FOR THE VERY YOUNG CHILD The Jungle Music and Music is Fun (MIF) programmes exposes your child to a rich sensory-based experience where they can participate and enjoy a range of activities. Jungle Music will teach you how to use music as a tool to aid your parenting. Music can be an effective way to settle a crying baby, to help children with transition and to overcome resistance to new and unfamiliar experiences. Jungle Music's songs and quirky actions equip parents with a useful "bag of tricks" for when boredom sets in – in a shopping queue, in the car or whenever young minds need to be kept amused. Forte's early childhood music programmes will benefit your child through:
BENEFITS TO CHILDREN OF ALL AGES Early musical training helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning. It is thought that brain development continues for many years after birth. Recent studies have clearly indicated that musical training physically develops the part of the left side of the brain known to be involved with processing language, and can actually wire the brain's circuits in specific ways. Linking familiar songs to new information can also help imprint information on young minds. There is also a causal link between music and spatial intelligence (the ability to perceive the world accurately and to form mental pictures of things). This kind of intelligence, by which one can visualize various elements that should go together, is critical to the sort of thinking necessary for everything from solving advanced mathematics problems to being able to pack a book-bag with everything that will be needed for the day. Music performance teaches young people to conquer fear and to take risks. A little anxiety is a good thing, and something that will occur often in life. Dealing with it early and often makes it less of a problem later. Risk-taking is essential if a child is to fully develop his or her potential. Forte's early piano courses will benefit your child through:
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For many of us as children music lessons were something to be endured rather than enjoyed. All those tedious scales and boring pieces to practise. Well, all that can be different now. Your child can love his or her lessons and truly enjoy learning music. To many people, the language of music is a mystery but it need not be. Forte courses are specially designed so your child will have a greater appreciation for and understanding of music. A GOOD TEACHER IS VITAL. While your Forte teacher will have the necessary musical skills and qualifications, teachers at Forte are specially chosen for their warmth, enthusiasm and ability to relate to children. SO... WHAT CHANGES CAN I EXPECT TO NOTICE? As your child assimilates the learning throughout the week you may hear him burst into little phrases of singing at times as he goes about his normal routine. When you play the music in the car notice the environment settle as your child listens to his Forte music. You may even catch your child doing some of the actions. Forte curriculum places emphasis on developing (aural) listening skills, and many children will delight in sitting at the piano and begin to play songs they have heard. MUSIC BUILDS CONCENTRATION “...(my child) has only been learning for 6 months but I have noticed he is able to sit and concentrate for longer periods now.” — PARENT “His behaviour has improved both at home and at preschool. His concentration is better and he’s learning to read easily. Being able to master a song improves his self esteem which, of course affects everything else.” — PARENT MUSIC... A REAL CONFIDENCE BOOSTER One of the greatest gifts we can have as individuals is a good level of self confidence or self esteem. Performing for others, is one of the best ways to improve self esteem. From the beginning your child will gain confidence by performing for his or her class mates. You'll be amazed at how even the shyest of children will gradually build their confidence in playing in front of others. From the intimate atmosphere of a Forte classroom your child will progress to a larger professional venue for our annual Forte Music Festival where all students are encouraged to perform and to celebrate the occasion - not to be missed! And, you know, in a recent client survey, parents commented that through learning music at Forte they had noticed significant improvements in their child's self esteem and confidence. "PRACTISE MAKES PERFECT "Practice does indeed make perfect and in this world of instant gratification of apps and computer games it is refreshing for your child to be involved in organic activity like learning musical activity. Practice is Fun at Forte. Music practice can be fun - what a big statement! But how can this be?? Your child will have:
STICKERS, STAMPS AND MUSIC AWARDS Little incentives for attending lessons and practising go a long way. Stickers, stamps and rewards are all part of the mix at Forte. WHAT IS THE BEST AGE TO START? Ask any musician... being able to play music is one of the great joys in life. It is best to start learning music from a young age but if you haven't had that opportunity there's no time like the present! It is a widely researched fact that learning music from a young age improves learning ability in general and will lead to music becoming an integral part of life for your child and your family. At Forte, we have special early childhood classes for babies as young as 6 months through to toddlers. Your child can start on their first instrumental lessons (piano) in our Music is Fun course from around 3 to 4 years of age. We are very excited to be able to tell you that we will be able to open again - along with other educational establishments - for face to face lessons after Easter.
