Published: October 18, 2007 01:30 pm      

EDUCATION: New school aims to teach tots music basics

Students at a new local school will get an early start in musical education, thanks to three inspired teachers.

The Children’s Music Academy will begin teaching classes to children of any age from birth through 5. The format of the classes and the teaching styles are based on current research in the fields of music learning and child development.

The academy will give students a better introduction to music than a public school could, the music school’s teachers say.

“People don’t take music seriously,” said academy co-founder Karen D’Angelo. “Every child has capability to make music. If they are nurtured in a stimulating environment, it helps them be creative, more sensitive and have a deeper understanding.”

D’Angelo is opening the academy with two music teachers, Jeannine Joseph and Robin Parkinson. All were inspired by a college professor, Edwin Gordon, who is known for his work in music learning theory. Gordon advocates teaching through “audiation,” his word for hearing music in the mind.

“It’s learning music through play,” Joseph said. Teachers interact with the kids while another teacher listens to what sounds they are making.

“We then try to build off that,” D’Angelo said. “We want them to have fun and enjoy.”

The idea of children teaching themselves through play sounds pretty close to the Montessori method of teaching, which emphasizes learning through all five senses and discovery.

Knowing that, it might not be surprising that the academy is renting a classroom from the Children’s House Montessori School on Robinson Road. The room is in a little house behind the school.

“The program gives an introduction at an early age to music, to enrich learning,” said Jennifer Anzalone, owner of the Montessori school. “It also gives them a chance to socialize with other children.”

Parents are encouraged to attend classes with their children and to keep up the learning at home. They need not know anything about music, because they’ll be armed with information on how play and movement form the basis for future tone and rhythm development, and how to nurture the learning at home. According to the theory, children can learn the basics of music by just being surrounded by it.

All three teachers are qualified in children’s music education. D’Angelo has a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance and a master’s degree in music education. She has been giving vocal and piano lessons for the past 12 years.

Joseph has the same degrees and is an elementary music teacher in the Amherst Central School District.

Parkinson has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music performance from New England Conservatory and the Juilliard School. Parkinson teaches children’s music classes at Community Music School in Buffalo and has performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic.

The academy is opening Nov. 3 and will hold classes from 10 to 10:40 a.m. Saturday mornings. This first round of classes will run for five weeks. New classes will begin on Jan. 5 and run through March 15. Ten weeks is the expected length.

“We’re different because we make it all about the music,” D’Angelo said. “There’s no selling; it’s not commercial. We’re educating parents, toddlers and infants.”

Contact reporter Joe Olenick

at 439-9222, ext. 6241.