Our popular Music Makers/Young Voices programme, for those aged three to twelve plus, is the best place for children to start in music. Music Makers combines learning with fun and creativity.
It’s designed to provide a solid foundation for future music tuition, and enables children to experience, understand and be creative in the world of musical sound. We believe that:
The programme is based on the core principles of respected music educators Carl Orff and Zoltan Kodály, and uses singing and movement, as well as tuned and un-tuned percussion instruments. As children progress, the emphasis is more and more on the voice, and they can eventually join our children’s choir Young Voices.
Music Makers/Young Voices is in four levels:
At Levels 1 and 2, the focus is mostly on enjoyment. Children learn about simple musical ideas, exploring nursery rhymes, rhythmic actions, finger plays, chants, action songs and dancing using the voice and a variety of different instruments. At Level 3, aural skills become increasingly important and the voice starts to be the primary instrument. Children are guided to a clearer understanding of music notation, and are introduced to more complex melodies and rhythms.
Building on the core principles of the Music Makers programme, Young Voices, for children aged 9 and over, offers the opportunity for children to learn the basics of good singing – posture, breathing, voice production. It also provides an excellent training ground for all young musicians. Singing in an ensemble heightens listening skills and develops a fine sense of pitch and rhythm.
The additional skills that will be developed in Young Voices
Note that the songs taught don’t reflect popular music culture but are rather world music. They incorporate rhythmic challenges and a variety of melodic patterns. The tutor may use instruments such as guitar, Bass Xylophone and ukulele to enhance performance. While some members of Young Voices have attended previous levels of Music Makers, this is not a prerequisite.
More details of the Orff Association New Zealand are available here
