As a concert pianist and mother of three children, I organized a concert for an audience of very young children for my youngest son Gabriel’s third birthday. After this event, he immediately wanted to learn to play the piano and declared that he wanted to perform in front of an audience, just like his mom!
Faced with his enthusiasm, I wondered how to introduce him to the wonderful world of music. Although I had always been a pianist, so to speak, I had not yet found an obvious answer to the question of musical awakening for toddlers.
A few days later, on a sunny December afternoon, I sat him on my lap in front of the piano and began to tell him a story to accompany Chopin’s Prelude, known as “The Drop of Water,” which I was playing for him.
“Gabriel has just woken up from his nap and is waiting for his mother, rocking quietly on his bed. By chance, he looks out the window and sees the raindrops falling from the sky”. I then took advantage of the Crescendo of the Prelude that I played louder and louder and of the dark atmosphere that emerged from it to add “but the sky is becoming all grey, the storm is approaching with its lightning and thunder”. As the key changed and the melody became brighter and more peaceful, I would then say to her, “the storm is going away, the sun is coming back out, and Mommy is going into the bedroom to take her out to play in the garden!” ”
Several hours passed before I put Gabriel to bed. When I put him to bed, he said to me, “You know, Mom, it rained just now outside! “I thought that was wonderful! Gabriel had not only listened to the music, he had lived that moment to the point of believing it was real!
I finally had my answer… This method was born that evening. The desire to share my passion for classical music with all parents who want to transmit this wonderful culture to their children pushed me to produce this initiation course.
What experience for the children?
A year-long music program
Ten works have been selected by Mi-Young LEE. These pieces are to be discovered with your children. Some works are very well known, others a little less, but all of them have a real educational interest.
Pedagogy
The works are systematically taught in three lessons.
Each piece is accompanied by a story to be told so that the child associates the music with an imaginary world in which he will immerse himself.
This story creates a special atmosphere that helps children understand the many facets of the musical universe. Here, the teachers play with the texts that punctuate the lessons, by dressing up with the children, so that they can taste the pleasure of listening to a piece of music, in pictures.
It’s time for budding musicians to learn about the staff. My goal is to introduce children to theory in a fplayful way, by introducing one note per work studied.
I use cut-outs and coloring to awaken the child’s curiosity and make him play with the note while developing his dexterity… which will serve future musicians!
Each piece studied is an opportunity to discover an instrument.
We then systematically invite a professional musician to present his instrument.
The real contact with the instrument will increase the children’s curiosity tenfold. The instrument becomes a living object for the children.
In addition, the child’s ear gradually becomes accustomed to the sounds, games, materials and shapes of the different instruments.
During the year of classes, children will discover :
The drum with the lion from Carnival of the Animals,
The conductor’s baton in Une petite musique de nuit,
The piano with La tartine de beurre,
The violin with the Sonata for violin and piano n°5,
The cello with Sleeping Beauty.
At the end of these musical awakening classes, our little musicians will have learned to listen to music in a different way, for their greatest pleasure!
The journey of the apprentice music lovers begins here! Welcome to you, young and old, in the wonderful and enchanted world of classical music.
Course material
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Mi-Young has created a special material to accompany each music awareness class. Discovering an instrument, videos, collage, cutting, stories are on the program of the classes!
Practical details
The school offers early musical education in our Parisian premises.
Location of classes:
The initiation courses take place at 19 rue de la Pompe 75116 and in our local of 1 Rue Richelieu 75001.
In each local, a room allows children to express without constraint and without danger all their creativity!
A group consists of 5 to 12 children.
School class times:
The duration of a class is 1 hour. The open slots are as follows:
Slot at 19 rue de la Pompe:
Wednesdays 10am, 3pm, and 4pm
Saturday 10am
Local at 1 Rue Richelieu:
Wednesday 4pm
Saturday 10am
Registration form
Here you can register directly online. You will indicate your preferred time slot and the course formula selected. A quote will then be sent to you based on the information provided.
It is possible to take a trial class before committing to a school year. This trial class is billed at the same rate as a regular class. Registration for this trial class is done directly online.