Music Explorers classes support other aspects of children’s development including social, cognitive, language and literacy, fine and gross motor skills. They’re also engaging and fun! The classes are:
Music Explorers classes are held at the South Coast Life Church, 8 Schofields Lane, Berry NSW 2535.
Babies (6-24 months) Mini-Music Explorers
Toddlers (20 months – 3 ½ years) Mini-Music Explorers
Preschool (4-5 years) Music Explorers
School-age children (Kinder to Year 4) Instrument Explorers
Babies (6-24 months)
Per 9 week term: $105
Trial and casual classes: $13
The Babies group is 20 minutes of musical fun that supports babies’ social, language, cognitive gross & fine motor development. It includes:
Parents fully participate in Music Explorers classes with their child, rather than sitting on the sidelines. This is because:
Toddlers (20 months – 3 ½ years)
Per 9 week term: $130
Trial and casual classes: $17
Although this 30-minute class might look informal and playful, a lot of real learning takes place. This class aims to help toddlers begin to:
We sing, chant, move, play musical games, play musical instruments, learn songs and rhymes, and make friends!
Parents fully participate in Music Explorers classes with their child, rather than sitting on the sidelines. This is because:
Preschool (4-5 years)
Per 9 week term: $170
Trial and casual classes: $23
Play is still the vehicle for learning in this 45-minute class because young children learn most effectively through play. This class is however, a little more formal than the Toddler class. We continue to build skills such as developing an inner sense of beat, engage in movement, singing, and experience music of different styles. We also:
Parents fully participate in Music Explorers classes with their child, rather than sitting on the sidelines. This is because:
School-age children (Kinder to Year 4)
Per 9 week term: $235*
Trial classes: $30
*Creative Kids Voucher may be used for this class (children attending school or homeschool) – learn more
Recorder
Fife
Trumpet
Piano/keyboard
Violin
Guitar
Percussion
Speech, singing and dramaThis 50-minute class is for school-age children (Kinder to Year 4). Classes will be grouped based on children’s age and year level. For children who are home-schooled, this class both meets and goes beyond music outcomes in the NSW Creative Arts Curriculum.
It may also be possible to arrange for a child in Years 4-6 to participate in Instrument Explorers. To discuss possible options and costs, please contact Allison using the Book Now button.
To develop foundational musical knowledge and skills that will provide a strong platform to learn a musical instrument or take up singing lessons in the future. This class also helps children (and their parents) to discover the musical instrument that they are most suited to and enjoy.
Parents remain with their child during these classes as it can be challenging to hold some instruments and produce a sound, particularly for younger children. Children often benefit from the assistance and encouragement of their parent. This also enables the teacher to move around the class to provide each child with more individualised assistance. It’s also good for parents to try out the instruments to learn how challenging they can be!
My journey into music education started as a child. I was drawn to the piano and taught myself to play ‘by ear’, later starting formal lessons, which I continued as an adult to achieve an Associate Diploma in piano teaching (ATCL). In high school I also learnt the trombone and played in every musical ensemble I could!
As well as an ATCL completed up to Grade 7 theory of music. As an adult I also learned the flute for several years and have recently started learning the violin for enjoyment.
I have a primary teaching degree and a Master of Education specialising in learning difficulties. I recently completed a PhD at the University of Wollongong, where I researched the effects of the ‘Tuning In’ music program upon the language development of preschool children. I have presented this research at a range of state, national and international conferences.
I taught music privately for many years and have been involved with a range of community music groups. I also worked as a classroom music teacher for several years. I took an unplanned detour out of education into the community sector, where I coordinated a mobile supported playgroups program. Through this role, I discovered how much I also love working with children from birth to five years (and their families).
I taught in Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra’s music education program Tuning In! from 2014 to 2020. Since 2016, I have worked at the University of Wollongong as a casual lecturer/tutor in the Bachelor of Education (The Early Years) degree, teaching the music components of arts subjects in this degree.
Allison’s primary area of research interest is how participating in playful music education in the early childhood years affects children’s language and behavioural development. Other areas of interest are how children develop musical skills, early childhood educators' training in the arts, and the effects of growing up in socio-economic disadvantage.
Music Explorers can provide a range of tailored music education consultancy services for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. Allison is passionate about sharing knowledge to assist educators and services so they feel confident to provide quality music programs for babies, toddlers and young children.
Yes. For preschool-aged children, I have a wide range of quality tuned percussion (xylophones, metallophones and glockenspiels) and untuned percussion (e.g. hand drums, triangles, egg shakers, woodblocks) that are used in classes every week.
From toddler classes on, I also provide opportunities for children to ‘meet’ a wide range of musical instruments (e.g. trumpet, clarinet, violin, guitar). School-age children in Instrument Explorers play the full range of instruments in the collection.
Yes, you can do a trial class for all the Music Explorers classes. If a friend who already attends Music Explorers refers you, you pay the lower “Friends rate” for the trial class. As a thank you, your friend will also receive a discount off the fee for their next term.
You can attend casually for all classes except Instrument Explorers, providing there is a place in the class you’d like to attend. Please phone, text or email Allison prior to the class, to confirm there is a place available.
