Jo Jingles classes are age-specific for children from 6 months to 5 years. Our aim is to give children an enjoyable and creative introduction to music and singing through a wide variety of activities. For younger children these include nursery rhymes, action songs, music & movement, sound and rhythm games and playing musical instruments. The classes have an educational slant and cover many of the basic pre-school concepts of numbers, alphabet, shapes, colours etc. Older children benefit from all of the above activities as well as enjoying a gradual introduction to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, notation, instruments of the orchestra and musical stories. Jo Jingles classes for 3-5 year olds achieve many of the National Curriculum requirements for Key Stage 1. Parents or guardians stay with all age groups to join in the fun, as this reinforces the children’s involvement in the classes. Courses run during school term time and must be pre-booked.

Classes are well structured and run for 45 minutes (Jingle Babies for 35 minutes). They are carefully planned so that children will enjoy coming to classes and have fun whilst they are learning. Making music as a group develops social skills: playing instruments gives practice in hand/eye co-ordination and moving to music develops bodily control and spatial awareness - the benefits of an early introduction to music are many. Most importantly, however, whilst the children are acquiring these new skills, they just think they are having a great time! Whilst we ensure lots of variety in our activities to engage their attention, we do rely on you to encourage your child’s participation and actively discourage them from running about. They are gradually learning to sit when asked and listen to instructions – very useful for when they go to school!

All our classes are supported by high-quality Jo Jingles merchandise which is available for you to purchase in class or through our national website.

Classes for children over 14 months use two sets of instruments at each session and may also use visual aids, storyboards, parachute, streamers and soft toys and other props.

JINGLE BABIES - (6 - 14 MONTHS) (35 minutes) A gentle introduction to music for babies old using appropriate musical instruments (one per session) and songs. Parents/carers interact closely with babies during a carefully planned programme of nursery rhymes, action and movement and songs with props. You will discover lots of ideas for continuing your baby’s musical fun at home. Instruments used include, tambourines; drums, bells, maracas and castanets.

1 - 2 YEARS (45 minutes) The children will play with a variety of different instruments over the course of a full term and gradually become more adept at using them. Music and movement consists mainly of walking, marching, dancing, running and jumping (with help) and stopping and starting to the music. We sing lots of nursery rhymes and enjoy bouncy games together. Parents/carers offer constant help and encouragement. The range of instruments used is extended to include claves and woodblocks.

2 - 3 YEARS (45 minutes) The ability of the children within this age group is growing and they are becoming more dextrous playing the instruments, which now include triangles and cymbals. We introduce familiar themes regularly and base songs around them. Music and movement is increasingly varied as the children become more agile and we introduce exciting props, acting-out songs and rhymes (Little Miss Muffet, etc.) A lot of parental support is still required.

3 - 5 YEARS (45 minutes) There is clear progression in the songs and activities and we now aim to play the instruments quite confidently – often forming our own “band” with groups of children playing different instruments. We introduce a short theory section when we might listen to musical stories (e.g. Peter and The Wolf), progress to basic notation and pitch, pace and dynamics, or perhaps listen to and handle more unusual instruments (clarinet, violin, etc.) The children have a “homework pack” with a star chart and picture each week that relates to the theory. Parents take part in the class with the children and help when allowed!