The loudness and softness of a sound is called dynamics. Dynamics give feeling and expression to a musical work. Teaching dynamics to children at an early age instills a sense of dynamic range early on, and gives them the terminology needed to understand how to perform a musical work.

Music Monsters focuses on hearing and making music however we understand that some of our little musicians are capable and ready to learn a little music theory also. Music theory can sometimes have a reputation for being a bit boring and difficult, but not at Music Monsters. We incorporate basic music theory through games and stories often identifying notes as characters in our class.

Music Monster teachers nurture confidence and uniqueness in a supportive and non-competetive environment. Research shows that children who sing/dance/act/play their little hearts out are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement compared with their non-performing friends. One of the best things kids discover is how to think on their feet.

Improvisation is essential to the Orff approach. As frightening as improvisation seems to be to adults, it is freeing to children. No rules! The teacher sets up boundaries in which the child can create his or her own rhythm, melody, or dance.

An important musical skill is the ability to remember the tunes and rhythms of songs and rhymes. Children are able to learn and recall rhymes and songs, to recognise a rhyme or song from its hummed melody or tapped rhythm, and to identify similar features in different rhymes and songs such as Twinkle twinkle little star and the Alphabet song.

Singing is inclusive, free, joyful, sociable and accessible to everyone, it immediately makes all children music-makers. Most importantly, it engages the inner hearing; to sing a note, you must first hear it inwardly. 

Music Monster classes create positive singing experiences for all children so they can continue to sing unselfconsciously and joyfully through adulthood. All children can be taught to sing and develop their pitch accordingly.

Rhythm is the pattern of long and short sounds in music; in a rhyme or song it is the sound pattern made by the words. Sometimes rhythm is the hardest part to learn, basically it is any type of activity requiring that children coordinate sound and vibration with movement. Music Monsters use simple percussion instruments, body percussion songs and games following predictable sequences of developmental movements to enhance a child’s rhythmic ability. Research has shown a child’s capacity for rhythmicity and timing helps to build the foundation for his emotional and intellectual development.

Percussion instruments provide an easy and fun way to introduce pre-schoolers to rhythms and beats. Small hand drums, rhythm sticks, wood blocks, or shakers are perfect instruments for tiny musicians since they can experiment with rhythm and improve fine-motor skills at the same time.

At Music Monsters we refer to the beat as the heart beat of music. The ability to recognise and perform the beat is perhaps the most fundamental musical skill. The best way to understand beat is to perform it in many ways: clapping, actions, stamping, walking and so on. Children learn to perform the pulse of a rhyme or song with learned or improvised actions, perhaps using a puppet, or to walk or clap the pulse as part of a game.