Early Childhood 0-8 Music Classes – Take Off With Music

TAKE OFF WITH MUSIC!

The Christchurch School of Music is one of New Zealand’s greatest musical treasures, and we’re always delighted to introduce music to our youngest students! We are taking enrolments now.

Is it time to change yours or your child’s life with music?

CSM offers preschool and primary music foundation classes, called Take Off With Music, which are based on both the Orff-Schulwerk and Kodaly approaches to music education.

Every session is carefully planned to help children experience music through playing instruments, singing, dancing, clapping games, poetry and stories which will stimulate their imagination, as well as teach musical skills. Children will improvise, compose and invent their own music, and learn to read and write music in a fun and exciting way. Ensemble skills are developed through the use of a variety of percussion instruments.

These classes provide a strong foundation to music learning where the children will develop social and physical skills, learn to express themselves emotionally, improve their language and, of course, have fun.

ENSEMBLE LESSONS

Save money and learn from your tutor and your classmates.

Enquire to Enrol

Babies (Age 0 - 1 year)

Mondays: 10.45am – 11.15am, at the CSM Offices, 100 Fitzgerald Avenue, Unit 7A

Tuesdays: 11.15am -11.45am, at the CSM Offices, 100 Fitzgerald Avenue, Unit 7A

A joyful first step into the world of music!

Our baby music sessions are about so much more than singing. They’re a special opportunity to connect, learn, laugh and grow together in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Through gentle songs, rhymes, movement, sensory play and musical activities, you’ll discover fun ways to support your baby’s communication, listening, physical and social development — all while strengthening that precious bond between you and your little one.

And don’t worry if your baby sleeps through some (or even all!) of the session. You’ll still learn plenty of songs, rhymes and activities to take home and enjoy together when the time is right.

Come as you are, enjoy making music together, and give your baby a wonderful start with music.

Toddlers (Age 1 - 2.5 years)

Mondays: 11.30am-12.00pm, At CSM offices, 100 Fitzgerald Avenue, Unit 7A

Busy bodies, curious minds and lots of musical fun!

Our toddler music sessions are designed for little ones who love to move, explore and join in. Through singing, dancing, rhymes, movement, instruments and musical play, children discover the joy of making music in a fun and supportive environment.

Toddlers learn through doing, so there are plenty of opportunities to move, listen, copy, create and explore. Along the way, they’re developing important skills such as coordination, communication, confidence, concentration and social interaction.

Parents and caregivers are an important part of the fun too. You’ll share special musical moments together and take home plenty of ideas, songs and rhymes to enjoy throughout the week.

Sing, move, play and discover together!

Pre-Schoolers (Ages 2.5 – 4)

Tuesdays: 10.00am-10.45am, at CSM offices, 100 Fitzgerald Avenue, Unit 7A

Saturdays: 9.30am – 10:15am,

Saturdays: 10.30am – 11.15am at CSM offices, 100 Fitzgerald Avenue, Unit 7A

Lincoln: Mondays: 1.45pm – 2.30pm at the Lincoln Event Centre

Growing musical minds through singing, moving, playing and creating!

Our pre-school music sessions build on children’s natural love of music, movement and imagination. Through songs, action rhymes, movement, musical games, stories and percussion instruments, children begin to explore the building blocks of music in playful and meaningful ways.

They’ll experience beat, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics and musical patterns without it ever feeling like a lesson. There are also lots of opportunities to make choices, use their imaginations, create their own musical ideas and make music with others.

Along the way, children are developing confidence, creativity, coordination, listening skills and independence — all while having lots of fun!

A playful musical adventure that helps prepare children for their next steps in music.

School Age (Ages 5 - 8 years)

Saturdays: 11.15am – 12.00pm, at the CSM Offices, 100 Fitzgerald Avenue, Unit 7A

Children enrolled in our senior class tell us how much they look forward to Saturday mornings. Whether as an introduction to music or as a supplemental lesson alongside learning an instrument, these classes will help your child to learn aural and rhythm skills as well as giving them a good grounding in music theory.

Terms & Conditions

Enrolment
It is usual practice for students to enrol for a minimum of one semester (1/2 a year) however we do offer Blocks of 5 or 10 lessons for adult students.
If you are under 18 years of age a parent or guardian will need to sign the enrolment form.

Fees & Payment
Fees for lessons and participation in performing groups can be paid in full before classes start, or in weekly, fortnightly, quarterly or semester installments. As fees are not optional at the Christchurch School of Music, we do require either all or a portion of the fee to be paid in advance of the start of lessons. It is expected that unless fees are paid before the start of the semester, an automatic payment will be set up to cover the remaining fees for the year.
If an agreement is made to pay fees in installments the CSM office will email invoices at the appropriate intervals.
Fees can be paid by internet banking, credit card or cash.
CSM does have some Financial Support available. These monies are reliant on a grant, so can not be guaranteed. If you would like to be considered for financial assistance and have a community services card please indicate this on your enrolment form. Financial Assistance in 2023 will only be available on lesson fees.
As CSM is a small not-for-profit organisation we do need to ensure that fees are paid regularly and promptly. Please contact the office immediately if you have any problems meeting commitments. We do use normal business methods to recover outstanding debt.

Refunds & Cancellations
CSM will refund fees paid in advance if you cancel your lessons before the beginning of a term or semester. However if you are unable to attend lessons part way through a term we will not be able to refund the remaining lessons because your teacher will have been contracted for that time.

Lessons
If you are unable to attend a lesson we cannot guarantee that the missed lessons will be able to be rescheduled. Tutors will endeavour to offer alternative lesson arrangements if they can. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide catch up lessons if you miss a group lesson.
If your teacher is unavailable for a lesson we will endeavour to make up the lesson at a mutually agreed time.

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