Prelude Music Classes For Children

Our 17 month old started this program 5 months ago and it was the best gift that we could have ever given her. Each week we look forward to class as we see her glowing and appreciating the beauty of music. Our hearts are filled with so much joy when we sing and play the music together outside of class.
We plan on staying in this program for years to come and hope that other families will discover this wonderful tool to make music together.

I love prelude music and the music together curriculum. It is strange to say but one of the hardest things of moving away from Houston was not being able to continue the music classes!
My daughter took the babies class (for babies from birth to 8 months) with Ana when she was 4 months old. I also took some mix-​aged classes (for kids up to 7) as make-​up sessions. My friends and family thought I was crazy for taking a baby music class so young. But she is now 10 months and dances to the music. She recognizes the songs and once she hears the Hello song, she immediately stops crying! Its a savior for the long car rides, though listening to the 45 second Hello song on repeat over and over again can be a bit draining for the adults :)
I also took a beginners adults guitar class at Prelude that teaches you how to play the same songs for your kids. The class was really fun and Jonathan was a great teacher. I progressed so quickly and it really got my interest back after giving up trying to learn how to play the guitar after all these years.
What do I like most about prelude music? Their teachers are musically trained and genuinely enthusiastic about what they do. They have a beautiful new location right next to the motherhood center and they have a lot of events around town. They offer a lot of free demos so I would definitely check them out if you are looking for a music class for your child!

Our family has been taking part in Prelude classes for more than a year & a ½, & we love ‘em. We’ve been students in classes taught by Emily; Prill; & Francyne, & have attended makeups given by each of the other instructors.
Classes follow the Music Together curriculum, & are a great way to socialize your 0 – 7 year old child, get her moving around, introduce her to & enthused about music, & just have fun making Music Together.
The program is 3 years long, w 10 week terms in the fall, winter, & spring. Each term covers different songs – some original, some multicultural folk songs w modified lyrics or tunes, which introduce new keys; meters; & musical concepts. I find the songs meant to transition kids to be esp helpful – there are songs that encourage kids to do things quickly, or reassure kids about separation. We often sing these (& lots of the songs, really) outside of class.
In addition, there’s an 8 week summer term that covers the greatest hits of last year’s collections & introduces a few of the gems for the coming year.
Tuition includes classes, 2x CDs of the songs covered that term, a songbook, a parent ed session that explains the theory behind the program, & 2x family-​friendly concerts, usually held on Saturday afternoons. Sometimes those who want to meet up in a park & jam together. All of the events are useful & fun, & my kids & I like the songbooks, though my husband; son; & I initially found the CDs to be seriously irritating. We got used to them. Hopefully, you will too.
The class has a somewhat set format – the 1^st & last song of the day are always the same, providing continuity & thus reassurance for little ones, though there are plenty of opportunities to ad lib. The 3^rd song from the end is always an instrumental, during which kids & parents rock out on percussion instruments. The 2^nd to last song is a lullaby, when the lights are dimmed & kids either snuggle up to their caretakers, or more usually cry or toddle around the room.
Kids are encouraged to participate in any safe way they see fit – by watching & listening, cooing, singing, babbling, mouthing or playing instruments (which are sanitized with tea tree oil – & none of our kids seem to have gotten sick from these) or using other props such as scarves or balls, creeping, scooting, crawling, toddling, or dancing around. Grownups join in. You don’t have to have any sort of musical ability to participate in classes – I definitely don’t. All that’s wanted is that you participate, preferably w enthusiasm.
The teachers are all very cool people.
Upbeat & perky Emily – if you & yours could use a cheerleader, she’s definitely your gal. Emily is also a Prelude mom – her youngest child attends classes here, & she’s practiced at leading young children in class.
Polished & professional, but soulful Francyne holds a dual Master’s in Musical Arts & Education, & is also a Cantor. She’s a seasoned teacher & runs a tight ship. She’s also a Prelude mom. Francyne bridges her love of music & spirituality by teaching a class that incorporates Hebrew into the curriculum.
Impassioned & introverted Jonathan – an excellent teacher for shy &/​or reserved students, like my son, & it’s nice to have the option to have a male teacher, in classes otherwise often dominated by women. (though, *note to dads* – a dad or 2 turns up in most weekday classes, & families often come together to Saturday classes. Regardless, as Prelude isn’t really a clique-​y place, you’re unlikely to feel too out of place, whenever you attend classes.) Jonathan is a professional violinist with Mercury Baroque ensemble. He holds a Master’s in Musical Arts & is the spouse of Ana, Prelude’s founder.
Playful Kapila – an excellent teacher for kids & parents who like to be silly. Her classes are super fun. Ask Kapila about her really cool, very multinational background, which has no doubt influenced her musical education & teaching style.
Calm, warm, caring, grandmotherly Prill can soothe any child, no matter how fussy. No one ever cries for long in Prill’s class. We love her. Prill obtained her Bachelor’s & Master’s in Music from the prestigious Julliard School, & played horn professionally for many years with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Prill also runs a big kids class, for children aged 5 – 7.
Earth-​mother Ana – Doctor of Musical Arts, certified Music Together teacher, & Prelude founder, Ana is the total package. No one ever changes classes or forgets to preregister for the next term, once they’ve gotten a coveted spot in one of Ana’s classes. And yes, she really is that blissfully calm. Ana also runs a mixed-​abilities Spanish language music class.
All of the teachers play guitar in class. Jonathan also plays violin. Ana, Francyne, & sometimes Prill also play the piano.
If this sounds like your thing, then it definitely is. And as Prelude holds demo classes in between terms, you can check it out for FREE. If you like the demo, join in.
*Hope to see you there.*