Sound Start is an exciting new project aimed at nursery and the primary 1 and 2 age group.  There is increasing evidence that arts activities can have an extraordinarily beneficial effect upon young children. If from the earliest age children are exposed to arts activities then their understanding of other subjects almost always benefits, as do their social and personal skills.

We are running a pilot project using the set of principles developed by Zoltan Kodaly, a Hungarian musician who radically changed the way music was taught in his country.  His approach to musical training has gained much recognition and has been widely adopted.

Singing is the key to this approach.  Kodaly believed in the use of singing games in the teaching of music with: children learning through play.  Games can be simple at first, with more complex patterns and rhymes being introduced as the child grows in confidence.

Our classes are run on a Tuesday afternoon during our weekly after-school music centre.  From 16.30 - 17.00 a group of enthusiastic little ones gather to sing and dance.  Musical concepts are introduced through the medium of song - rhythm, pitch and other concepts are unconsciously absorbed.