We cannot wait to welcome you all back! If you are looking to start music lessons then we have some very special FREE TASTER LESSONS Music is Fun (3½ - 5 yrs) : Saturday 9.35am – 24th April Junior Keys (5 – 7 yrs) : Thursday 4.50pm – 15th April Piano Keys (7 – 9 yrs) : Thursday 5.00pm – 22nd April To book your FREE TASTER LESSON call 029 2063 1340 or email fortecardiff@fortemusic.co.uk Check out the amazing musical journey of ex Forte student Katie Jenkins and how her time at the school was so important and enabled her to become a student at the The Juillard School in New York. Check out her website and lovely video - "Burning Petals" below and listen to her wonderful talent as a musician and composer! Katie is an active recording artist and features regularly as vocalist on her own tracks. Katie’s music has been performed across Europe and the US, including performances at National Sawdust Brooklyn where she held a fellowship, The Juilliard School, The Curtis Institute of Music and The Wales Millennium Centre. Katie is a 2021, Artist in Residence with the Dordor Gallery, Brooklyn. At the Juilliard School, Katie was the last student of renowned composer, Christopher Rouse. She now works with Matthias Pintscher, conductor of the Ensemble Intercomporain, as well as Pulitzer prize winning composer Melinda Wagner. She holds the Henry Mancini Fellowship as well as the Gretchaninoff composition award . Katie is a teaching fellow at the Center for Innovation of the Arts at Juilliard where she coaches composition for Film, TV and Media. "I was three when I started piano classes at Forte and four when I started violin. Not once did I ever grumble about going to music lessons, I was always waiting by the door, itching to go! I definitely enjoyed being part of a class, particularly when I was young, because it was very interactive and engaging for little minds! I was enthused by Forte’s ‘Munchkin Music’ books and the combination of singing, learning rhythms and theory. The variety was stimulating! In a class, there was less pressure on me as an individual and having fellow students learning the same pieces was inspiring! I think having a ‘learning partner’ made the early stages much easier and I was motivated to practise by learning alongside my Mum. Forte has definitely contributed to my success as a musician. Regularly playing for my other class members got me used to performing and has helped me to control my performance nerves to this day! I learnt much more than how to play my instruments. I really learnt to listen and that is a skill that will never leave me! At school, I noticed how well I did at aural tests and theory compared to other students and I think that Forte gave me a solid foundation with this. I will always remember the Forte festivals! They were such an enjoyable culmination of everyone’s hard work (I think I still have the medals somewhere!). Since leaving Forte aged 11, my love of music continued to flourish. I joined the county orchestras, performed as a soloist and began to write my own music. Since 2018, I have been studying composition at The Juilliard School in New York. Forte really made me the confident improviser that I am today, which really aided my transition into composition. My time there encouraged me to think creatively and to enjoy creating music with others. I am currently collaborating with people from all across the globe on multimedia works, films and pieces for theatre and concert". www.katiejenkinscomposer.com Our two sons have been learning piano with Forte School of music since they were five years old. Our younger boy couldn't wait to start after he saw how much his brother enjoyed the classes. The group lessons are superb for young children as they change activities every few minutes, between singing, dancing, dressing up and using accessories such as hats and play swords, as well as a time at the keyboards. The classes were very entertaining for the parents as well as the children and focused on musicality and enjoyment. Learning music and theory seemed to happen effortlessly. Our children are now 12 and 10 years old, have progressed through Junior Keys and Piano Keys and are now having individual lessons and working through their exam grades. One also has singing lessons which he loves. They have both also enjoyed performing at the annual Forte Festival in the Summer and helping fundraise for charity at the Playathon every December. The Forte staff have been incredibly versatile during the pandemic with a swift and seamless change to online lessons, without a single lesson being missed. When face to face lessons restarted, there was the option to continue online or attend in person with excellent safety and hygiene precautions in place. For our children, this consistency has represented a reassuring and reliable point in their week, at a time when everything else was up in the air. Many thanks for Forte for the excellent musical education and to all the staff for being so friendly and approachable. Review by Ceri Lynch, mother of Aidan and Niall Dorrington We are delighted to hear that Ronald McDonald House have updated their room sponsorship plaques. Room sponsorships are given to anyone who raised £5k+ for the charity.
Here is the lovely new plaque at the children's hospital in Cardiff. You can support the work undertaken at the house by visiting Cardiff House - Ronald McDonald House Charities (rmhc.org.uk) Enjoy the fun and challenge of learning a musical instrument. Get your child off their Playstation and give them a gift that will be with them for life. Now more than ever children need a way to engage with others, have something to look forward to and to participate in an activity with a real purpose. Music lessons and practice are an amazing way to unwind and relax - whatever the age. CALL US TODAY TO DISCUSS HOW TO START YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY The first UK school opened in June 2000 in Cardiff and since opening the demand for lessons has soared with hundreds of music-mad youngsters (and others not so young!) now regularly attending lessons. The Forte method puts the emphasis firmly on fun and is designed to build confidence at the same time as teaching music skills. Learning music at Forte means you will be learning in a dynamic, nurturing, musical environment, filled with enthusiastic people who love music and sharing it with others. The Forte School of music was established in 1994, by successful Australian business man, Paul Myatt (see right), who is also well known for his ability to teach and educate all levels and abilities in a diverse range of skills from music to swimming. His eclectic range of skills include teaching, coaching, writing, speaking, performing and singing! Continuing to enjoy music, Paul performs in cabaret called 2Pauls and sings Bass with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Symphony Chorus. Thanks to Paul's enthusiasm, Forte is now a unique and highly successful music education network with over 4,000 students in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. All the schools are passionate about the benefits that music education offers students of all ages from babies of just 6 months of age in Forte’s Jungle Baby Music through to seniors in the 80s and 90s. Forte School of Music have supported Ronald McDonald House Cardiff since opening in 2017. Ronald McDonald Houses are a “home away from home” for the families with children seriously sick in hospital. The best medical care for your child isn’t always close to home. Families often find themselves travelling long distances to get to their child’s hospital. The Houses offer a place to cook, rest and recharge so that families can support their child in hospital, for as long as they need. The vision is for every child in hospital to have their families close by, and to ensure families are fully supported in our Houses and remain actively involved in their child’s care. Ronald McDonald House Cardiff, is a purpose-built house just a few moments from Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital, with 30 en-suite bedrooms to provide free accommodation to families of children being treated at the hospital. There are also communal kitchens and living areas where families can spend time together away from the ward. For more details about the Cardiff House and some moving accounts from parents, please visit: https://rmhc.org.uk/our-houses/cardiff-house/ This past year has brought many challenges, but they are still here for families, providing free accommodation and support. The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically reduced their ability to generate income. To continue to provide the best possible service and care to families, they rely on the generosity of fundraisers, just like those organised by Forte School of Music. If you would like to find out more information on how you can help support Ronald McDonald House Cardiff, please get in touch with Jordan, community and corporate fundraiser for Wales. You can contact her on jordan.harbin@uk.mcd.com or 07598234070. |