Music for Young Children is a comprehensive, parent-participation program that introduces young children to music in a fun and engaging way. Through group classes that include singing, rhythm, keyboard, movement, and music theory, children develop a strong foundation while building confidence and creativity.
Parents attend each class with their child, supporting learning at home and fostering a shared love for music. The program offers three levels tailored to different ages and stages: Sunshine (ages 3–4), Sunbeam (ages 5–6), and Moonbeam (ages 7–9), each building progressively on keyboard skills, ear training, and music literacy.
Ages 2 - 3
Sunrise Classes
Sunrise 1 (SR1) is an exciting and innovative pre-school music & movement program with a flexible format that fits the level of development of young 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.
Highlights:
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Pre-school program
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Developmentally appropriate for young children
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Teddy bears & finger puppets to engage and guide
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Child-centred curriculum
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Stepping stone to Sunshine 1 (not a requirement)
Ages 3.5 - 4
Sunshine Classes
Sunshine 1 (SS1), the youngest of the keyboard programs, is the starting point of the MYC® Method for 3.5 - 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 35 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.
Highlights:
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MYC’s unique keyboard and rhythm ‘critters’ help children learn piano and rhythm
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Off-the-staff reading for contour and patterns
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Steady beat experiences
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On-the-staff reading in treble clef and bass clef
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Listening to identify and use dynamics (loud and quiet sounds)
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Listening to a rhythm pattern and writing it using rhythm writing tools (rhythm dictation)
Ages 5 - 6
Sunbeam Classes
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.
Highlights
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Identification and development of keys and rhythm through MYC’s unique keyboard ‘critters’
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Off-the-staff reading for contour and patterns
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Steady beat experiences
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On-the-staff (pitch) reading in treble clef and bass clef
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Grand staff reading (treble and bass clef)
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Listening to identify and use dynamics (loud and quiet sounds)
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Listening to a rhythm pattern and writing it using rhythm writing tools.
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Coordination of LH and RH
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Scale playing with harmonizing bridge chords in C major, a minor and G major
Ages 7 - 9
Moonbeam Classes
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.
Highlights
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Pattern reading
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Scale playing with harmonizing chords in 6 keys
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Keyboard repertoire with plentiful supplementary pieces for holidays and extra challenges
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Rhythm and keyboard ensemble experiences
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Harmonization and composition experiences
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Transposing within 5 finger patterns
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Understanding and utilizing legato and staccato touches
*Denotes a class that requires previous piano experience.
Placement piano lesson and potential catch-up lessons may be required.
*Denotes a class that requires previous piano experience.
Placement piano lesson and potential catch-up lessons may be required.
*Denotes a class that requires previous piano experience.
Placement piano lesson and potential catch-up lessons may be required.
*Denotes a class that requires previous piano experience.
Placement piano lesson and potential catch-up lessons may be required.