For this scholar year, we have planned three possible options to accommodate the different needs of our families with children 0-5:
- Music Tree group classes maximum of 6 children;
- one-to-one or sibling sessions at the student’s house with one of our specialised music teacher;
- nursery bubble group (max 6 children) at student’s house or at Music Tree venue;
Growing with music When children are 4 and 5 their general development makes a big step forward. It’s like teaching to young adults… just more curios and fit! They love to sing songs with lyrics, move around freely in the space and most of all, interact with their friends. In this stage, working in a group is fundamental because children learn not only from the teacher but also from the other kids (peer learning).
If supported and not judged, children sing a lot, improvise and compose their own songs. They are also able to express their preferences in music. Little by little they enter in the last two types of AUDITION, called IMITATION AND ASSIMILATION, according to the Music Learning Theory approach. We support these stages by organising group music activities that help children singing and coordinating but we also let them still free to explore the space moving in the way they prefer, whilst listening to music
Great attention is given to the discovery of the way in which they can play together with music, showing respect for the others and creating conditions which permit a pleasing listening experience. The creative ideas of every child are accepted and acknowledged by the teacher who transforms them into songs, accompaniments, ideas to discover different instruments and music games involving movement.
Alongside the development of music skills, all the activities are planned to support the cognitive, psychomotor and socio-emotional children’s development as attention, concentration, working memory, problem-solving, inhibition of impulses, flexibility and other executive functions. Movement, connected to listening and singing, becomes for the child the trampoline to launch them-self towards the conquest of intonation, sense of rhythm and coordination, all fundamental elements that will help children playing an instrument.
Exploring music with the whole body immersed in sounds connected with emotions and feelings is a component of the long learning process that gives to children much more elements and knowledge than knowing how to read the notes or play technically an instrument.
The teacher offers a weekly group lesson were children participate without their parents being present. The class lasts around 30-40 minutes for children 3-4 years old and 45 minutes for children 5 years old.
“Tiziana is great at working with children and the music lesson environment is very enjoyable. My twin girls love going to her classes every week. They always come back excited to tell me about all the instruments they’ve tried and each lesson is full of laughter and giggles. We are very excited about starting piano lessons with Tiziana next year. I would highly recommend Tiziana’s lessons to all parents who care about their children’s development through music.” — Lea, Izzy and Nina’s mum (4 years old)
Our classes are formed by maximum 6 children
Classes for:
- 3-4 years old Tuesday 4.10pm, Thursday 4.10pm (fully booked) at the Little Highness Café,
- 5 years old Wednesday at 4.10 pm and Thursday at 5.00 pm at the Little Highness Café
- classes for groups of children of the same nursery’s bubble (minimum 5-6 children)
The classes are held at the Little Highness Café, 69 Highbury Park, N5 1UA London
or at Music Tree basement studio, 23 Highbury Park N51TH
PAYMENTS
Autumn Term £132 for 11 sessions starting the week of the 14th of September
Block of 4 sessions in row £54
Trial session £10*
Single session £15
*Music Tree suggests 2 trial sessions for £20. After the trials, the rest of the term fee will be applied or you can book for a block of sessions.
ABOUT THE CLASSES
- Expert music tuition
- Live music
- Restricted class numbers (max 6 children)
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS the teacher will suggest songs and activities that can be done together in the session or after it, taken from our always available online resources for families MUSIC AT HOME.
This is a new kind of class that we have introduced this year. Book your day and time and one of our music teachers specialised in early years music will come to deliver a fun and interactive music session at your place.
In this kind of sessions, delivered at your house, the teacher will not only interact with your child but also suggest to you, mum or dad, songs and activities that you can play at home with your child to support their musical development.
Sessions usually last 30 minutes and can be customised for families with more than one child. It’s not necessary to own musical instruments, the teacher will provide them for the sessions, but we kindly suggest to create a space free from toys for the class where children, parents and the teacher can move, dance and sing without distractions.
These sessions are ideal also for children with special needs.
DAY AND TIME Depending on teacher and families availability
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS the teacher will suggest songs and activities that can be done together in the session or after it, taken from our always available online resources for families MUSIC AT HOME.
PAYMENTS One-to-one or siblings classes at student’s house: starting from £30 per class for a 30-minute session. Half-term or Term payment after two trial sessions*
*Music Tree suggests 2 trial sessions for £60. After the trials, the rest of the term fee will be applied or you can book for a block of sessions.
Create your own group and one of our early years music teachers will run customised classes that can be held at our venue, the Little Highness Café, or at the student’s house. Maximum of 6 children per group. It’s not necessary to own musical instruments, the teacher will provide them for the sessions, but we kindly suggest to create a space for the class free from toys (in case of home visits), where children, parents and the teacher can move, dance and sing.
PAYMENTS to define via email (depending on the length of the session and address). Music Tree suggests 2 trial sessions. After the trials, the rest of the term fee will be applied or you can book for a block of sessions.
