“Mommy & Me” Music and Piano

What do parents learn at Music and Piano Mommy & Me?

In Music and Piano “Mommy & Me” (or “Parent & Me”) lessons, parents learn to play the piano. Parents are the students, along with their very young children (ages 0-2). Parents learn to play the piano, along with learning other musical knowledge and skills, and children learn by watching, listening, and to the extent possible, participating in the musical learning and activities.

If you are interested in Music and Piano “Mommy & Me” it is important to understand that you will be learning to play the piano! And when you bring this learning home, your child can enjoy “practicing” with you, and alongside you!

What do children learn at Music and Piano Mommy & Me?

1. To sing tunefully!

2. To keep a beat, and to move rhythmically!

3. To gain confidence and to express creatively!

4. When age and size appropriate, to play the piano, too!

The Music and Piano “Mommy & Me” curriculum developed by Dennis Frayne Music Studios and used at the Laguna Niguel School of Music encourages the following musical learning and experiences for young children and their parents (as age and size appropriate):

• Children are encouraged to sing, to learn many songs, to “deep-dive” into the songs, and to perform some of the songs in formal and informal settings, including studio recitals. The songs range from popular children’s songs, contemporary pop songs, and traditional folk songs, to folk hymns, patriotic songs, and some Spanish-language songs. The songs are chosen for different reasons - sometimes because they are fun, sometimes because they are educational, or historical, and sometimes because the are tuneful. And, the songs represent the beginner repertoire that students will learn when they take piano lessons (it is a huge benefit for beginning piano and other instrumental students to know the songs they are learning to play on the piano or other instrument).

• Children are encouraged to move, to clap, to properly beat drums, tambourines, and xylophones, to dance, and to express creatively with their whole bodies. These movement and rhythmic activities help students develop motor skills and increase self-confidence in expression and in “standing on one’s own two feet.”

• Children are encouraged to learn a variety of helpful skills - musical skills, motor skills, and life skills. These skills include learning the alphabet, the music alphabet, solfege syllables (Do Re Mi), numbers and counting, colors, learning left hand from right hand, spatial up and down, left and right, understanding pitch direction, grasping the piano keyboard layout and patterns of white keys and black keys, developing hand and finger independence, catching a ball, learning some Spanish-language words and numbers, and more.

Which program is right for my child?

Children ages 0-2, perhaps age 3 should start with “Mommy & Me” Music and Piano.

When ready, students will advance to Pre-piano and then Piano Lessons. Children ages 4-5 (in some cases age 3) can start on their own, if ready. All students (and parent-student pairs) should register for an introductory lesson. At this lesson, students will engage in some musical activities and learn a song on the piano! This lesson will also provide us an opportunity to determine, with you, the best placement for your child, which might be “Mommy & Me” Music and Piano, Pre-piano, or Piano Lessons. For lessons other than “Mommy & Me,” individual private or group instruction may be available. “Mommy & Me” Music and Piano is only available as individual private lessons.

Children ages 6+ will start directly in Piano Lessons.

When signing up for an introductory lesson, please be prepared to provide us with your full scheduling availability. This will help us put together the best teacher and the best time slot for you and your family.

Click here to register for an introductory lesson.