Music Teacher Training

• Lynn’s program is not a “one size fits all” program since each level (infants through elementary) is developmentally specific and generally age specific, so there is something unique and challenging every step of the way.
• A high level of musicality is presented in the lessons, such as the pitch matching, music vocabulary, discriminate listening, and singing games. Singing specific intervals and phrases for pitch matching and singing in tune are part of the game-like activities, and the level of musicianship in the lessons are very developmentally specific; e.g. the 4 year old singing games would not in the toddler lessons.
• Some of the same songs and pieces of music return in lessons for several weeks and from year to year, introducing a new level of challenge, new vocabulary and learning objectives – repetition with variety! This results in the children “owning” the songs and being able to sing them independently.
• The teachers and families love the live music making with the student’s own high quality instrument kit which they bring from home each week and use all year long in class. This means the music making continues in the car, at home, and everywhere they want to take it!
• Parents are encouraged to be music makers by incorporating ukulele as well as other easy instruments for them to play with and for their child. If the child sees that their parents value music, they will be life-long music appreciators.
• The Music Rhapsody program uses the Orff instruments like glockenspiels, xylophones, and percussion instruments, another reason why it has to be developmentally appropriate (babies would be putting bars and mallets in their mouth!) and why its easy to continue to challenge the timing and coordination of the children as they have more experience.
• The curriculum also includes a broad range of music, such as piano and orchestral (classical) music, world music, traditional folk dance music and folk songs, and jazz.
• Although the five groups are organized into developmentally appropriate curricula, teachers can mix, match, and adapt the lesson plans to fit their program’s needs.

• Gives the child a head start and serves as an important link to future success.
• Enhances brain development through proven, positive effects of music.
• Develops physical motor skills through movement and playing of music instruments.
• Provides a dramatic impact on language development and improving vocal and speech development through singing.
• Develops social skills and cooperation through participation in group dancing and musical games.
• Use of timing activities develops coordination, body awareness and spatial concepts.
• Use of repeating patterns and counting beats develops math and literacy skills.
• Improved listening and concentration skills.
• Increase of self-esteem.
• Better quality of life!

We have programs for five distinct age groups:

• Babies Make Music (Birth to Walking)
• Toddlers Make Music (Ages One and Two)
• Kids Make Music (Ages Two and Three)
• Big Kids Make Music (Ages Three and Four)
• Young Musicians Make Music (Ages Four and Five)

These are the organized age groups for the Music Rhapsody studio program, but they can be mixed, matched, and adapted to fit your classroom needs!

Parents are the child’s first and best teacher. Parents do attend and participate in weekly Music Rhapsody classes. Participation includes singing along with the teacher, using the instruments with the children, dancing, rocking and more. Parents will even have the opportunity to learn to play the ukulele and those skills transfer to the guitar! The parent’s involvement shows their child that they value music and that they are a music maker, too!

When parents enroll their child in a Music Rhapsody class, they have set aside a special time to bond with their child and enjoy music together, therefore siblings are generally not allowed to be in class, but it is at the teacher’s discretion. Unlike other programs, Music Rhapsody classes are age-specific, so we recommend that each child enroll in their own developmentally appropriate class to get the most from their music education!

If you are teaching these lessons in an adapted teaching situation (preschool, daycare, church, school etc.) parent involvement is up to your program, but not necessary- but don’t forget to share your musical development with your student’s parents so that music-making can continue at home!

We love what we know! A child immersed in music and participating in regular music classes will always love music. In Music Rhapsody, the children learn to keep the beat, match pitch, be creative and self-expressed, improvise, accompany and participate in group music-making. All of these activities prepare them for music lessons and increase the likelihood of having music as a lifelong companion.

A child engaged in a Music Rhapsody program has a unique opportunity to continue their journey quite naturally into other musical avenues. Piano, orchestral, jazz, and world music are intentionally and strategically woven into the Music Rhapsody curriculum from the start. The children growing in the SMR programs will hear and interact with a variety of different types of tonalities, keys, time signatures, tempos, and styles. The integration of those pieces from the earliest stages gives your child a huge advantage in any music or dance lessons.

Each of the Music Rhapsody programs is based on research and years of experience in working with children in a musical setting. The activities are developmentally appropriate and children naturally participate at the level with which they are comfortable. Some children are natural observers and will spend several weeks watching the classes unfold with seemingly little participation. Others will jump in from the very beginning and actively and enthusiastically participate.

We know that each child is unique and that these differences are completely normal. Often the observant child will be singing all of the songs at home and doing each activity with his or her parent all the time. Little babies who may even fall asleep in class will respond to the music on the CD at home by kicking, moving or looking for the sound source.

Our expectations for parents are quite simple; that they come to class consistently and participate both in class and at home, engaging their child in whatever manner is comfortable for them. If their child prefers to stay in their lap and be held or if their child needs to constantly move, both are exactly right. The teacher will be able to suggest ways for parents to engage and interact with their child.

Parent participation in Music Rhapsody class is very important for the child. At the beginning of each class everyone comes together around the huge gathering drum and plays along to a wide variety of music while students arrive. Each class begins by singing a welcome song and parents learn to accompany the singing on the ukulele.

During the class, parents will be singing (and they can learn right along with their child if they are nervous about this), dancing, moving and having a great time with their classmates.
The most important thing is that they come and have a fun, musical experience with their child.

Students who experience a Music Rhapsody class without their parents are, of course, encouraged to continue their music-making at home and outside of the classroom! It is the teacher’s job to recommend ways for families to make music together.

One of the goals in class each week is to learn songs and activities, then continuing the fun at home with Student Home Materials. Music Rhapsody students will have their set of instruments and their CD with many of the songs that they sing in class. Mid-year, there will be a second CD with the new songs on it. Play the CD in the car, at meals, during bath time and at bedtime. Play along with the instruments and dance with the scarf. The better the child knows the songs, the more they will participate and enjoy their classes.

Simply Music is the largest playing-based music education institution in the world, founded and directed by Neil Moore. Music Rhapsody and Simply Music (Piano) programs offer music education from a high quality, sequential, play-based approach, with the belief that each of us is deeply, profoundly musical. They both agree that, just as a baby naturally learns skills like speaking before it learns to read and spell, we can learn music by harnessing our inbuilt, natural gifts.

That is why we see a natural and cohesive transition from the Music Rhapsody early childhood music program into Simply Music’s Piano program. This progression is one that many students in Lynn’s local studio make, however you are free to use the Music Rhapsody curriculum however you choose! Each program is completely independent of the other and training and registration for each program is also separate.