The Music Tree

About

Early Childhood Music, Dance, Craft and Parties
Award winning parent child music and movement classes for babies and pre-schoolers.
Piano, keyboard, guitar and ukulele classes and individual tuition from 4 years of age. Choir for children 6-12 yrs.

Story

The Music Tree is an award winning fun and fully interactive early childhood music and movement school, specialising in catering for children from birth to 8 years.
- Parent/child music and movement classes for babies and pre-school children.
- Keyboard, piano, guitar and ukulele classes for 4 to 8 year olds.
- Private piano and keyboard tuition for beginners of all ages.
Call 0407344107 for all enquiries or email [email protected] or visit our website and apply online at http://www.themusictree.com.au/forms.htm

We also run a craft and party program.

The Music Tree can also cater for school groups, playgroups, child care centres and special events, Bookings can be anything from a single session to a permanent weekly booking.

The Music Tree is run by Tonya Norris Assoc.Dip.Music Hon.S.C.SM, winner of the 2012 "Significant Contribution to Children Award"
Tonya is passionate about teaching children and parents about both the joys and benefits of music, particularly in early childhood. Tonya started her musical career playing classical guitar and later taking up piano and then the harp just before the birth of her first child. She studied with the St Cecilia School of music taking examinations through the London based Trinity College of Music. During this time she also completed studies in Music Theory. She then went on to do an Associate Diploma of Music at the University of Tasmania.
Tonya's teaching practice began when she was 18 and gradually grew to become a full time job. As well as private teaching Tonya has tutored in a number of local schools including Scotch Oakburn College where she continues to teach piano (and the occasional guitar or ukulele lesson) to this day.

Tonya has performed with the St. Cecilia School of Music orchestra as well as in a number of duos and ensembles.

Tonya has always enjoyed the challenge of teaching young students and after the arrival of her first child in 2002 decided to move into the area of early childhood music. Since then The Music Tree has grown into the success it is today. In 2011 Tonya ran the Early Childhood Music program for Trevallyn Primary School. The Music Tree also ran the East Launceston Primary Music Program for Kindergarten children and has a regular program at the Pilgrim Childcare Centre and with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Child Care Association.

Tonya is committed to ongoing professional development and regularly attends conferences and workshops throughout Australia and is thus able to constantly stimulate her students with new ideas and materials. Tonya is convinced she has the perfect job - offering quality education while singing, dancing, dressing up, playing instruments, being silly and having lots of fun with young children – fantastic!

Mission

Our mission is to provide quality music education within the framework of a program that is beneficial both developmentally and emotionally and provides an opportunity to promote a strong bond between the parent/carer and their child. Most importantly our music and dance programs are great fun.

Classes are planned very carefully each term drawing on years of experience working with young children to provide a balance of musical experiences and repetition but also to provide the most in the way of developmental skills. Music offers so much to a child, did you know that bringing your child to The Music Tree can help develop fine and gross motor skills (needed for walking, jumping, running etc and writing), body awareness, muscle strength, the vestibular system (balance which allows a child to co-ordinate vision with movement, and is essential for walking, running, climbing and, later, riding a bike), communication skills, language - such as understanding STOP a word we need our young children to not only understand but develop an automatic reflex to, counting, memory, social development such as taking turns, emotional skills and self confidence, bonding experiences with those they love, and the cross patterning movements that I incorporate into songs that build connections between the left and right side of the brain and the body, leading to better communication and the development of cognitive thinking.

Products

Our program offers classes for a wide range of age groups allowing us to focus on the particular needs and abilities of children at different developmental stages.

Baby Class - Wiggles, Tickles & Lullabies
Experience music through simple rhymes, wiggles, tickles, movement and songs helping to stimulate your baby's growth and development in a class full of fun for both the child and the parent.

1 Year Old Class - Bop 'n Bounce
Bounce, sing, dance, clap and bop your way through a class that combines the joys of making music with communication and language skills, social and memory skills and helping children learn about their bodies and how they work.

2 Year Old Class - The Music Box
Elementary music concepts are presented through songs,rhymes, creative movement and dance and the use of simple percussion instruments. This class helps your child build self- confidence and improves their language, communication and social skills.

3-4 Year Old Class - Playsongs
A delightful mix of songs, rhymes, music and movement/dance activities that help to build self-confidence and communication skills. The children work on improving both their fine and gross motor skills as well as developing the confidence they need to sing alone.They are given the opportunity to use both untuned and tuned percussion
instruments to create steady beat accompaniments to songs and rhymes.

Mixed Ages Toddler - 5 Years - Family Fun
A mixed ages class that allows busy parents to bring more than one child at a time. Have fun making music with the whole family. (This class is open to anyone not only parents with more than one child to bring).

4-5 Year Old Class - Rock 'n Play
These sessions introduce children to the fun of playing and experimenting with the keyboard/piano, and the ukulele (a great lead into learning the guitar at a later date). The children learn through games, activities, songs, hand signs and use of the tuned chime bars. While no regular practice is required it is an advantage to have an instrument at home to play on. A parent or carer is required to attend this class and help with some of the activities (no musical experience required).

Keyboard/Piano Classes - Music For Little Mozart's and Kids On Keys
This course is designed for students to learn the keyboard/piano in conjunction with a structured course of creative games and activities. The classes are aimed at either a 5/6 age group or a 6/8 age group.

Guitar 6 to 8 Years - Shake, Rattle 'n Strum
A fun way to learn the guitar with one of Launceston's leading teachers. Students also take part in a program of creative games, movement and activities to reinforce the concepts learnt on the instrument.

All our instrumental students are given a number of opportunities to perform in various concerts throughout the year.
Our annual concert at the end of 3rd term involves the whole school from babies through to our most advanced instrumentalist in a fun event to entertain everyone.

Choir 6-12 yrs
The Music Tree choirs are a fantastic opportunity for young children to experience the joys and benefits of singing together in a supportive, fun group situation. Students will be given plenty of opportunities to perform throughout the year at various concerts, and special events.