Hands On! Music Classes & Programs & Birthday Parties

Music Programs
Art Programs
Keyboard Programs
Hands On Birthday Parties

Our classes are designed to include music, story, movement, and the exploration of all kinds of instruments.  Each class is led by a trained teacher,  who sings songs and plays the instruments of the orchestra.  A pianist accompanies the instructor at all times. Hand puppets are used to introduce the children to each other as we sing our signature Hands On! greeting song. The teacher uses a special puppet to introduce the theme of the session and to narrate a new part of the story each week. A melody of songs is used to begin the movement segment of the program, enabling the younger children to use their newly acquired walking skills. The teacher plays various instruments of the orchestra while the children accompany on small-sized instruments.

During class, the teacher depends on the active participation of the parent or caregiver to help the child handle and manipulate each instrument. Since popular songs are frequently used, adults are asked to join in singing along. In this way, the parent or caregiver plays an important part in each child’s learning experience, which hopefully extends beyond the classroom setting.

In understanding how children are taught, we have found that there are three stages that are central to their learning: concrete, perceptual, and verbal. Since pre-school children learn especially well from working with concrete objects, instruction begins with a “hands on” stage giving children a chance to see, touch, feel, and manipulate instruments that help them acquire an understanding of concepts and relationships more effectively. The second stage focuses on developing perceptual clarity, or the development of children’s ability to perceive sound, to become aware of differences and similarities, and to become involved in producing the sounds themselves. These two stages lead to the verbal stage. Later on, children begin to identify and describe the objects around them and the sounds they hear. They often display a highly creative use of language and love of nonsense verse.

At Hands On!, children are divided into groups: infants, toddlers, 2’s, 3’s and 4 year olds. The teacher follows a curriculum set for each age.

To read about the Fall session's musical theme please Click Here

*To learn more about the individual programs, please use the links on the side to view the Infant, Toddler and Preschool Programs

For all ages this is a process art program designed to enhance and nurture creative self-expression at the earliest age. The materials are relatively simple but used in a multitude of imaginative ways, while leaving the maximum space for a child’s own artistic ideas. By the end of the session, the children have created a vast art portfolio of drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, and construction.

The  eighteen-month-old class is a foundation course where the children adjust to the classroom atmosphere and learn the basics. We use the simplest and safest materials with creative techniques to inspire the children to self-express in ways they may not be able to do verbally. During the class, we may use well-known paintings as a visual stimulus, or listen to music with the same idea in mind. The children implement new techniques that develop fine motor skills and enhance math and language learning, but primarily give the children individual artistic release.

The two-year-old class provides more of a classroom atmosphere and the children learn to cooperate with each other and take part in-group activities. They learn basic artistic elements of line, color, shape, form, and texture. The children with the help of a teacher may begin to look at famous paintings and discuss them critically as well as use them as a “springboard” for their own creative process. Music may also be used as a stimulus in a similar way. Children are encouraged to talk about their own artwork and their own feelings.

In the three-year-old class, the children draw more from the imagination, and discuss their ideas and feeling. They may work on group art as a class, or in small groups or pairs, but primarily they work individually. A little more time is spent on projects to explore them more fully. During the critical analysis segment, they may study how the masters created their art, and how the art makes us feel, exploring our emotions more. Again, renowned paintings or music are used to stimulate their own creative process. They use a few more advanced artistic techniques as needs change and skills develop, adding more technically demanding projects. They learn more specifics about art basics, and develop an emotional language.

To read about the Fall 2008 session's Arts  theme please Click Here

In introductory keyboard classes, children learn how to read music and study music theory through playing games. Students become skilled at playing the piano with both hands at the same time. They are taught some accompaniment basics, such as singing songs while playing simple chords. With much encouragement from the parent or caregiver, children complete their homework assignments, reinforcing the concepts presented during the lesson.
 

In conclusion, hopefully, children who participate in these introductory courses in music education will enjoy the tremendous rewards that music brings. We would like them to spend a lifetime exploring and expanding their natural music abilities that are a part of all of us. Their lives will become richer through musical experiences that will help develop their aesthetic sense.