Early Childhood Classes

Music Infants
(3-9 Months)

In Music Infants classes, we use expressive music to support your child’s developmental milestones. Singing, instrument playing, movement, and joyful music making are at the center of each class. All classes feature a pianist who improvises accompaniment of varying styles, creating a collaborative musical experience for all families.

Music Babies
(10-16 Months)

In Music Babies classes, we support your rapidly growing child with singing, instrument playing, and movement, in a social environment. As children begin to crawl, walk, and use their first words, they listen and respond with increased interest; their innate musical abilities are developing along with their growing curiosity and knowledge of the world around them. All classes feature a pianist who improvises accompaniment of varying styles, creating a collaborative musical environment.

Music Toddlers
(17 Months-2 Years)

In Music Toddlers classes, we celebrate your child’s growth in a musical classroom based in movement! Classes encourage children’s spontaneous social interactions, and each lesson supports the variety of developmental milestones children experience at this active stage in their lives. All classes feature a pianist who improvises accompaniment of varying styles, creating a collaborative musical environment.

Music for Toddlers & Twos
(19 Months-2 Years 3 Months)

Running, jumping and on the go... your toddler is ready to move! Music for Toddlers & Twos celebrates your active child, offering musical ways to channel their exuberance into group movement activities. Class experiences foster gross motor skills, and support your child in a social, enjoyable, and active classroom environment of beautiful music making. All classes feature a pianist who improvises accompaniment of varying styles, creating a collaborative musical environment.

Music & Art for Toddlers & Twos
(19 Months-2 Years 6 Months)

Join your child on a creative journey through engaging, hands-on explorations with music and visual art. This class provides opportunities for adults and children to collaborate while delving into a wide variety of musical activities, instruments, and art materials, in a social environment. Both music and art portions of classes feature a pianist who improvises accompaniment of varying styles, creating a collaborative musical environment.

Classes meet either -  twice per week focusing one 45 minute class in music, and one 45 minute class in visual art - or once per week for 90 minutes incorporating both disciplines in one class session. All classes will be limited to 8 families per section.

Music for Nearly Twos & Twos
(21 Months-2 Years 6 Months)

In Music for Nearly 2s & 2s class, children are gaining independence and are increasingly interested in exploring the world around them. We support the growth of children’s independence and creativity through musical games, instrument playing, movement, expressive singing, and listening experiences. All classes feature a pianist who improvises accompaniment of varying styles, creating a collaborative musical environment.

Meet the Instrument
(2, 3 & 4 Years)

Meet the orchestra, as professional guest artists introduce the violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, and many more instruments. Hands-on experiences, movement games, singing and playing small percussion instruments are all a part of each engaging class. All classes feature a pianist who improvises accompaniment of varying styles, creating a collaborative musical environment.

Percussion Ensemble
(3, 4, 5 Years)

In this action-oriented ensemble class, students develop listening skills and their ability to create expressive music. Together, we explore the elements of music and music concepts including - beat, rhythm, phrase, form, and pitch - as students play varied percussion instruments both alone and together with their peers. All classes feature a pianist who improvises accompaniment of varying styles, creating a collaborative musical environment.

Music in Make-Believe
(3 & 4 Years)

The magical world of music in make-believe comes alive in each class, as children’s stories and folktales are shared through singing, movement and improvisation.  Non-pitched percussion instruments (claves, maracas, drums etc.) and props enhance the dramatizations, leading to the use of pitched Orff instruments, such as xylophones and metallophones, as well as a variety of instruments from around the world. Children develop a rich music vocabulary, while their natural ability to convey character, mood, movement, and form is enhanced.  In addition to a head teacher, every class includes an assistant teacher and a professional pianist who improvises accompaniment unique to each class.

Dalcroze Eurhythmics
(3 & 4 Years)

The Dalcroze approach integrates the ear, mind, and body through movement, singing, instrument playing and improvisation. Children actively engage in music-making experiences and internalize beat and meter through walking, jogging, galloping, and skipping. As the year proceeds, students are able to show and express what they hear in music and describe their rhythmic movement. When singing, children use their hands and arms to reveal the shape of a melody or phrase. Visual representations and music notation are introduced. Opportunities to explore connections to sounds and sights in our natural world are integrated into musical experiences. The curriculum is shaped to the needs, interests, and skills of each individual class. This is a dynamic approach, grounded in kinesthetic experiences – a joyful way to learn, ideal for students of all ages.

Chorus
(4 & 5 Years)

Nurture your child’s love of singing. In Chorus, children relish singing a variety of international folk songs and favorite songs while developing musicianship and ensemble skills. Physical and vocal warm-ups foster the healthy use of the body and the voice. A collaborative environment is created through singing and movement games, which lead to an introduction and exploration of the elements of music - rhythm, melody, form, texture, and timbre. In addition to a head teacher and an assistant teacher, classes also include a pianist who accompanies the class repertoire.

Play the Instrument
(4 & 5 Years)

Take a deep dive into instrument exploration as we are introduced to the harp, guitar, piano, cello, violin and recorder. In each semester we will learn basic elements of instrument playing, for two of the instruments listed below.  Classes are further enhanced by a guest artist for each visiting instrument.  Percussion playing will be woven throughout the year as we work with the Metallophone, Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Djembe, Claves, Caxixi and many more. Each class will use instruments in different combinations to encourage mixed instrument ensemble playing and improvised compositions; these experiences lead to explorations with music notation – both invented and standard.

• Fall Semester: Piano, Harp & Guitar

• Spring Semester: Cello, Violin & Recorder

Great Composers
(4 Years - K)

Students encounter the great works of musical canon in this fun-filled class where we incorporate storytelling to bring renowned composers' works to life. Musical skills such as active listening, inventive notation, group singing, playing, and conducting are among the experiences that guide students through the material, as they come to place composers, their works, and the musical styles they represent in an historical context. Children develop a rich music vocabulary, while their natural ability to convey character, mood, movement, and form is enhanced.  In addition to a head teacher, every class includes an assistant teacher and a professional pianist who improvises accompaniment unique to each class.

Create Your Own Pod Class

The Early Childhood Department is pleased to offer families a supplementary music and visual art program for pre-formed or created pods. Curriculum and class activities will be specific to the interests of your group. We support the growth of children's independence and creativity through musical games, instrument playing, movement, expressive singing, and listening experiences

Students’ ideas are incorporated into the curriculum, sparking joyous music-making which is supported by a vast repertoire of folk, classical, jazz, popular, and original music. Children gain independence in this welcoming arts-centered classroom, where small percussion instruments, books, and a range of props – including scarves, hoops, and balls – are explored.

Interested? Email Marissa Curry, Director of the Early Childhood Program at mcurry@diller-quaile.org for availability.