Music With Ms. Annette: Play With the Preschool Piano Superheroes

In this class designed especially for pre- and beginning readers, we will work as a group to explore beginning musical concepts such as low and high sounds, loud and quiet sounds, responding to different styles and genres of music, and finding and playing to the steady beat. We will also  learn about quarter notes, half notes, and whole notes and quarter rests, half rests, and whole rests. We will learn to sit at the keyboard/piano and how to properly position our hands, and will play songs using the groups of two and three black keys. We will also practice knowing which hand is our left and which hand is our right, as well as how to number our fingers.

All of this will be done using a fun and engaging superhero theme, and the children will be excited to meet the musical superheroes as they discover that they, too, are part of the musical superhero team. They will discover their musical superpowers and learn to think of them as "tools" as they go on musical adventures and explore their keyboards. Our musical superheroes will have a strong sense of accomplishment as every week they complete a mission and save the day with music!

A typical class will include group activities as well as activities for the children to "perform," if they feel comfortable doing so. Lessons will include both new and familiar songs, movement, playing at the keyboard or piano, singing and playing along with music, active listening exercises, stories, and writing. Musical cues and songs will be used to help the children transition from one activity to the next. I recognize that it can be difficult for children this age to spend large amounts of time sitting down, and so we will spread out our keyboard or paper work through the class with lots of time for movements and activity in between.

My teaching style is collaborative and creative. The story of the superheroes will be evolving and largely written by the children as I guide them through the musical concepts we will learn. No prior knowledge is required.