Information for Schools
A Scandinavian approach to
music education
The Piano For Little Hands curriculum is designed to be followed by children starting at age 3-6 for a total of six 10-week semesters. Our weekly lessons are 30 minutes, taught in groups of three in an atmosphere of friendship and support. Playing an instrument should be fun and build on children’s natural ability to learn by playing and exploring new things.
How Playing an instrument benefits your brain
How playing an instrument
affects us
When you open up the world of reading notes and studying an instrument to young children, you improve all learning. Recent studies have shown that in contrast to general music lessons, playing an instrument literally changes the way our brains work! The complex processes that enable children to play with two hands, recognise notes and rhythms and translate them into music, promotes the same cognitive processes that help us recognise language and solve math problems. Performing and develops our self-awareness, self-esteem and social skills. Playing and making music with others is a joy, and makes us happy!
The goal of the Preschool program is to provide a simple playful way to begin this process for all children. We seek to instil early in life the habit of having a music practice. Here is a simplified video of what happens in the brain, when we play an instrument:
Children are born
Explorers
The program is specially designed to reach young beginners age 3- and up. It introduces children to Musical language, music theory, and healthy piano technique in an imaginative, playful way: In early lessons it is important to nurture the child’s innate excitement and joy of music, as this will be the the foundation for any future music studies. Playing an instrument should be fun and build on children’s natural ability to learn by playing and exploring.
In our lessons at school, all these new elements are introduced very gradually, in a way that’s fun and easy to digest. We want to give the child a sense that playing an instrument is possible for everyone; a fun and engaging experience, full of little successes along the way. Our first few piano recitals are part of that process: The children get their early performance experiences in a warm, friendly atmosphere surrounded by friends and family.
Music is for
everyone
Music lessons shouldn’t be an exclusive activity for those who show extraordinary talent, or those who have parents who were trained themselves: All children have the ability to learn to play, practice and express themselves. By learning how to build a music-practice early in life, and by infusing this experience with a mix of play and discipline, we lay the foundation not only for further music studies, but for building all those complex pathways in the brain as well.