| About Class Time |
Question: How can I preview a class?
Answer: Before you enroll, we invite you to a free preview class! Check the current schedule for preview dates and times, and contact Cindy (cindy@music-makers.org; 415-461-1066) to make your reservation.
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Question:
How many children are in a class?
Answer: A maximum
of 10 children are enrolled in each class.
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Question:
What is the age range of the children enrolled in the class?
Answer: There is never more than a one year age difference between students. Class groupings are:
| Presto Tots |
1½ to 2½ years |
| Presto/Forte |
2½ to 3½ years |
| Forte Kids |
3 to 4 years |
| Forte / Crescendos |
4½ to 5½ years |
| Crescendos |
4 to 5 years |
| Ensemble |
5 to 6 years |
| Beginning Ensemble |
Pre Kindergarten and Kindergarten
(prior Music Makers enrollment necessary) |
| Advanced Ensemble |
Kindergarten and First Grade
(Beginning Ensemble necessary) |
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Question:
How long is each class?
Answer: 45 minutes. Arriving on time is key! We don't want your child to miss our opening welcome song, where we all sing your child's name in the circle and transition into class. Moreover, latecomers miss important learning time and distract others. So please try to arrive early so you and your child have a few minutes to settle in.
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Question:
What musical instruments are used in class?
Answer: The teachers and accompanists play piano and guitar in every class, while the children play a wide variety of percussion and string instruments—basically anything you can tap, shake or strum! Our music room includes:
- drums of all kinds, including steel drums
- cymbals of many sizes
- tone blocks
- guiros
- castanets
- rhythm sticks
- washboards
- a variety of maracas and shakers
- tone bells
- xylophones
- contrabass bars
- metallophones
- glockenspiels
- chimes
- jingle taps and bells
- small keyboards
- accordions
- brass instruments
- ethnic instruments from all over the world
- string instruments, such as soprano and baritone ukulele, guitar, banjo, violin, cello, harp, zither, strum stick, and dulcimer (opened tuned to provide consonance).
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Question:
Can I bring another adult to class?
Answer: Yes. You
are welcome to bring 1 or 2 grandparents or relatives to class.
A chair can be provided for someone who is unable to sit on the
floor in the circle. Guests are welcome to participate and sing
along, but not to talk to each other or socialize during class. [back
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Question: What happens if I miss a class?
Answer: Try not to miss class if at all possible. Children will often be a little shy in a new group, so it is best to keep up continuity. If illness or travel prevent your attendance, call Cindy at (415) 461-1066 to schedule a make-up in an age-appropriate class.
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Question: Why can't adults socialize with other adults during class?
Answer: A 45 minute Music Makers class is packed with opportunities for children and parents to learn and make music together. To guide children into a creative and imaginative state and to enable them to concentrate and learn easily, adult support and positive role modeling is essential! Children are astute observers, and if they see that you're actively participating in class, they'll feel more confident to join in, too. Get the most out of class by being mentally as well as physically present, so that this musical adventure is a shared joy!
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| About Child Behaviors in Class |
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Question: My child loves music, but is very active and needs to move most of the time. May I enroll in Music Makers?
Answer: Children are wonderfully genuine beings. They show us what interests them and what they need. Developmentally your child needs to explore, dance, and move around in order to learn about him or herself and the world. Come to a Music Makers preview and see how engaging the program is to your child. Is the child engaged for five minutes? 10 minutes? 20 minutes? If the child resists structure, wait until the child is happy being in a circle setting. Keep coming to previews! Children change very rapidly month by month, and when they are ready for a focused musical environment, Music Makers will be your child's delight! There is no precise chronological age for this kind of social readiness. Readiness has nothing to with intelligence or musical aptitude. What is important is that the program fits the needs of your child so that you and your child are excited to come to class each week!
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Question: My child likes to stand up and doesn't want to sit in my lap. Is this OK?
Answer: It's fine! Sometimes a child feels more secure in a standing position and as long as s/he is not blocking someone else's view, be comfortable!
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Question: My child sings all the Music Makers songs at home and directs her own music class with teddy bears and stuffed animals, but is so quiet in class. Is my child benefiting from Music Makers?
Answer: You have a wonderful window into your child's learning process! In a way, a child's mind is like a new computer. During class your child is on "input", and the information is integrated over time. As your child recreates musical experiences from class within the secure environment of home, she is reinforcing concepts and content learned and trying on the teacher's role. As your child becomes more confident in the group setting, more outward participation will naturally follow. Everyone has their own style. Some of us are front/center responders in the classroom and others are more reticent about vocal or more active participation. Learning occurs on the inside and regardless of the manner in which it occurs, all learning styles must be honored and are absolutely valid. Your child's musical knowledge and skills are growing and she is developing a "musical database"! Congratulations on her success!
