LucySparkles1

This is a question I am asked a lot so thought I'd post my thoughts on here. This is from a guest blog I did for Punk Me Up Ceramics Cafe. My name is Lucy. I?m the owner of Lucy Sparkles & Friends and I teach music and dance classes for 0-6s at Punk Me Up Ceramics Cafe. One of my qualifications is in teaching music specifically to children in their early years. The most common question I am asked by parents is ?When should my child start to learn an instrument?? So I thought I would share my answer with you here. In my opinion, the best time to start to learn an instrument is at around age seven. Many parents think that earlier is better however there is evidence to show that this is not the case and, in fact, for some instruments it is actually preferable to start even later! There are two main reasons. The first is that starting too early can actually put a child off music for life (and not just the instrument they study but all music) and the second is that there is a lot of musical learning that should be done before a child learns to play an instrument. Just because your child may not be ready for one on one music lessons does not mean they cannot begin to develop musically. In fact, the best thing you can do for your child?s musical development is to teach them musicality (which they can begin to learn from birth) and then musicianship (from about five years old) through SINGING! Musicality involves internal and subconscious understanding of musical concepts including: pitch, pulse, rhythm, phrasing, tempo and dynamics etc. Musicianship is the conscious understanding of these concepts through symbols including: written notation, note names and hand signals. Once your child has made these concepts conscious they can translate them into instrumental sounds. Just because you can train a child to press a middle c on a piano does not mean they understand what they are doing. They just know where the c note is (because you told them) and are pressing it. The voice is a part of our own bodies and so by learning to sing, we are learning to feel and understand music from within. Instruments are eternal objects that we train our bodies to play almost mechanically. I run musicianship classes (which include developing musicality) for children aged 4-6 at Punk Me Up on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. These classes are Kod?ly based and teach musicianship through singing and games. The children develop a good sense of pulse and rhythm, pitch awareness, the ability to sing in tune and they are introduced to the basics of reading musical notation. The classes are designed for children who would like to prepare for learning an instrument or for those children who just love singing! Maximum class size is 12. If your child has a good attention span and is really keen to learn an instrument before age seven, I recommend finding a group piano musicianship class. As a part of our joint ?South East Musicianship? school, Margaret Ominiyi teaches a class like this at her house in Peckham on Thursday afternoons for children aged 5-7. Her class carries on from mine and introduces the children to the keyboard. The children become familiar with the keyboard, learn beginner piano technique, play familiar tunes by ear, further develop their sense of pulse and rhythm and their singing skills, read rhythm notation, further develop pitch notation and learn composition skills. Maximum class size is 6. When your child is ready to learn an instrument (either group classes or one one one) you need to make sure they are informed about the choices available and their own preferences. It is therefore important that your child is exposed to a variety of instruments from a young age. The best way to do this is by taking them to lots of concerts and live performances of a wide variety of musical styles. If your child is not ready to make a choice I recommend starting on piano or keyboard as these instruments lend themselves to musicianship (including reading music) and many of the skills they will learn can be translated to learning another instrument later on. To book a free taster class please visit www.lucysparkles.com If you have any questions about this blog please don?t hesitate to email [email protected]

In this month's Lucy Sparkles & Friends free video, a real princess teaches your little ones how to make wishes come true! All they need is a wish, a magic wand and the special wishing song. (free video link) www.lucysparkles.com [email protected]

Thanks for the recommendation Esme. Please visit www.lucysparkles.com or email [email protected] for more info. x

Ever wondered what a Lucy Sparkles & Friends music class is like? Check out our latest YouTube video ( ) which was filmed at our Friday morning classes at Punk Me Up Ceramics Cafe. To book a free taster email [email protected] or visit www.lucysparkles.com Lucy Sparkles & Friends Friday Music for 0 - 4s at 10am & Friday Dance for 2 1/2 - 4s at 10:40am The music class employs both Kod?ly and Dalcroze principles. We apply the same fun, thoughtful and tested structure to each weekly session in order to establish a comfortable and friendly environment for children. We help them to develop their musical, physical, emotional and intellectual skills through live guitar, physical action and familiar songs, listening and moving to live and recorded music and by playing along on percussion instruments. Our creative dance classes will develop your children?s self-expression and creativity while improving their body awareness and fitness. Each 30-minute session follows EYFS guidelines and contains elements of ballet, jazz, creative and aerobic movement and tap. We believe that children deserve the best. So all of the music we use is of the highest quality, carefully selected to suit the theme and mood of each dance. If you?re looking for dance classes that will engage the bodies and imaginations of your children, then Lucy Sparkles is for you!

