57SCRIBE Issue 4

My music education may have been a little like yours; split between;

formal instruction – music lessons teaching musical concepts, hours of practising scales and pieces to perform at organised events and competitions

Informal experiences – listening to my parents’ 60’s and 70’s music collection (with a bit of Country and Western thrown in) then singing into a hair brush as I bopped along in front of the mirror, joining my parents as they danced and sang at family gatherings, making up songs and dance routines with my sister and cousins during family visits and attending live gigs at local clubs.

For me there were TWO types of music in my life; one was a bit boring (but legitimate), performance-based (and judged) and the other exhilarating, creative, joyful and spontaneous.

I knew which one I preferred.

About 14 years ago, when I started teaching early years music (after being a Primary School teacher for 10 years), I thought I had discovered my calling. I set up my own business running fun, music classes for 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds...up to 6-year-olds. Once children reached the ripe old age of 3, parents dropped them at the door and we did all sorts of ‘child-centred’ activities which taught rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics and other musical concepts for 45 minutes and then they went home.

Looking back on it, I realise that this method did not suit everyone (my youngest child would have climbed the walls had he been expected to do organised activities for 45 minutes at this young age), parents only ever got to share the experience when they came at

the end of term for our ‘Open’ class and the sheer exhilaration of spontaneous musical expression, (which I loved as a child), was still missing.

About 5 years ago, during an internet search, I stumbled upon a US Parents’ Forum talking about this ‘amazing family music program’ where ‘whole families can participate in the same class’ and ‘individual learning styles are respected’. Apparently it is so good that ‘even musos take their kids there.’

At long last I had found a quality music program for young children that linked to the exciting and creative experiences that nurtured my life-long love of music.

My two types of music came together in a method aptly named Music Together®. http://www.musictogether.com

Music-Making Together...I SAY THIS WITHOUT HESITATION; “I HAVE THE BEST JOB IN WORLD.” I LOVE MUSIC AND I LOVE WORKING WITH YOUNG FAMILIES. SURE, I’VE HAD THE OCCASIONAL BAD DAY (USUALLY ON ADMIN DAYS DURING TAX TIME), BUT ALMOST NEVER ON THE DAYS I’M WORKING AT MY CENTRE. MY JOB IS TO FACILITATE JOYFUL FAMILY MUSIC-MAKING EXPERIENCES WHERE BOTH ADULTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN FEEL FREE TO SING, DANCE AND MAKE MUSIC (OR NOT IF THEY CHOOSE). WHAT COULD BE BETTER? GILLIAN LEE, FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL AT THE RHYTHM TREE IN MELBOURNE SHARES HER MUSICAL JOURNEY WITH YOU...

58 SCRIBE Issue 4

Whilst the nearest teacher training workshop at that time was in Japan, I was sure it would be worth the trip…and it most definitely was.

And so my journey with ‘Music Together’ and my new company ‘The Rhythm Tree’ began.

Now instead of parents leaving their children at the door, I run music classes for the whole family. Instead of teaching musical concepts, I offer experiences.

Music Together works on the principal that ‘all children are musical’. Many people mistakenly believe that only a talented few are musical. In fact, when given a supportive music environment, children learn to sing and dance as naturally as they learn to walk and talk.

How is this possible you might ask?

Children learn differently than adults. They learn instinctively and constantly. They teach themselves through imitation and play, through being immersed in their environment, and through

every interaction with adults and older children. The family-like setting of Music Together’s mixed-age classes enables siblings to attend together, creating an ideal learning environment where infants, toddlers, and pre-schoolers can freely participate at their own levels.

I now find myself the ‘lightning rod’ for a beautiful community. Daily I share with parents and grandparents the joy of their children and grandchildren, young parents who are often learning what it is to share the world with their little people. We share jokes and stories and sing and dance. In some countries Kindergartens and Nurseries use Music Together as an effective way to develop their feeder communities. At the end of each year I sometimes wish I had this option. Saying good bye to families can be hard.

I am one of a growing number of Music Together Teachers. Whilst there are only 3 of us in Australia at the moment the Music Together approach to early childhood music is taught worldwide at more than fifty teacher trainings per

year. Licensed Music Together teachers currently teach children in parent-child and Pre-School classes in approximately 2000 communities in over 20 countries. In addition, many teachers trained by Music Together apply the curriculum and philosophy in Pre-Schools and childcare centres.

59SCRIBE Issue 4

Music Together teachers world-wide, are drawn from teachers musicians, actors, dancers, music therapists, parents, and educators. No formal academic degrees are required.

RARE OPPORTUNITY

For the first time Music Together® is running their teacher training course in Australia and is offering a three-day Teacher Training Workshop at CERES Environmental Park in Melbourne, on 4th, 5th and 6th October 2013.

The teacher training is open to anyone desiring an overview of music development. Workshop participants will learn Music Together’s research-based approach to teaching music and movement to children ages birth through kindergarten.

There will be live early childhood music demonstration classes on each day of the workshop, teaching children and their parents using the Music Together curriculum.

Participants who successfully complete the training will be eligible to teach Music Together parent-child or Pre-School classes, either at an existing Music Together centre or by applying for a license to run classes at a Kindergarten or Day Care Centre or to open and operate their own Music Together Centre.

The cost of the Complete Three-day workshop is $575, Full-time College

discount $300 and Introducing Music Together One-day Introduction $150.

For additional information about the workshop or to register, visit http: / /www.mus ictogether.com/TeacherTrainingWorkshop or contact Lisa Chouteau at lchouteau@musictogether.com

You can also contact Gillian Lee on 03 9878 9341 or email gillian@therhythmtree.com.au

GILLIAN LEE IMAGES: Manda Ford - Kwerk Photography.

Gillian Lee is the founder and Principal at The Rhythm Tree in Melbourne. Gillian is an experienced Primary School teacher, Early Year’s Music teacher, consultant and adviser and is both a licenced Music Together teacher and Centre Director. Gillian also guest lectures at NMIT University and is a mother of three.

http://www.therhythmtree.com.au

MUSIC TOGETHER WORKS

ON THE PRINCIPAL THAT ‘ALL

CHILDREN ARE MUSICAL’. MANY

PEOPLE MISTAKENLY BELIEVE

THAT ONLY A TALENTED FEW

ARE MUSICAL. IN FACT, WHEN

GIVEN A SUPPORTIVE MUSIC

ENVIRONMENT, CHILDREN

LEARN TO SING AND DANCE AS

NATURALLY AS THEY LEARN TO

WALK AND TALK.