Win Tickets to The Australian Chamber Choir's Performance of Mozart's Requiem! See competition details below.

In this Heart.Beat. we discuss how our students develop social skills through participation and interaction in our classes, hear about a wonderful inter-generational music making initiative, learn about the beginnings of music notation, catch up on some news from China and see Vivon’s Easter holiday snap with Bumblebee.

Term 2 starts next week (and is already underway in Western Australia). In Term 2 the children will expand on the important foundations set in Term 1 and consolidate their new skills. As the seasons change we will enjoy frog activities and rain songs. Bumblebee will set off on new adventures buzzing around our special flowers. Find out more about what will be learnt in Term 2 by READING MORE HERE.

Mothers Day Photo Competition! With so many amazing Mums and with Mother's day coming up, we thought it was time for another photo competition. See details below.

Class places are filling up so if you still haven't enrolled for Term 2, FIND A CLASS HERE.

Diving Deeper - Social Skills

By Kate Rice, Geelong and Bellarine Franchisee

In a world where you can be anything, be kind. As I scrolled through my Facebook feed recently this quote caught my eye. It really resonated with me, both as a parents and as an educator. When asked what we hope for as our children grow, like me, many parents respond with something along the lines of hoping they become a valuable and considerate member of society. We want to raise children who display empathy and compassion to those around them, who treat their peers with kindness and respect, who have a voice and use it but also listen when someone else is using theirs.

CONTINUE READING HERE

Inter-generational Music Making is Building Healthy Communities

Mini Maestros have partnered with Sunbury Community Health to offer inter-generational music classes to pre-school aged children and elders residing at Sunbury Lions Aged Care.

Classes are held each Friday with educators from Our Village Family Childcare which operate throughout Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges. 12 little people join teacher Zoe Hall and a number of residents each week to experience the joy that making music together can bring.

This initiative first introduced in early 2017 is providing benefits for both residents and our young visitors. The program is helping to keep our elders engaged and active whilst simultaneously educating children about older people, or our “grand friends”, within our community.

Bringing young people and those in aged care together cannot be underestimated and include social, physical and mental benefits. Sessions can assist in reducing stress, muscular tension, create positive attitudes and community connection.

CONTINUE READING HERE

Writing Music Down - by 3MBS

Before sound recording was invented just over a hundred years ago, a lot of music was lost forever as soon as it was sung or played, but some of it didn’t get lost, because it was written down. This is what most people think of as classical music. People who invent music and write it down for other people to play are known as composers.

A thousand years ago, the easiest way to share music was to write it down using a system called notation. Among the first people to do this were monks, men who lived in monasteries, devoting their lives to singing and praying to God. Monks had to sing prayers called chants six times a day. So they used symbols called neumes to help them remember, and wrote them down in documents called manuscripts.

CONTINUE READING HERE

Happy New Year Xin Nian Kuai Le 新年快乐 From #MMChina

(Mini Maestros China operates an Enrichment Childcare Centre in Shanghai offering the Mini Maestros music program and other educational programs.)

The biggest and most important holiday of the year has just finished (Spring Festival) and all of the team are back to work refreshed, raring to go (and the sun is finally out) with the start of Term 3 just around the corner.

Having had a busy build up to the new year with 3 of our teachers in Sydney attending the 19th National Conference of Orff Schulwerk, the Shanghai International Children’s Lifestyle Expo here in Shanghai, giving classes to our childcare centre and also teaching our regular classes the team did a great job balancing everything.

As a team we have already started the preparation for the warmer months which traditionally bring more students to our door. With new classes this year such as our Drama class (5 years old +) and our new International Superstar ELC class, 2018 looks to be a busy but rewarding year!

If you have Wechat, please scan the QR on the photo to follow us.

Mother's Day Photo Competition

To help celebrate the wonderful Mums of the world, Mini Maestros is running another photo competition, this time for the wonderful Mums around town and the globe.

Entry is open for any photo of a Mini Maestros mum, or a Mini Maestros mum’s mum. It could be taken by the Mini Maestro, a partner or even Mum doing a selfie!

To enter simply reply to this email and attach a photo and a sentence or two stating why the Mum in your photo is so great.

The winning entry will receive a $50 hamper for the Mum in the photo delivered on (or around) Mother's day and the photo will also be featured in the next Newsletter.

Children of Tomorrow
- Social Skills -

By Maddy Kelly - Training and Development Officer

Today’s children are growing up in a world surrounded by a constant influx of ever-growing information, making the development of effective communication and social skills in the early years more important than ever. Music is a highly beneficial tool that allows children to communicate in a variety of fun and exciting ways, thus developing their social skills and helping them learn to regulate their emotions. Music connects children and enables them to express themselves, whether it be through a mutual enjoyment over a particular type of music, or a desire to dance together in response to music being played.

When children sing songs, they develop their skills in language acquisition and this in turn enhances their ability to communicate and be social with one another. Meanwhile, simply participating in music based activities creates a fun relaxed environment that allows children to become comfortable and build the confidence to develop interpersonal social relationships with those around them.

To read a longer article about music’s impact on children’s social and emotional skills written and published by raisingsmallsouls.com CLICK HERE

Bumblebee Travels

This is Vinon Jade Padukkage who attends Berwick classes. Vinon spent 4 days in Phillip Island with his Mum, Dad and his little brother Kenon for his 4th birthday.

Bumblebee went with him to celebrate this special day. Bumblebee also enjoyed visiting the The Nobbies Centre and the Penguin Parade.

Thank you to Chamaree for sending in this lovely photo.

Has Bumblebee been anywhere with you this Easter? If so, feel free to reply to this email and attach a photo and you may be featured in the next edition of Heart. Beat.

Mozart's Requiem - WIN TICKETS

Be transported by Mozart’s final work. The Australian Chamber Choir, directed by Douglas Lawrence, will present Mozart’s Requiem in a rare performance with instruments of the composer’s time. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in Mozart’s drawing room. From the first bar of the Requiem, two enchanting classical basset horns lend their plaintive voice-like quality to the magical sound of one of the most popular works for choir.

During their first ten years, the singers of the ACC have won the outspoken praise of audiences and critics in some two hundred concerts in Australia and Europe. The Requiem will be sung alongside Palestrina’s ethereal and rarely performed Stabat Mater in a one-hour concert.

The Australian Chamber Choir has been kind enough to run a competition EXCLUSIVELY for readers of this Mini Maestros Newsletter, so you have a good chance of winning should you enter!

CLICK HERE to enter the Mini Maestros draw to win a double pass to the Mozart Requiem on Sunday 22 April at 3pm.

You can also just buy tickets and receive 10% off when you book online using Promo Code MAESTROS.

Do You Have a Story, 'Bumblebee Travels' Entry or Photo to Share?

We'd love to hear from you! If you'd like to share your Mini Maestros experience, have a parenting story or photo to share, simply reply to this email with your contribution and we may feature you in the next publication.

Have a great Term 2! We look forward to seeing you in class.

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Contact us at (03) 9850-5566 - Mini Maestros - 21 Bridge Street Bulleen, Victoria 3105 Australia