My child is 3. Is there a music class for us?
Yes. Pre-Junior is for 3 year olds and young 4 year olds. It runs 8 weeks, 45 minutes once a week, and you are in the room for every minute of it.
- Age 3 and young 4
- 8 weeks
- 45 minutes a week
- parent in the room
What a Pre-Junior class looks like
Activities move fast, because 3 year olds do. In 45 minutes your child sings, moves, plays a game that is secretly an ear training exercise, takes a turn on a percussion instrument, and plays along with the group. The keyboard is there from the first week. Children learn a handful of notes by name, with the names CMA has used for years: middle C on its little ledger line, Droopy D bumping his head, and Mousey E eating the cheese.
The room is warm and the pace is kind. Children are drawn into the activities rather than pushed. Most of them have no idea how much they are learning.
By the end of 8 weeks
- Sing in tune with a group and keep a steady beat.
- Find and name the first notes on a keyboard.
- Follow a simple rhythm pattern on a percussion instrument.
- Play along with other children in an ensemble.
- Sit, listen and take turns in a music class, ready for Junior.
Pre-Junior is a doorway. Most families walk through it into Junior the following season, where the full multiyear curriculum begins.
What you do
You take part in every activity with your child, on the floor and at the keyboard. There is nothing to prepare. The teacher leads, you follow along, and you go home knowing exactly what to sing and play together during the week. Think of it as a weekly musical date with your 3 year old.
“This is a great music program allowing us to introduce music to our son. The teachers are wonderful and the classroom interaction with other students adds to the fun!”
“We love CMA! More importantly, our children love CMA! It's such a fun environment for the children to learn in.”
Questions about Pre-Junior
Is 3 too young for a music class?
At 3, children absorb music the way they absorb language. Pre-Junior is written for that age: short activities, lots of movement, songs they can sing straight away, and a parent beside them the whole time. It is where CMA children begin.
What if my child is 4?
A young 4 year old fits Pre-Junior. A child in pre-K or kindergarten usually starts in Junior. Tell us your child's birthday month when you get in touch and we will place them.
When does Pre-Junior run?
Pre-Junior runs as an 8 week session, offered in the fall and in the spring. The current session block above shows the next one when dates are set, and the list through Get Started hears first.
What happens after Pre-Junior?
Most children move into Junior, the multiyear course for pre-K and kindergarten, which picks up right where Pre-Junior leaves off.
Get your 3 year old on the list
Tell us your child's age and we will tell you when the next Pre-Junior session begins.
Or call (417) 425-4618.
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