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About the Music Program & Theory |
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Question: Why is music theory a part of each Music Makers class?
Answer: Children learn musical concepts (high/low, fast/slow, etc.) quite quickly and easily. They enjoy recognizing the symbols to identify these concepts. Physiologically it is far more difficult for them to execute the concepts through their voices and instrumentation because their bodies are not yet mature. Music Makers has been very successful in laying the foundation for musicianship by introducing conceptual material in fun and enjoyable ways. Children learn the musical concepts of beat, rhythm, phrase building, melody and harmony. Then they begin to use musical notation to express these concepts. A love of all kinds of music is gradually developed over time and musical literacy and understanding are increased.
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Question: If I enroll my child for a second year, will the lessons be the same?
Answer: Music Makers draws from a pool of about 250 songs and from an endless list of topics that are engaging for the young child. In addition, new songs and lessons are written on a continuous basis. Although holiday material, for example, will be presented yearly, we continually adjust and increase the complexity of the presentations as the child ages but use a consistent approach. Music Makers is a process. It is not an instantly entertaining experience like a movie. It is very gratifying to note the tremendous progress made within a single session of several weeks, much more over a period of years. By enrolling in Music Makers for an extended period of time, your child understands that substantive music learning is a priority in the family.
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Question:
What are Beginning Ensemble and Advanced Ensemble classes? How does Beginning Ensemble differ from Advanced Ensemble?
Answer: Beginning Ensemble is a one year course from September through June for five year olds who have previously been enrolled in Music Makers. Students learn more about note reading and writing, guided improvisation and rhythmic exercises, playing ostinati (repeated patterns), call/response singing, solfege (e.g. do-re-mi, etc.) singing practice, and playing simple instrumental parts in sections. Adults are required to attend so that they can be a part of their child's music education and reinforce concepts and skills at home. Ensemble curriculum is cumulative and new students are not accepted mid-year. The series ends with a Graduation Ceremony in June during which each child or child and parent presents a song to the class—by singing, playing an instrument or dancing! The culminating project of Beginning Ensemble is recording a class CD at a real recording studio!
Advanced Ensemble provides students with continuing opportunities to develop their music foundations by playing ostinati (repeated patterns) on Orff instruments (xylophones and metallophones with removable bars), creating movements, rhythms and melodies independently, singing in call/response form and rounds, learning about some of the great composers and devoting some class time to guided listening to excerpts of important great pieces of music which can be appreciated at this age. Advanced Ensemble came about as a result of graduating Ensemble students whose families did not want to end this approach to learning music and who prevailed on me to extend the curriculum. Many of the children take private piano or violin lessons simultaneously with enrollment in Advanced Ensemble. This program allows children to continue to make music as a group experience. It is rewarding work and great fun! Advanced Ensemble is a real forum for children and parents to participate in music making and learning together.
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About Registering and Enrolling |
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Question: How can I preview a class?
Answer: Before you enroll, we invite you to a free preview class! Check the current schedule for preview dates and times, and contact Cindy (cindy@music-makers.org ; 415-461-1066) to make your reservation.
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Question: How can I enroll my child in Music Makers?
Answer:
1) Print and fill out the Fall, Spring, or Summer Registration Form and return it with your check payable to Music Makers.
2) All new enrollees must first attend a free preview class. Please call for a preview reservation (415) 461-1066. Preview dates and times are listed in the schedule and also can be arranged by appointment.
3) You will be notified regarding your enrollment status as soon as the cut-off date for currently enrolled families has elapsed and the number of available openings has been determined. Available spaces are filled on a first come first served basis.
Don't wait to register! We recommend that you send in your Registration Form and check as soon as possible—even before attending a preview class—because the earlier you do the more likely you will secure your first class choice. Checks are not deposited until after your preview class. If you prefer to defer enrollment, your check will be returned to you at the preview class. |
Question: What is the cost of classes?
Answer: The cost per session varies according to how many classes are included in a particular series. Tuition, Registration and Materials costs for New and Returning students are listed on the Registration form for Fall, Spring or Summer. To get more information about class fees and to access the Registration Form, click here. For a brochure, contact Cindy at Music Makers (415-461-1066; cindy@music-makers.org) and provide your address.
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Question: Can I pay by credit card?
Answer: No. Check is best.
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Question: Is there a discount for more than one child enrolled?
Answer: Yes. $20 less for the second child concurrently enrolled.
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Question: What is the refund policy?
Answer: No refund after the first week of classes.
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