Interactive online preschool music classes
Sing with
Holly
An interactive journey into
the world of sound
to spark the curiosity and imaginations
of 2-6 year olds
My classes are a place for exploration. I facilitate musical learning in a fun, creative way, creating patterns and pathways that will last a lifetime.
In a six-session online adventure that takes us from ‘Life is a Carnival’ to the ‘Sounds of the Deep Blue Sea’, we use song, percussion and movement to discover the world and express our experience of it.
Learning Through Play
The early years are the most magical and also the most crucial in your child’s development. My online classes are devised with a profound understanding of the early years (EYFS) curriculum.
Through music and song, we will develop skills in all the key learning areas:
-
Communication and language
-
Physical development,
-
Personal, social and emotional development
-
Maths
-
Literacy
-
Expressive art and design
-
Understanding the world.
I use classic children's songs, percussion, dance, natural sounds and graphic scores to encourage...
An interest in the natural world and environment
An interest in other cultures, languages and musical worlds
The ability to express and regulate emotions through music.
The idea that music is accessible and inclusive
A sense of FUN!
About me
-
Classically trained vocalist
-
Professional singer, songwriter and musician with a decade of live international performance experience at festivals and venues including Glastonbury, WOMAD, Outlook, North Sea Jazz, British Summer Time and London’s Roundhouse and Royal Albert Hall.
-
Six years of early years educational experience as a key worker and music specialist at outstanding settings in both London and Mexico City.
-
Time spent living and collaborating musically in Ecuador, Cuba, Colombia and Mexico.
-
Bilingual with a BA in Spanish
-
MA in Ethnomusicology
-
CELTA qualified
-
DBS Checked
Once upon a time...
... we could gather in groups to play and sing together
This course was created in quarantine, devised in response to our 'new normal' and out of a deep determination that Covid19 couldn't mean that music had to stop. I designed this course in order to provide my students with continuity in a time of crisis.
I was the first person with reservations about how engaging online teaching could be, but I entered the brave new digital world with a big smile and an open mind and was soon overwhelmed by the response of my students at the schools I work for.
I am confident that this programme provides an engaging introduction into the world of sound that is valuable and meaningful for young children. And so I set up this site to spread the love a little further....
What people say...
What we do...
Shake and Stop
What people say...
"Holly's energy and enthusiasm is infectious and her class is the perfect way to tire out my son when we're stuck at home! My three year old has been running around singing her shake and stop song on repeat since the class!"
- Laura (mother of Frank, aged 3)
Need some more information?
-
What digital application do you use for the classes?Having tried and tested a few online meeting platforms I have found Zoom to be the most effective and user friendly for group sessions.
-
How do I set up Zoom?You can sign up for a free account and download an app for your mac or PC here: https://zoom.us/
-
How long are the sessions?Each session is 30 minutes long. I have found this to be the optimum time for children to remain engaged with a screen. I keep the lessons fast paced and energetic. You may find your child wants to continue music-making once our interactive session has ended.
-
How many children are in a class?Course places are limited to ten. I have found this group size to be ideal in creating an exciting group atmosphere and to allow for individual interaction.
-
Does my child need an instrument to participate?No. Your child doesn't need any musical instruments or equipment in order to participate. One of the main aims of these classes is to demonstrate that music is all around us and accessible to everyone. In the first session I will give your child ideas about how to make instruments using things they have at home - jars, bottles, boxes, rice, beans - bits of safe recycling and dry food. You might want to collect a few of these things before your child starts the course. We also use our bodies as instruments to make sound. If your child does have an instrument they are very keen on bringing along to play that is also absolutely fine. I play a small stringed instrument called a 'cuatro' and children often like to immitate my strumming on ukuleles if they have them.
-
What happens if my child misses a session?I ask that before signing up for a course that you make sure your schedule is free for your child to attend all six sessions. This course is designed as a musical journey, with each session building on the next, and so your child will get the most out of it if they can attend all the classes. If your child misses a session due to illness or other unforseen circumstances, don't worry. The classes can still be enjoyed individually and they will not be lost or left behind when they resume the sessions. I will do my best to offer them a place on an alternative session, however I cannot guarantee that I will always be able to accommodate this.
-
None of the courses offered work with my schedule, how can I get involved?"I am working to offer more courses at different times of day and for different age groups. If none of the courses currently on offer work for your child's schedule or age group then please get in touch using the form on the bookings page and let me know what day and time would work best for you. This will be very helpful for me in creating additional courses. Thank you!
If you have any other questions about this course, please don't hesitate to