First Steps in Music at Free Christian Church
First Steps in Music is an early childhood music and movement program for infants through toddlers. Using a curriculum designed by early childhood music expert Dr. John Feierabend, children and the caregiver who attends class with them engage in a variety of activities together as they learn new songs and rhymes.
We offer separate classes for infants and toddlers. Classes for infants and toddlers include bounces, wiggles, tickles, dancing, songs, circle games, and lullabies. Caregivers will learn how to continue this musical play at home as they leave each week.
We are excited to offer these classes to our community this spring!
REGISTER NOW FOR TUESDAYS IN APRIL/MAY 2023!
Classes will be offered one time a week on Tuesdays for 30 minutes in the Lower Hall. The Program will run for 6 weeks starting in April 25th in the Lower Hall. Classes sizes are small so register early! Siblings are welcome to be in the room, however, only children within the age group will be able to participate. The program will be free for participants.
9:30am to 10:00 am: Birth to 3 years
What is First Steps in Music?
First Steps in Music is an early childhood music and movement program for infants through 3-year-olds. Using a curriculum designed by early childhood music expert Dr. John Feierabend, children and the caregiver who attends class with them engage in a variety of activities together as they learn new songs and rhymes. Designed for early childhood, these classes develop motor and language skills through songs and creative movement while encouraging constructive social interactions through group activities and games. This joyful experience ignites a musical spark for a lifetime of learning and builds up readiness for more formal music training. Through singing, instrumental exploration, movement and games, children are given an appetite for music. In a playful manner, children develop sensory awareness, language, motor, creative and social skills along with gaining a wide repertoire of music.
The First Steps in Music curriculum is designed to prepare children to become musical in three ways:
Tuneful – to have tunes in their heads and learn to coordinate their voices to sing those tunes.
Beatful – to feel the pulse of music and how that pulse is grouped in either 2s or 3s.
Artful – to be moved by music in the many ways music can elicit a feelingful response.
Your role is important!
Caregivers will learn how to continue this musical play at home as they leave each week. Preschool age children will engage in an eight-part musical workout that includes pitch exploration, song fragments, simple songs, arioso, song tale, movement exploration, movement for form and expression, and movement with the beat. You are your child’s most important music teacher right now! Young children learn through play and experimentation and by watching and listening to the grownups they love. Setting an example as an enthusiastic participator in music activities is the best thing any parent or caregiver can do to help set a child on the road to a lifelong love of music. Parents don't need to have music skills—they just need a desire to play and have fun with their children!
Our Curriculum:
““The First Steps in Music curriculum is based on an extensive survey of research related to the development of singing and movement skills in young children, as well as many years of practical experience sharing musical activities with this younger age. It is this combination of a research-based curriculum, quality literature, and practical experience that makes the First Steps in Music curriculum unique””
Multiple Intelligences and Musical Intelligence:
The theory of multiple intelligences was developed in 1983 by Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University. It suggests that the traditional notion of intelligence, based on I.Q. testing, is far too limited. Instead, Dr. Gardner proposes eight different intelligences to account for a broader range of human potential in children and adults. Music is one type of intelligence.
People who have strong musical intelligence are good at thinking in patterns, rhythms, and sounds. They have a strong appreciation for music and are often good at musical composition and performance (Sternberg, 2012)
Strengths: Rhythm and music
People with musical intelligence:
Enjoy singing and playing musical instruments
Recognize musical patterns and tones easily
Remember songs and melodies
Have a rich understanding of musical structure, rhythm, and notes
Fernando Castro- First Steps in Music Teacher
Fernando Castro is the Music Director of Free Christian Church- Andover . He was born in Brazil and began his studies in music at the age of eleven. He graduated in music from the School of Music of Espirito Santo- Brazil then moved to the US to advance his education. He has performed in Oklahoma, Texas, Massachusetts and Rio de Janeiro- Brazil. He has also performed in the Bison Jazz Orchestra as Jazz Pianist where he played around the state of Oklahoma representing his college. He holds a degree in Music from Oklahoma Baptist University where he majored in Piano and graduated in 2012. He also holds a Master's Degree in Education from Gordon College- MA and graduated in 2017.
He has taught piano, music theory and voice in many music schools in Brazil where he taught children, teens and adults. Fernando was the founder and conductor of the Cobilandia Children’s Choir, a choir composed of underserved children who performed at churches and malls in Brazil. His musical influences are Jazz, Brazilian Music and Central American Music.
Reach out to Fernando at Fernando.castro@freechristian.org with any questions!