listening, singing and playing. And, as a parent, you are actively encouraged to join your child in the classroom and share the fun!
Junior Music Course lessons in Altrincham are £9.50 for an hour and this is payable in 10-weekly blocks on the first lesson of each block.
The only other cost of the course is the accompanying book and CD, which is £20.00. These contain all course materials (including exam pieces) and will last approximately 6 months. Subsequently you may progress to book 2 and so on…..
JUNIOR PLAY FOR KEEPS – Keyboard Lessons for ages 6 & 7
Junior Play For Keeps keyboard lessons provides a fun and stimulating environment in which children can enjoy making music on a keyboard. It is open to beginners aged between six and seven and is designed to take the student to an intermediate level. At this stage they then progress to the Play For Keeps course, working towards grade 3.
At the age of six, a child’s attention span has started to lengthen and they can stay focused for longer. In Junior Play For Keeps we believe that a fun approach to learning music is important. We achieve this through listening, singing and reading activities. Course material consists of a series of themed text books with a visually striking cartoon-style presentation designed to appeal to children of this age. An examination syllabus is available for the course, which leads to a fully accredited Trinity College of London Grade structure when the student graduates to the mainstream Play For Keeps course, typically at the age of 10.
Junior Play for Keeps keyboard lessons in Altrincham are £9.50 for an hour and this is payable in 10-weekly blocks on the first keyboard lesson of each block.
The only other cost of the course is the accompanying book and CD, which is £20. This contains all course materials (including exam pieces) and will last approximately 6 to 8 months. Subsequently you may progress to book 2 and so on…..
PLAY FOR KEEPS – Keyboard Lessons for age 8+
Play For Keeps is the ideal course for those who want to learn the keyboard in a fun and creative environment. Working in a group of up to ten students, you will have the additional advantage of being able to learn to play in a band, as well as solo. Whether you’re nine or ninety, in Play For Keeps you’ll find it’s never too late to discover the fun of music-making.
Play For Keeps course material follows a fully accredited Trinity College exam syllabus and will take the student from beginner to Grade 8 standard. It encompasses a broad range of musical genres, with a focus on popular music from the Rock & Roll era to the present day. We make sure you get to learn the styles of music you want to be able to play, so there’s never been a better time to learn to play the keyboard.
Play For Keeps Keyboard lessons in Altrincham are £9.50 for an hour and this is payable in 10-weekly blocks on the first keyboard lesson of each block.
The only other cost of the course is the accompanying books and CD, which are from £21.50. These contains all course materials (including exam pieces) and will last approximately one year. Subsequently you may progress to book 2 and so on…..
Altrincham Keyboard Teachers
Karen Ward
Junior Music Course, Junior Play for Keeps, Play for Keeps & Pianomate
Karen has been involved with Yamaha Music Schools since 1984, first as a pupil and then a teacher. In 1987 she was asked to be part of a national recruiting team for Yamaha Music Schools, visiting state schools throughout the UK. After training in Sept 1987 she worked at the independent YMS in Southport, taking over that school in 1993, and in 1994 joined Dawsons to run their Wigan School. In 1999 she joined the YMS team at Dawsons in Altrincham to concentrate on Yamaha junior courses, becoming an instructor for Junior courses in 2005.
As well as her considerable experience with Yamaha Karen has enjoyed performing at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, and in 1992 represented the U.K in the European Yamaha Electone Festival final in Milan. It was here that Karen won an outstanding performance prize with her own composition.
Andy Smith
BA(Hons) ARCM
Play for Keeps, Piano School for Children & Piano Mate
Andy began his musical career straight after university, teaching piano, theory, clarinet and saxophone in the music departments of Rugby School and Bilton Grange. In 1987 he moved to Cairo to spend 9 years as Head of Music, running large departments in two International Schools. From there, in 1995 Andy moved to take up a position in a music school in the Western Fjords of Iceland. Over the years his travels have taken him around Europe, to the Middle East and Asia, as well as working in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Germany and France, building a school, a playground, digging ditches and working with the handicapped.
Since returning to the UK in 1996 Andy has worked with Yamaha as a teacher and instructor and currently also examines for Yamaha Music Schools and Trinity College, London. As well as his teaching Andy also has experience of directing musicals, conducting orchestras and ensembles, as well as performing as a soloist and accompanist both in the UK and abroad.
Altrincham Music School Map
Book Your Free Trial Keyboard Lesson at Dawsons Altrincham
Submit your details above and someone will contact you within 2 working days to arrange your free trial keyboard lesson.
Your free trial keyboard lesson will last approximately 30-45 minutes and gives a taster of the course. We will also explain the cost of the lessons and advise of available lesson times.
Free Trial Lessons (FTL) are open to anyone (providing they are above the minimum age) so it really is NEVER too late to learn. All of our keyboard teachers have adult classes and in some cases operate mixed age classes so we really do have something for everyone.
Where a prospective student has previous experience the keyboard teacher may offer a free one-to-one consultation instead of a FTL, with a view to putting the student into an already existing keyboard class.
Please note that free trial keyboard lessons take place when there are enough students to fill a group, this may mean your details being kept on a waiting list until the next available FTL. Some of our music schools only offer lessons during term-time, where this is the case FTLs are held in term-time.
Free taster keyboard lessons are available to those who are not already existing students of Dawsons Music School. A taster keyboard lesson will be held by arrangement with the teacher providing the student is above the minimum age for the relevant course.
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