Early Childhood Music

The Laurier Academy of Music and Arts is proud to offer a large and diverse ECM program. 

Children are grouped in classes according to age and follow a custom curriculum that produces the natural starting point for a lifetime of musical accomplishment and enjoyment. Our ECM teachers work to ensure your child will develop a love and understanding of music through immersion in singing, playing, listening and movement activities.

Check out the weekly class schedule for a full view of our available programming.

Jump to:

• Kodaly and Orff Based:
  • Music with Your Baby/Toddler
  • Music with Your Child
• Mandarin Classes 
• Dalcroze Classes:
  • Steps to Music Through Movement
  • Musicianship and Movement

Because of small class sizes, please contact LAMA@wlu.ca to register.

Music with your Baby/Toddler

Introduce your baby (0–18 months) or toddler (18–36 months) to music and movement in this fun, interactive parented class. Dress comfortably as you will be partners with your child as we sing, play and move to traditional folk music, nursery songs, singing games, lullabies and instrumental music.

Instruments and equipment including xylophones, drums, bells, balls, hoops and scarves are used extensively and are an invaluable part of the class. Help your child foster a musical understanding, learn to respond to music and further develop their language, social, emotional and physical skills.

Because of small class sizes, please contact LAMA@wlu.ca to register.

• Format: 30-minute classes for 12 weeks
• Cost: $175 per session 

Session One

• Start date: Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023
• Day and time: Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• Class limit: Six students

Session Two

• Start date: Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024
• Day and time: Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• Class limit: Six students 

Music with Your Child

Music with your Child classes are based in the Orff/Kodaly methods and are taught by Early Music Educator Jennifer Stacey. "Developed by Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman, Orff Schulwerk builds students’ musicianship and creativity through singing, playing instruments, speech, and movement." - American Orff Schulwerk Association

Through traditional chants, folk songs and singing games, your child (3–7 years) will use their own voice as their first instrument, as well as rhythmic and melodic instruments, to actively discover musical concepts such as beat, rhythm, melody and form.

A sequentially organized class structure encourages children to develop performance and literacy skills that lay the foundation for future individual lessons. Our structure allows them to progress at a quicker pace and with greater confidence.

Family participation is a vital component of this program. Grown-ups and/or siblings are asked to join the class to help facilitate music activities (e.g. clapping games).

Because of small class sizes, please contact LAMA@wlu.ca to register.

Mandarin Classes

Little Performer (0-3years) (Mandarin-speaking)

This class is built for kids from birth to 3 years old and their caregivers, based on the Orff Approach, incorporating elements of traditional Chinese culture, unique linguistic characteristics, and Chinese culture into the curriculum. The class will include fun action songs, beautiful lullabies, props and instruments, silly songs with simple rhythms and more. Also, the class will support your child's growth and development while you have fun making music and making friends.

Ages: 0-3 years
Start date: Sept. 5, 2023 (10-week session)
Day and time: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. (45-minute class)
Cost: $200
Capacity: Six students plus parents

Little Performer Ensemble (4-5) (Mandarin-speaking)

This program is a set of music group courses that help your child (aged 5-7) develop their essential musical competence ability, such as keeping steady beats and participating with confidence and pleasure in the music, including instrumental study. The program will use a variety of enjoyable music theory lessons and games to introduce concepts such as music notes, values, time signatures, etc. It's a perfect way for beginners to learn music.

Through music stories, rhythm/tonal pattern play, instruments/props play, and ostinato, your child will learn rhythm, melody and harmony in fun ways and have a first idea about an ensemble. It will help them listen, share, cooperate, teamwork, and build self-confidence through music.

A sequentially organized class structure encourages children to develop performance and literacy skills that lay the foundation for future individual lessons. Our structure allows them to progress at a quicker pace and with greater confidence. Grown-ups are asked to join the class to help facilitate music activities.

Ages: 4-5 years
Start date: Sept. 9, 2023 (10-week session)
Day and time: Saturdays, 3 p.m. (45-minute class)
Cost: $200
Capacity: Six students plus parents

Little Performer: Pop-up Classes! (Mandarin-speaking)

These one-off classes will follow the same curriculum as above in a drop-in format. Parent participation is not required. 

Ages: 4-7 years
Dates: Sept. 24/ Oct.29/ Nov.26/ Jan.28/ Feb. 25 (Single class)
Day and time: Sundays, 4 p.m. (45-minute class)
Cost: $20 per class

Because of small class sizes, please contact LAMA@wlu.ca to register.

Dalcroze Classes 

The Dalcroze Eurhythmics Approach

In the Dalcroze approach students experience and express sound, pulse and rhythm in their bodies. Aural and muscle memory help to create a deeper understanding of music before the students begin to name concepts or analyze what they hear. This wholistic approach to learning music is beneficial for their physical, emotional, social, creative, and intellectual development.

The teacher uses songs as well as improvised and composed music and a watchful eye and ear for any necessary adaptations or flexibility. This allows for a wide variety of responses from the children and continued alertness. Children slowly develop relationships between space, time, and energy in this rhythmic and musical environment. Instructor Carol Bauman's goal is to create an atmosphere of joy and discovery as the children move through these classes.

Steps to Music Through Movement

These classes are also based on Dalcroze inspired games and exercises that further engage students’ ears, eyes, and bodies. Students discover how to refine their natural motor movements, develop their singing voice, listen with more focus, work with others, and continue to build a solid foundation for music making.

Engaging games and activities in active listening teach tempo and beat, pitch and melody, dynamics and nuance, and prepare them for the Musicianship program. Small instruments, songs, and props are used as well as their own musical bodies.

Dress comfortably to allow for freedom of movement. Bare feet are recommended.

• Format: 30-minute classes for 24 weeks (two terms)
• Age: 4-year-olds
• Cost: $300 

Term One:

• Start date: Monday, Sept. 11, 2023
• Day and time: Mondays, 5-5:30 p.m.
• Class limit: Six students (independent from parents)

Term Two:

• Start date: Monday, Jan. 8, 2024
• Day and time: Mondays, 5-5:30 p.m.
• Class limit: Six students (independent from parents)

Because of small class sizes, please contact LAMA@wlu.ca to register.

Musicianship and Movement

Inspired by more challenging and detailed Dalcroze Eurhythmics exercises and games, this class continues to build a deeper understanding of musicianship through students’ ears, eyes, and body.

“Musicianship” refers to the music literacy, ear training and development of artistic sensitivity. Some goals for the year include beginning notation of pitch and melody, use of solfege, accuracy in duration, meter and rhythm, dynamics and nuance, showing and feeling phrasing.

Dress comfortably to allow for freedom of movement. Bare feet are recommended.

• Format: 45-minute classes for 24 weeks (two terms)
• Age: 5-6 year-olds
• Cost: $400 

Term One:

• Start date: Monday, Sept. 11, 2023
• Day and time: Mondays, 5:45-6:30 p.m.
• Class limit: Six students (independent from parents)

Term Two:

• Start date: Monday, Jan. 8, 2024
• Day and time: Mondays, 5:45-6:30 p.m.
• Class limit: Six students (independent from parents)

Because of small class sizes, please contact LAMA@wlu.ca to register.