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS the teacher will suggest songs and activities that can be done together in the session or after it, taken from our always available online resources for families MUSIC AT HOME.
Your classes are based on the Gordon’s Music Learning Theory (MLT)?
Yes, MLT is an explanation of how we learn when we learn music. Based on an extensive body of research and practical field testing by Edwin E. Gordon and others, MLT focuses on children’s natural music attitude development. Music, among others, also supports language; attention and concentration; non-verbal communication; motor and socio-emotional development.
What is the main principle of MLT?
The main idea of MLT is that we learn music in the same way we learn a language. Children need to be exposed to a rich music environment to develop their musical potential (not just nursery rhymes!) as much as they are exposed to the complexity of language when they are newborn babies (actually even before). That’s why we sing songs that are composed in all the tonalities, modes of jazz and tempos.
Why do you sing without words in the classes? During our classes, we use melodic and rhythmic songs without words, singing songs with neutral syllables like PAM or BAM. This is because the spoken language is predominant in children’s lives. Our brain naturally focuses on language to understand the meaning of lyrics, losing the musical aspect or reaching them only after the words. Singing without words helps children focus directly on melody, rhythm and harmony.
Why do you sing PAM-BAM? PAM-BAM are neutral syllables and children can repeat them very easily, creating when they are ready a musical dialogue with the teacher (P-B-A are some of the first sounds pronounced by a child). Songs are short to be entirely followed by babies and toddlers as their ability to keep focused is still developing.
Why a non-verbal environment? We leave a space of silence after every song… but that moment is not empty! It’s actually full of the sounds that children have just listened to and it’s exactly in that moment they start developing their internal musical listening, and therefore their musical understanding, called by Gordon “Audiation”.
Why children are free to move in the room and there are no specific activities that you teach to them? Children need to listen to music in the way they prefer to create a positive relationship with it. We know that even if they’re not looking at us, they are listening and that’s the most important thing for their musical development. Also, to develop their musical skills, children need to move in relation to rhythm and music. As they grow, they move in different ways according to their age and personality. We follow each child’s development and that’s why the activities are based on children’s natural responses to sounds and music proposed by the teacher.
THE TEACHERS
TIZIANA POZZO Music therapist, educator and pianist, Tiziana has collaborated for years with educational institutions (from nurseries to universities) on music projects in Italy, Spain and the UK. Tiziana graduated in piano from the Music Conservatoire in Venice and in Music Therapy in Padova (Italy). She gained her expertise through training courses in Italy and abroad in the development of children and their natural understanding of music.
In 2016 she started collaborating with Creative Futures and University College London for different research. She is one of the co-founders of Music Tree and Highbury Park Music. She also works in the UK and abroad running CPD courses for teachers, educators and music therapists. She’s one of the co-founders of Gordon UK Music Research Institute, where she co-delivers “Music Learning Tree – International Training Course about Music Learning Theory”, for teachers training in early years music.
CATERINA TOSO graduated in piano and completed her Master Degree in Piano Performance
with highest grades and honours at the Conservatorio of Alessandria (Italy). She received many
awards for competing in national and international competition and she had the chance to
perform as a soloist and in ensemble formations in several cities in the north of Italy, France and
Rome. Caterina has been teaching the piano for almost ten years, both to children and adults. In 2018 she also collaborated on the project AMI (Inclusive Music Activity) helping people with
physical and mental disabilities express and connect while playing in small orchestra groups.
She’s a level 1 certified teacher for the Suzuki and Willems method, and she has also recently
trained with Gordon UK as an early years music teacher specialised in the MLT, attending “Music Learning Tree – International Training Course about Music Learning Theory”.
ILARIA FORESI is a versatile singer, artist and teacher based in London. Ilaria began her music training in Rome. At the age of 20, after completing a foundation diploma at the Saint Louis Music College, she moved to London to perform and continue her music studies, incorporating new subjects such as composing, arranging, production and songwriting. In 2017 she graduated from The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance with a BMus (Hons) in Popular Music Performance- Vocals. Alongside her private singing teaching, she developed her interest in early years music education by assisting music educator Alison Blunt during her “Music and Movement” classes and workshops at the Ann’s Tayler Children centre. In 2020 she became a qualified MLT music teacher, after completing “Music Learning Tree – International Training Course about Music Learning Theory” course delivered by Gordon UK Music Research Institute.
CATERINA DELLABONA is a musician (clarinet and saxophone) and music teacher. She studied Music at Goldsmiths University of London concentrating on performance, music education and psychology of music. Since completing her studies in 2017 Caterina has been specialising in working with Early Years and SEN/D. She completed various courses including PTTLS Level 3 Music Education with City & Guilds and Interactive Music Making with Music as Therapy International. She is currently completing a postgraduate certificate in musical development in children with special needs (Sounds of Intent) with prof. Adam Ockelford. n 2020 she became a qualified MLT music teacher, after completing “Music Learning Tree – International Training Course about Music Learning Theory” course delivered by Gordon UK Music Research Institute.
