Giveaways West Coast

Explore the VSO School of Music Early Years Programs

School’s right around the corner, and my girls can’t wait! Tee’s looking forward to seeing all her friends again, and believe it or not, she can’t wait to get back into her math and language lessons too. And then there’s Kay who’s starting kindergarten. She’s well on her way to reading independently and super excited about taking ice skating lessons with her class.

A well-rounded education is more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic though. Time and time again, studies show that music and arts education are an essential component of any curriculum. Music education benefits brain structure, brain function, language abilities, attention span, emotional resilience, empathy for others, and self-confidence. Wow! That’s an impressive list of cognitive, emotional, social, and physical benefits.

Of course we all want those benefits for our kids, but it’s not always easy to know where to find age-appropriate music education with dedicated teachers trained in Early Childhood music learning. Fortunately for families in Vancouver, we have the VSO School of Music!

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School offers fun classes and activities for all ages, abilities, and interests, but I’m most excited about their Early Years Program. Introductory and continuing classes engage babies and children in building brain-boosting musical skills from as early as four weeks of age. Kids can experience the joy of music from first sounds all the way through to mastering an instrument.

As you may have guessed from the name, the VSO School of Music enjoys a special relationship with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Students are afforded unique musical opportunities like meet and greets with famous musicians, complimentary tickets to VSO concerts, and even the opportunity to perform on the Orpheum Theatre stage!

Start Early!

Nothing impacts the human brain and heart like music, and Colourstrings Music & Movement Classes at the VSO School are designed to be your child’s first experience. Classes are organized by age and develop core music skills through singing, instrument play, dancing, creative movement, listening, and socializing in a stimulating yet structured way. With classes offered Tuesday to Saturday, it’s not hard to find a class to fit your schedule.

The Colourstrings approach introduces children to the wonder of music, from those earliest playful experiences through to music literacy and on to instrumental lessons if desired. In a typical 40-minute class, kids will:

  • Sing, move, play, and imagine
  • Develop core music skills
  • Play some of the most beautiful instruments from around the world
  • Learn simple dance patterns and move creatively to music
  • Enjoy creative music games that develop basic musical literacy: reading, writing and composing
  • Listen to a variety of high quality live and recorded music

Drop-in Parent & Baby Musical Yoga is a brand new activity for new parents and babies from four weeks old and up. These specially-developed classes helps parents strengthen, relax, and bond with their new baby through the universal language of music. Each class is team-led by a highly experienced yoga instructor and one of the VSO School’s Early Years music specialists.

“Pathway” Small Group Lessons are a unique, transitional way of beginning piano, violin, cello or percussion lessons with the use of both individual and small group instruction. Children participate in groups of 3 students, each receiving a 20-minute private lesson and a half-hour small group class weekly, for 10 weeks each term.

Other Early Years activities include Suzuki string groups and lessons, a Sounds of the Symphony class introducing kids to orchestral instruments and music, and a Children’s Vocal Ensemble.

Free Musical Events

All families with children from toddlers to age 6 are invited to attend special “Instrument Petting Zoos” throughout the school year. Kids aged 2-6 and their families can see, hear, and try various orchestra instruments, play musical games, meet instructors, and enjoy hands-on time with a variety of instruments.

The first of these free events will be on Sunday, September 10, from 2:00-4:00 pm at the VSO School. Visit the Early Years page for more information.

Win a VSO Early Years Class!

I have great news! I’ve partnered with the VSO School to offer one of my local readers and their child (3 months to 6 years) a free space in one of their Colourstrings Music & Movement Classes for the fall 2017 term (September 16-December 9). Prize includes free annual registration free for a total value of $245.

The winner must contact the VSO School by September 8 and can choose their class day and time from what’s available at the time. Please note that parents will need to attend classes with their children from the 3 months through to 2-3 years age groups, but parents do not need to attend for children in the 3-4 years and 5-6 years age groups.

Enter in the giveaway widget below. This giveaway is open to anyone 18+ who can attend classes in Vancouver, BC. All the winner’s entries will be verified.

Click here to check out my other open giveaways and be sure to follow me on Facebook!

 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own. Your experience may differ.

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10 Comments

  • We’re huge music lovers in this home! My husband plays guitar and sings, I play the banjo (though not well!) and played classical violin growing up as well as singing in choirs and playing in a bell choir for a few years. We collect local instruments when we travel. My step-daughter plays the sax but my son is just a newbie so no instruments for him yet! If he’s fussing, though, we turn on music or sing to him and he quiets down right away. Already a music lover in the making!

  • I love music! I’ve played piano since I was 5 or 6. I started playing trombone in grade 7, and have been a novice recorder player since grade 6. I sang in a choir in high school and have also sung in our church’s worship team.

  • This would be perfect for us! I love to sing with my toddler, and I’m sure she would get so much out of a class like this. I used to be in band on high school, but I haven’t touched the flute in years so I probably couldn’t play anymore. I got a lot of benefits out of it though and would love for that for my daughter.

  • We love trying instruments! I played the flute and saxophone in high school and the kids love playing the piano!

  • I played the piano since I was 4, and the flute since I was 9. Would love my daughter to also be involved with music.

  • My son has done lots of group music / song classes when he was younger, I would love for him to have the opportunity to try something at a higher level!