Early Childhood Music Education

Hanna Honkonen

I am currently one of the early childhood music teachers at the Valkeakoski Music and Dance Institute, teaching in both Valkeakoski and Akaa.

I graduated as an early childhood music teacher in 2019 from Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences. I currently live in Tampere. My main instrument is the accordion, which I have been studying since I was 7 years old, first at the Pirkanmaa Music Institute and later at Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences. During my studies, I also took courses in singing and piano playing.

I love working with children and teaching them. My goal is to provide children with holistic musical experiences, which mainly consist of singing, playing, and movement, combined in various ways. Interdisciplinary approaches are also part of the new visual arts and music group. Interaction, joy, and pleasure in music are the most important aspects of the classes. I aim to create a safe environment so that children leave with positive memories of their music classes.

In my free time, I spend a lot of time with family and friends. I can usually be found handling the duties of the secretary for the Early Childhood Music Teachers Association.

Piia Havia

I graduated as an early childhood music teacher from Lahti University of Applied Sciences in 2008. Previously, I completed a basic music education at the Pop & Jazz Conservatory. I have been teaching at the Valkeakoski Music Institute since 2010.

In the music classes, every child is welcome to be themselves. I want to support each child and create a learning environment where everyone feels safe and enjoys making music. The best part of my job is seeing how children of all ages get excited about learning new things through play in the creative world of music.

In the baby group, we sing, recite rhymes, bounce with the parent. We play instruments, listen, smell, and explore the world through all the senses. There are no musical skill requirements—neither for the parent nor the baby! A parent’s voice is the most beautiful sound in the world to their child.

The baby groups are divided into two: one for younger babies, around 3–6 months old, and one for older babies, around 7–11 months old. Groups are also formed as needed during the semester. Information about new groups is provided on the music school’s website.

The baby group supports interaction between the parent and child through musical activities. At the same time, it helps raise awareness of the body, different ways of moving, the environment, and other people. The content of the family groups evolves as the children grow: while the youngest babies are held and interact closely with the parent, the older babies are already crawling and toddling away from the adult on their own.

In the class for 1-year-olds motor skills develop through musical activities, and at the same time, children experience and learn musical concepts. By age 2, children start to act more independently, and use their imagination for the play.

Various materials that fit the theme of the class are used to look at, touch, move, or smell. The rhythm of music is present in rhymes, simple hand games, clapping, stomping, little songs, and of course, playing instruments. Rhythms, different sound games, and singing songs that are familiar to the child’s world all support speech and language development.

In music and movement classes, children are introduced to a variety of musical styles—children’s songs, classical music, and world music. Different forms of music are easily explored.

One adult joins the child in the class.

Children aged 3–5 attend music classes on their own. At the beginning, a parent or guardian may accompany 3-year-olds to help them adjust to the group. Musical concepts are discovered and learned through play. The children’s own activity and creativity are encouraged in all activities.

In the 3–5-year-old groups, children use their voices in a variety of ways, learn to listen for pitch accuracy, and practice finding a common rhythm through movement, body percussion, and playing instruments. In addition to small rhythm instruments, xylophones, djembe drums, and kanteles are introduced from the instrument cabinet.

Social skills are developed through shared activities in a familiar and safe small group setting. Recognition skills, memory, and spatial awareness improve through different exercises. Various musical opposites (high-low, quiet-loud, etc.) become familiar. Understanding of harmony and form is strengthened through diverse musical activities. The teaching is interactive and progresses according to the child’s developmental level, providing experiences of success and learning in both skills and emotional areas. Through performances, children gain confidence in presenting what they’ve learned in front of a large audience.

In sibling groups, various materials that match the theme of the class are used to be looked at, touched, moved, or smelled. The rhythm of the music is present in the classes through rhymes, simple hand games, clapping, stomping, short songs, and of course, playing instruments.

Rhythms, different sound games, and singing age-appropriate songs support the development of speech and language. Children are introduced to a range of musical styles – children’s songs, classical music, world music.

The implementation is adjusted to match the age and skill levels of the children in the group. A younger sibling can be supported by an adult, while an older sibling can participate independently or with a group mate in more challenging tasks. We recommend staying in the sibling group for one year before moving to age-specific groups. For children over 3 years old, we recommend joining a group for their own age, where they can experience age-appropriate challenges and the joy of learning and doing within the group.

The minigroup for special needs is intended for children who require special support and attend the class alone. Therefore, the group size is kept smaller than the other groups. In these classes, children sing, play, move, and listen—engaging in all the musical activities that occur in other groups.

The teacher is an early childhood music educator.

We have Suzuki groups both in Valkeakoski and Akaa. In the groups of 2-3 children, students learn to play the violin playfully using the Suzuki method. The schedule is arranged among the enrolled participants.

There is limited availability in these groups.

