The blog has been moved to a new location

Hi, all,
Please visit us at the new website:
http://www.mycmississauga.com
for new schedule and new content!

Musically yours,
MYC Mississauga

2015 Composition Festival

 

KANATA, ON March 2015 – Music for Young Children has just completed its 28th International Composition Festival with 7,942 MYC students taking part in Canada, the U.S., Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam.  Compositions are judged within their level in four different regions – Western Canada (BC, AB, SK, MB), Eastern Canada (ON, PQ, NS, NB, PEI, NF), United States, Asia & New Zealand (South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam).  The eight first place (eight different age levels) International winners each receive $250.

 

According to Frances Balodis, MYC Composition Chairperson and founder of Music for Young Children, “This year all of the reviewers noticed that students were listening to their teacher about giving titles to their compositions. Almost every composition did in fact have a title.  That makes compositions so much easier to understand. The titles were often about weather as we have had such a tricky winter this year! We all want to have spring! Some titles were about flowers and warmer times.”

 

Cathy Morabito a teacher and Quebec Coordinator and who was our guest judge this year said “As a teacher I never really knew the process of the selections and often wondered how they went about it. I can assure you that it is not a process taken lightly. Every single competitive submission was played, some numerous times, to be 100% sure before making a decision. So how do compositions get to the finalists stage? One reviewer plays the submission, if she thinks it is good, it goes to a second reviewer; if that reviewer thinks it's also good, it goes to a third reviewer. So yes, three reviewers in order to get to the final regional stage. One submission can be played five times, maybe even 10 times. No decision is made lightly. Once the submission is selected to be considered as a finalist, a team of three reviewers select the regional finalists. Once the regional selections are made a team of several reviewers select the international winners. WOW!!!! What a process!”

 

Approximately 1,000 students sent in their artwork for the Composition Festival sticker and student Ryan Lotocki’s artwork was chosen.  Ryan is in Moonbeams 3 and a student of Debbie Sehl in Brampton, Ontario.  Kanata artist Dorothy Hayter takes on the job of choosing the art for the composition sticker every year “once more it has been difficult to select a few from the many delightful entries”.

 

Roland Canada sponsors the Music for Young Children Composition Festival and provided six F-20 keyboards. Roland truly demonstrates a dedication to music education through their fine instruments and through their support of this composition festival.  Thanks also to ASAP Printing for printing our composition stickers.

 

In business for 35 years, Music for Young Children is taught to 24,000 students annually across Canada, the United States, New Zealand, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia. For more information phone 800-561-1692 or visit www.myc.com.

 

Janice Reade, Public Relations in Ottawa 613-592-7565.

 

Happiness Is Music Class

This year at my final recital, I offered students as well as family and friends the opportunity to share what made them happy about music class every week. I added the suggested ideas into a song from the musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and substituted the new lyrics for the original lyrics. Most students did contribute thoughts of how music class had made them happy and the result was a wonderful collaborative effort expressing the positive memories of music class, which we sang as an improvised audience participation number in the recital.
Happiness Is...
Verse 1:
Happiness is... Playing piano,
Singing a new song, Fun with Dino. Happiness is... Practicing homeruns, Clapping and counting Every beat.
Chorus:
Happiness is working together as a team, And happiness is planning out a theme.
Verse 2:
Happiness is...
Getting prizes,
Learning some composers too.
Coda:
Happiness is music class And music class is fun; So come everyone!
! What a fun and memorable activity and what a fun group of students and parents I have to work with! Music class IS fun!!!

Elizabeth Dettweiler Mississauga 
http://www.myc.com/teacher/edettweiler

Inspirational Composing and Animation

The Fedorowich Music for Young Children Studio had an extra special guest at our annual recitals this past year: my good friend and guest composer Neil Parfitt was in attendance, introducing these young music students to what really brings animation to life, why music of course! 

