Music Explorers
Our Early Childhood Program for the Youngest Musicians.
Our Early Childhood Program for the Youngest Musicians.
Music Explorers with Ms. Lauren is a fun and engaging program where young children and their caregivers learn about and explore music through singing, moving, playing instruments, and musical story time. Class begins with a ukulele welcome song and exploration time at the large gathering drums, and continues into playful music activities that introduce children to concepts including pitch, beat, rhythm, form, dynamics, and tempo. Class duration is approximately 40 minutes.
Recommended for ages 6 months-5 years. Please see the FAQs below or contact us if you need help selecting the right class for your family.
Classes are available as a multiple-week series or as individual pop-up classes. Please review the class policies, agreements, and details here and on the individual registration pages below.
Early Winter Weekday Series
🍂 8-week series classes run 11/10-1/22 (No classes the week of Thanksgiving or the last two weeks of the year)
🍂 Friday Mini-Series class dates: 10/30-11/20 (4 weeks) or 12/4-12/8 (3 weeks)
Tuesdays - Nokesville
Vita Nova Creatives & Coffee
Wednesdays - Haymarket
Jazzercise Studio
Thursdays - Haymarket
ArtsVanGo: The Studio @ Haymarket Museum
Fridays- Manassas
Manassas Church of the Brethren
Fridays- Gainesville
Gainesville Pediatric Dentistry
This class is offered at a discounted rate due to the generosity of Gainesville Pediatric Dentistry!
Two mini-series options available. Join us for one or both!
4-week series Oct. 30-Nov. 20 *SOLD OUT*
3-week series Dec. 4- Dec. 18
Saturday Pop-Up Classes
Saturdays- Haymarket
Arts VanGo: The Studio @ Haymarket Museum
Limited space available Nov. 21 @ 11:00
FAQ
What will my child learn?
In every class, students will work to develop one of the most essential skills of music making: keeping a steady beat! We also have multiple opportunities to explore rhythm, musical form, pitch, dynamics, tempo, and more! Children will engage in songs, pitch matching, and vocal exploration exercises to help them develop a tuneful singing voice. Movement, guided improvisation, and listening activities allow students to respond creatively to music and discover its cultural and artistic qualities. Students in all classes will explore and make music in developmentally-appropriate ways, and older children will begin to learn and use music theory terminology. Children will also practice everyday skills such as cooperation and collaboration with their peers, gross and fine motor skills, patterns and counting, and taking (safe) risks in a positive and nurturing environment. Most importantly, children will learn that making music together is JOYFUL!
Why Choose Music Explorers?
Music Explorers classes are always planned and taught by Ms. Lauren, a degreed and licensed music teacher with years of experience in the field of early childhood music education. Each lesson is adapted for the specific needs, interests, and abilities of the children enrolled. Ms. Lauren draws her material from a variety of sources backed by research to ensure that each class is developmentally-appropriate and supports the way children learn naturally through experience and play!
What class is best for my child?
The easiest way to choose a class is by age group and the location/time that is most convenient for you. For younger children who might be overwhelmed by a lot of activity and older children, consider registering for a babies/toddlers or 0-2s class. Mixed age classes are great for scheduling flexibility or when you're bringing siblings of different ages. Developmentally-appropriate modifications are available in every class if a child falls slightly outside the recommended age range.
Do caregivers participate in class?
Adult participation is highly encouraged, especially for children under 4. Your participation helps your child acclimate more quickly and feel more confident about trying something new! Making music together is a wonderful way to bond with your child. You will always receive suggestions for ways you can help your child engage and get the most out of their class!
Does a "caregiver" have to be a parent?
No! Any adult can attend with your child. We often have grandparents, nannies, and aunts and uncles in our classes!
What if we miss a class?
Life with children can be full of surprises, and we know that sometimes you may have a conflict. Keeping your sick child at home is appreciated so we can keep our classmates and their families healthy! If you are enrolled in a multi-week series of classes, you may make up a missed class before the end of the currently enrolled series if there is another class time and location that fits your schedule. Make-up classes are not guaranteed and cannot be carried over to another term; please contact the teacher to make arrangements. Policies for individual pop-up classes and classes hosted in partnership with other organizations may vary, so please reach out if you need clarification.