Hi Parents, South East Musicianship classes resume this week. Email [email protected] to book your child a 4 week taster course. See you soon! Lucy Milan Davis www.lucysparkles.com Level One Musicianship with Lucy Sparkles & Friends (ages 4-6) These classes are Kod?ly based and teach musicianship through singing and games. The children will develop a good sense of pulse and rhythm, pitch awareness, the ability to sing in tune and they will be introduced to the basics of reading musical notation. The classes are designed for children who would like to prepare for learning an instrument or for those children who just love singing! Maximum class size is 12. 4pm ? 4:45pm Wednesdays and Fridays at Punk Me Up Caf?, SE22 9AX Fees: 14 weeks x ?7 = ?98 Fees for new students doing the four week taster: 1 free session + 3 weeks x ?7 = ?21 Level Two Musicianship with Margaret Omoniyi (ages 5-7) This class carries on from level one and introduces the children to the keyboard. The children will become familiar with the keyboard, learn beginner piano technique, play familiar tunes by ear, further develop their sense of pulse and rhythm and their singing skills, read rhythm notation, further develop pitch notation and learn composition skills Maximum class size is 6. * Children must meet criteria to join this class. Email Lucy to find out if your child qualifies. 4pm ? 4:45pm and 5pm ? 5:45pm Thursdays at Denman Road, SE15 Fees: 14 weeks x ?10.50 = ?147 (to be paid in half termly instalments)

Hi Parents, I just wanted to let you know that Friday morning classes at Punk Me Up resume this week. Email [email protected] to sign up or book a free taster. See you soon! www.lucysparkles.com [email protected] Lucy Sparkles & Friends Friday Music for 0 - 4s at 10am & Friday Dance for 2 1/2 - 4s at 10:40am The music class employs both Kod?ly and Dalcroze principles. We apply the same fun, thoughtful and tested structure to each weekly session in order to establish a comfortable and friendly environment for children. We help them to develop their musical, physical, emotional and intellectual skills through live guitar, physical action and familiar songs, listening and moving to live and recorded music and by playing along on percussion instruments. Our creative dance classes will develop your children?s self-expression and creativity while improving their body awareness and fitness. Each 30-minute session follows EYFS guidelines and contains elements of ballet, jazz, creative and aerobic movement and tap. We believe that children deserve the best. So all of the music we use is of the highest quality, carefully selected to suit the theme and mood of each dance. If you?re looking for dance classes that will engage the bodies and imaginations of your children, then Lucy Sparkles is for you! 30 mins each Punk Me Up Cafe (formerly All Fired Up), 34 E Dulwich Rd, London SE22 9AX One child drop-in = ?6 per class Siblings drop-in = ?4 each per class One child 9 wk sign up = ?5 per class (?45) Siblings 9 wk sign up = ?3.50 each per class (?31.50 each) One child 14 wk sign up = ?4 per class (?56) Siblings 14 wk sign up = ?2.75 each per class (?38.50 each) * It's first come, fist served for drop-in. So those who sign up will have priority. * If you sign up for 9 weeks you do not need to come consecutively. You can nominate which five classes you would like to miss. If you then decide you'd like to attend more than 9 classes you can attend attentional classes at the same rate of ?5 for one child and ?3.50 each for siblings. Dates for all Autumn 2015 classes Week commencing Monday 7th of September to week ending Friday 18th of December No classes during Half term Monday 26th of October to Friday 30th of October (14 weeks)

Thanks for the recommendation Jollymummy. We have both male and female entertainers. You can learn more about our parties here www.lucysparkles.com or you can email [email protected] for options, themes and a full price list. Good luck on your search!

Thanks Etta. Visit www.lucysparkles.com for more info or you can call Sarah the party coordinator directly on 07738 436523 xxx

Thanks Jolly mummy. See www.lucysparkles.com for details, party pics, entertainer info etc. and email [email protected] for pricing and availability. xxx

Thanks for the recommendation Ready. Please email [email protected] for full details. Or phone Sarah (our party coordinator)on 07738 436523. xxx Lucy Sparkles provides outstanding party entertainment and catering (optional) for boys and girls aged one to six. We are very flexible and happy to come to your home, as well as to privately hired venues. We deliver two types of birthday entertainment and a rough break-down of what each includes is below. Music Party (recommended for ages 0 - 6) - Personalised invitations - Live guitar or keyboard - Rhymes - Action songs - Acapella singing games - Parachute play - Puppets - Children's percussion - Pass the parcel (optional) - 'Sparkly' tattoos (optional) - Face painting (optional) - Birthday card for the birthday boy/girl (ages three plus only unless requested) - Bubbles - Treats - Entertainer talks to the children in character and does magic tricks during their 30 min food break (two hour bookings only) Dance and Drama Party (recommended for ages 3 - 6) - Personalised invitations - Themed: ('Frozen', Superheroes, Fairies, Princess, Princesses & Knights, Out at Sea (mermaids and pirates), Dinosaurs, Cars, Pirates, In the Jungle and On the Farm) N.B. Themes can be combined. E.g. Princesses and Pirates. - Fun and creative choreographed dancing - Lots of exciting props! - Acapella singing games - Rhymes - Drama Game/s - Dancing game/s - Parachute play - Pass the parcel (optional) - 'Sparkly' tattoos (optional) - Face painting (optional) - Birthday card for the birthday boy/girl (ages three plus only unless requested) - Bubbles - Treats - Entertainer talks to the children in character and does magic tricks during their 30 min food break (two hour bookings only)