Neil is an accomplished composer who has been working in the music business primarily in TV and film for the past 12 years. He shared some favourite clips from shows that he has worked on/is working on (most were recognized by the children), and he introduced the young music students to his composition process and tools that he uses in his line of work. Neil began his own music education at the young age of 7, which continues to the present day. 

One aspect of the Music for Young Children program is to teach composition. Neil has agreed to present a more in depth and hands on workshop for these children, to explore further how animation is brought to life through the use of music. This workshop will take place in the fall of 2014. Stay tuned for more details! 

Musically Yours,

Michelle

http://www.myc.com/Teacher/MFedorowich/

For more information, please visit Neil’s website: http://www.neilparfitt.com

Why Choose MYC Group Music Lessons?

• Every child is unique, while learning in a small group, the children motivate and inspire each other.
• In an hour lesson every week, the students learn how to play the piano, music theory, solfege and rhythm ensemble.
• Students also develop solid sight reading and ear-training skills.
• Students learn to harmonize melody.
• Students learn Music History through catchy songs and stories.
• Fun homework in student manuals to consolidate concepts.
• Students learn to compose their own songs and enter contest.
• Students understand the relationship of rhythm and beats through specially designed rhythm bags.
• Parents learn alongside their children. They can fully understand and monitor their children’s progress.
• Parents can play duet and make music together with their children and develop deeper bonding through music.

My own child is going through the program, and thus I have concluded the above points from the perspective of a teacher as well as a parent.

Sincerely yours,

Ms. Helen

http://www.myc.com/teacher/HChu/

Beginner Registration Spaces are running out

In case, you haven't noticed, the 2014-2015 Beginner Class Schedule has been posted.

Registrations are currently happening and guess what, spaces are running out quick!  So contact your local teachers to set up an interview and reserve your child's space in this wonderful Music For Young Children Program.

Music For Young Children Program is more than just a piano lesson.  It's a music class that aims at building up little musicians.  It teaches piano skills, composition, music theory, music history, singing and a whole lot more.  Most of all, this happens in a fun, loving environment and also give parent and child an opportunity to bond.

Come and check out why Music For Young Children Program is being taught in 3 continents with more than 24000 students all over the world.

Ms. Esther
http://www.myc.com/teacher/Eng

Ms. Michelle’s Moving to Thailand!

I have been teaching Music For Young Children for the past 5 years along with my Mother and business partner, Gwen Fedorowich. Over these years we have seen our studio grow tremendously, and we share many families between us as we provide them with this exceptional music education (one that I was introduced to at the young age of 3.) It was a very difficult decision for me to pursue another avenue given the commitment that many families have provided me with over 5 years and counting, but one that I knew in my heart was the right decision for me at this time.

I will be moving to Thailand in October 2014 to work with the Father Ray Foundation, an orphanage-type setting (and making one of my many dreams a reality). I will be working primarily as an English teacher, and I have a feeling that I will be offering music lessons to some of these young children before too long, children who have very little if anything to call their own in this world.

As this is a short-term commitment of 6-months, I will continue to offer Music For Young Children lessons on a revised sort of schedule, from June to October twice over. I am incredibly honoured to have a significant portion of my current studio commit with their children in this unconventional schedule. I have honestly been blown away by the response in my own studio, and am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to continue to work with these individuals. Thank you everyone for your support and understanding; it means the world to me!

Musically Yours,

Michelle
http://www.myc.com/teacher/MFedorowich/

Return Registration is happening soon in April!

In the midst of preparing for recitals and exams, return registration of 2014-2015 will be happening in a few weeks.  Then new registration will then start in May.  Stay tune of the website and be the first one to see the 2014-2015 new beginner classes schedule of the Mississauga Music For Young Children teachers! We foresee that spaces will be very limited this year.   So now is the best time to get on the waiting list of your preferred teachers and be the first to register before spaces run out!!

Ms. Esther
http://www.myc.com/teacher/eng