In this group, children have the opportunity to learn both musical and visual expression comprehensively. Every session includes music and visual arts, allowing children to experience and learn through all their senses.

Each session is led by two professionals: early childhood music teacher and visual arts teacher from the Emil Art and Crafts School.

In the class, we learn music through singing, playing, moving, and listening. Children develop their musical understanding in a familiar and secure small group setting.

Visual expression is explored through colors, shapes, art elements, and musical themes. Materials, colors, papers, and other small supplies are included in the cost.

Let’s discover colors in music!

In the group, children will learn musical and visual expression comprehensively. Each session includes music and visual arts, allowing children to experience and learn through all their senses.

In the group for 6-year-olds, music is studied in a more detailed manner. We practice recognizing musical notes and notation. We learn to identify various instruments through images, sound, and video samples, which can later be explored in more depth at the music school. We practice playing together and improve our skills with instruments such as the xylophone, ukulele, kantele, and djembe. The 6-year-olds also do some pencil-and-paper tasks during sessions, which help in understanding the concepts being taught. In visual arts, we delve into slightly more advanced techniques.

Each session is guided by professionals in music and visual arts: early childhood music teacher and visual arts teacher  from the Emil Art and Crafts School.

In the class, we learn music through singing, playing, moving, and listening. Children develop their understanding of music in a familiar and secure small group setting.

Visual expression is explored through colors, shapes, art elements, and musical themes. Materials, colors, papers, and other supplies are included in the semester fee.

Let’s discover colors in music!

In the Minimusic class we make music together as a whole group. During sessions, we play familiar musical instruments such as various percussion instruments: djembe drums, xylophones, and ukuleles. Throughout the year, we will explore different orchestral instruments (strings, woodwinds, brass, and keyboard instruments) through listening and visual observation.

In the group, we learn basic music concepts as well as rhythm and notation symbols, all while keeping play and creativity at the forefront. The class involves singing, playing, listening, moving, playing games, improvising, and learning musical concepts in a group setting that considers the children’s age and developmental stages. Small accompaniments to familiar songs provide experiences in ensemble playing and offer suitable musical challenges. All activities are layered and interwoven, with small and simple elements combining to form larger and more complex wholes.

Playing and moving help develop both motor skills and coordination. Concentration and work skills also improve. Collaborative activities support self-expression and empathy. Children create their own relationship with music and build a strong foundation for future musical pursuits.

In the MiniAccordion Group, we explore the secret world of accordion playing through rhymes and songs. In class, we dance, play rhythms, sing, and play a variety of instruments, including rhythm and xylophone instruments, while also practicing accordion playing, basic theory, and other musical concepts, and completing small music tasks.

We use a music folder in class to keep track of sheet music and assignments.

No prior playing experience is needed, and the instruments used are the music school’s small accordions.

The instructor is an early childhood music teacher, whose primary instrument is the accordion.

The Special Needs Music Group is designed for children who require additional support. The group size is kept smaller than other groups, and each child attends with their own parent.

In this small group, the focus can be tailored to each child’s specific needs. In the Special Needs Music Group, activities include singing, playing, moving, and listening—everything done in other groups, but with adaptations to support each child’s individual growth and development through music. Every child, big or small, can succeed from their own starting point! The group also provides a meeting place for families with children with special needs to connect with others in similar situations.

Currently, the special needs group is open to all children who attend with their parent. For older and more independent children with special needs, they can participate in a “regular” group, where their parent can join as a support if needed. All children are welcome to the music groups at the Valkeakoski Music and Dance Institute!

Jump in and make music with us!

In the Music Crew classes, we play and sing together with friends.

We play and rhythmically explore instruments such as kantele, ukulele, rhythm instruments, and xylophones. We also experience music moving and rhythmically engaging with body rhythms.

In these classes, we learn about music notation and rhythmic symbols through play and music-making.

Different orchestral and band instruments become familiar as we dive into the world of various music styles, listening and observing visually.

Music coaching can be a way to spark interest for a potential future music hobby or to explore which instrument might be the most enjoyable to play after the music coaching sessions.

In the Instrument Carousel, children explore a variety of instruments during the autumn semester. In small groups, they get to know orchestral instruments and each child has the chance to try out an instrument during two teaching sessions, after which the group rotates to a new instrument.

The carousel includes familiarization with the flute, saxophone, violin, clarinet, recorder, guitar, and percussion instruments.

The classes are taught by instrumental instructors.

In Band Coaching, students explore band instruments, learn basic drum patterns, simple electric guitar and piano accompaniments, and get an introduction to electric bass through 20-minute individual lessons. Under the guidance of the teacher, students also practice reading and playing music from notation.

Band Coaching lasts for a year and is a great foundation for continuing with instrumental studies or joining a music group.

The classes are taught by an instrument teacher.