Yes, you can. Some younger children will be happy to sit on your lap and if you wish, you can also bring something for them to do.
It’s common where an older child is enrolled in the Music Explorers Preschool class for a toddler to want to participate in the class. In this case, the Mini-Music Explorers Toddler fee, less sibling discount, is charged for the younger child.
Yes. A 5% sibling discount applies to term fees for the second and subsequent child in a family, concurrently enrolled in Music Explorers. Note that the discount is applied to the lower fee or fees.
Yes! Every child is welcomed and valued at Music Explorers. Allison aims to create a warm, inclusive, friendly and respectful learning environment where each child can reach their full potential.
Yes, the Instrument Explorers class is suitable for children from Kindergarten to Year 4 and addresses music outcomes in the Australian Curriculum.
Allison’s primary area of research interest is how participating in playful music education in the early childhood years affects children’s language and behavioural development.
Other areas of research interest are:
Allison completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong (UOW) in 2021, titled Making music speak: The role of the “Tuning In” program in the development of preschool children’s oral language skills, under the guidance of supervisors Honorary Associate Professor Rose Dixon, Dr Jane Warren, and Honorary Associate Professor Irina Verenikina.
A description of the thesis is provided below. A digital copy of Allison’s thesis can be downloaded here.
The Making music speak study investigated the effects of the Tuning In music program (TI) upon the language skills of four and five-year-old children using mixed methods approach. (TI was the music education program of Shoalhaven Youth Orchestra, which ran in the Shoalhaven region from 2014-2020.) The study comprised a quantitative quasi-experiment and a qualitative multiple case study.
Forty-five children, attending four early childhood education and care centres and educators at two of the centres participated in the study. Child participants at two centres received a 30-minute TI class weekly over a five-month period (TI group), while child participants at the remaining two centres received the music programming provided by educators at those centres (the comparison group).
Children who participated in TI music sessions were found to show a statistically significant improvement in an aspect of phonological awareness called Sound Matching (p>.05), as well as improvements in phonological memory abilities, when compared to the comparison group. These results were supported by qualitative results that demonstrated that the TI group engaged strongly in the music sessions, and showed increased motivation to speak. This was particularly evident in children with language disorders. Overall, the quality and quantity of the speech amongst TI children improved. A key factor that appeared to contribute to children’s engagement and desire to communicate was the warm and responsive relationships formed between the TI teacher and the children. This highlighted the important role that social relationships play an important role in supporting children’s learning.
Several music-specific “active ingredients” were identified, which included providing a range of music experiences to help develop beat and rhythm skills. Additionally, providing children with choice to participate in different ways was found to lead to increased participation over the course of the intervention.
Allison’s study provided a valuable contribution to literature on how music could be used in early childhood education settings to support children’s language development, which is an emerging area of research. In particular, music may be useful for children with language delays or disorders and could be used in early childhood settings to complement traditional therapies to support young children’s speech development.
Allison has presented her research at a number of Australian and international conferences. These include the International Society for Early Intervention conference, Early Start (UOW) conference, Early Childhood Australia national conference, ACT Australian Literacy Educators’ Association, and Australian Society for Music Education conference. Allison will also present at the Australasian Journal of Early Childhood Research Symposium in early 2023.
Cameron, A. (2022, March 12). Music making at home to support children’s development. Play + Learn Together. https://www.playandlearntogether.com.au/play-blog/home-music-making
Cameron, A. (2021). Making Music Speak: The Role of the “Tuning In” Music Program in Developing Preschool Children’s Oral Language Skills. [Doctor of Philosophy thesis, School of Education, University of Wollongong]. https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses1/1463
Cameron, A., Gibbs, L., & Grimmond, J. (2022). Play + Learn Together Literature Review, Play + Learn Together. https://www.playandlearntogether.com.au
Cameron, A., Burns, P., Garner, A., Lau, S., Dixon, R., Pascoe, C., & Szafraniec, M. (2019). Making sense of multi-sensory environments: A scoping review. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2019.1634247
Mayerson, D., Dixon, R. Lau, S., Garner, A., Burns, P., Cameron, A., Pascoe, C.& Szafraniec, M. (2019). “She would really like that”: Identifying community needs in a multisensory environment. Progress in Community Health and Partnerships: Research, Education & Action, 13 (1),39-49.
Allison has also worked as a research assistant on a number of research projects at UOW, including:
Lead My Learning 2016 (Lead Investigator, Professor Valerie Harwood) http://www.leadmylearning.com.au/about/
SMILE project 2016-2018 (Lead Investigator Associate Professor Rose Dixon) https://www.uow.edu.au/engage/cegs/project-showcase/sensory-room/about/
RevITAlise (RITA) project 2021-2022 (Lead Investigator, Dr Gai Lindsay).
Music Explorers can provide a range of tailored music education consultancy services for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. Allison is passionate about sharing knowledge to assist educators and services so they feel confident to provide quality music programs for babies, toddlers and young children.
Please get in touch to discuss how Allison can assist with professional development to meet your service’s needs.
You can read Allison’s blog on music-making in the home, published on the Play & Learn Together website.