Toddler Music Classes are a big hit!
By Joan Janzen
If you’ve ever watched a toddler’s dance moves, you’ll realize children’s appreciation for music begins when they’re babies. This may explain why the Toddler Music Classes offered at Rosetown have become so popular.
Chantelle de Coninck Smith said she began offering the classes after a parent asked if she could teach a course that was directed to toddlers. “As this is the first year that I have begun the toddler classes for children under the age of four, I have started with just a winter program located in Rosetown right now,” Chantelle explained. The winter program includes eight sessions, and parents or caregivers are required to be in attendance.
Chantelle, who lives in D’Arcy, holds the lessons at the Rosetown Civic Centre. She exposes the children to words and familiar sounds and shows the kids the difference between fast and slow tempos and beats. They have fun discovering movement and play small instruments which help develop their coordination.
“The response to lessons has been amazing!” Chantelle said. “I’ve had people from different communities contact me, asking if I would venture out to their community to teach classes. I started with two classes and booked up immediately.”
The toddlers aren’t the only ones who enjoy the lessons; parents appreciate having a fun outing with their kids. Parents get to watch their children learn something new and interact with other children while they get to enjoy music with their kids.
Due to the class’s popularity, Chantelle hopes to open up a spring and fall session in the future. But toddler music classes aren’t the only pursuit that occupies Chantelle’s time. She also teaches piano, flute and all levels of theory to students and adults.
“I teach in studios based out of Rosetown, Kindersley, Plenty and D’Arcy and have over 50 students,” explained Chantelle, who has been teaching private lessons for two decades.
“I love that I can ignite younger children by exposing them to music earlier in their lives. Music helps the body and mind work together, and exposing children to music in their early development plays a powerful role in their lives. Patterns and rhythms of music help the brain to become faster and more efficient at transmitting information. I love seeing the excitement on the children’s faces when they come to class excited to learn!” Chantelle said.