Taught exclusively at The Arts Connection for almost 15 years, our music specialist and registered music therapist, Sheila Lee, guides parents and their children through play-based learning activities that can easily be repeated at home! Her holistic pedagogical approach engages children in improving their auditory, visual, motor, language, and social skills, all while they are having fun with familiar and unfamiliar melodies. Elements of rhythm will be fostered through eurhythmics (body percussion: clapping, patting, etc.) and the use of small, kid-friendly percussion instruments. Sign language is also introduced to these classes, varying by age level. When sign language is paired with music for our older children, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and cultural awareness skills are strengthened through exercising both left and right brain quadrants simultaneously. Come join in the fun and see your child’s artistic strengths come to light!

Babies and toddlers will get a creative work-out as they dance, move, bounce and swing with their special guardian. Through song and movement taught by a experienced dance instructor, little ones will develop gross motor skills, improve balance and coordination and spark a budding love for dance while parents and caregivers will learn new and fun ways to support their child’s development through age-appropriate dance and play.

Come join in the fun and be a vital participant in your child’s first steps into music, dance, and the arts! Our Arts-In-One class allows for age-appropriate exploration of musical instruments, dance and rhythm and a variety of art projects as they make some of their very first friendships! Children of this age are just beginning to understand symbols, learn to problem solve, and imaginatively play, and are therefore at an ideal stage to be introduced to games with colors, textures, shapes. It’s also a wonderful way to get connected with other families in your community!

Based on a foundation of Orff and Kodaly techniques to teach elemental music making and ear training, children will listen, sing, move, speak, improvise, and make music with their whole body. Instruments such as xylophones, piano, drums, other percussive instruments and more will be played. This class can be a stepping stone to taking private music lessons in the future, or complement current private music lessons by reinforcing musical concepts in a group environment. A combination of folk material, composed music, games, and stories will be used.  A fun group class to experience the joys of live music-making with others!

Whether your child is a potential Picasso or just an enthusiastic scribbler, fostering a sense of confidence in their artistic expression can help build their self esteem and make them more comfortable expressing themselves. Art + Play is all about children finding their inner artist while using the element of play to encourage their creativity.  Whether drawing, painting, crafting, or sculpting,  children are challenged to reach creative heights!