June 17, 2013
Musical Creativity and Collaboration in Early Childhood This session will explore settings and activities that encourage children to share different roles in the common improvisation/creation of music. Creative activities should encourage problem solving, self-expression, imagination, and empathy. Creativity grows from a combination of known factors (knowledge, skills and understandings gained from our own experiences) and the freedom and encouragement to...
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May 15, 2013
What sets Harmony Road schools apart? PARENT INVOLVEMENT: This is one of the most critical factors in the success of our students. Parent involvement within class and at home provides our students with a support system and a partner in the learning process. Remember – we are educating parents as well as children! SOLFEGE SINGING: Solfege singing is our vehicle...
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April 24, 2013
I recently returned from the MTAC Conference in San Diego where I had the opportunity to hear some of our Harmony Road students and grads participate in master classes for improvisation and composing. It was rewarding to see and hear their ease of performance in these two areas. KUDOS to Alexandra Hawley from BakersfieldHarmonyRoadMusicSchool – their teacher and mentor. ...
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April 4, 2013
As Musicians and Teachers first, it is always difficult to think like a business person. The interesting part is…..many of the same skills and characteristics that make you a great Musician and Teacher are the key ingredients for becoming a successful business person. So, lets take an inventory….all great Musicians and Teachers are personally motivated, disciplined (practice, practice, practice),...
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March 22, 2013
Creativity Nurturing creativity – parents encourage the curiosity of their children at an early age and answer questions. A supportive home environment enables a child to start on a creative path early. The best environment for creative work seems to be on the scale of the extended family, where people can get to know each other, build trust, and feel...
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March 11, 2013
Multi-sensory teaching is a type of instruction and classroom interaction which actively utilizes all the senses in learning. We understand that young children learn by doing. They also feel most comfortable moving from familiar to unfamiliar ideas and experiences. Musical activities by their very nature are very inclusive of the senses. The more sensory pathways are used and the more...
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March 11, 2013
All Harmony Road Music Courses are presented in a group format. A group setting motivates students and provides an enjoyable environment for musical learning. Young children benefit from multi-sensory activities and the opportunity for repetition of concepts with varied activities-singing, moving, clapping, playing instruments, sharing musical fun! Parents or care givers are an important part of the group dynamic. Older...
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March 11, 2013
Making Music is What Fires the Brain Listening to Music Just Isn’t Enough Making Music Changes the Brain in Positive, Lasting Ways These are recent headlines for articles by Melissa Healy which have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Portland Oregonian and other publication. These articles give a new emphasis to the importance of early childhood music through active...
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March 11, 2013
The Harmony Road Music Course has evolved from a lifetime of musical involvement with children. Harmony Road founder, writer and composer, Jan Keyser, developed the first courses in 1981 and has continued to provide high quality, research based curriculum’s to fill the needs of young students and their families. Jan continues to research and develop music learning programs, advocate for...
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