Our program
Our school is located in a warm, colourful classroom within the Ecole Koenig conservatory campus in Paris’s 15th arrondissment. The adjacent “children’s corner” is equipped with special child size plumbing! The campus is very serene during our preschool hours, as most of the conservatory classes are held in late afternoon. We frequently use adjacent music classrooms for singing and music play. When there are musical rehearsals, we invite the musicians in to play for the preschoolers. We feel that this early exposure will lead to a life long appreciation of live musical performances.
English and French are spoken equally in our classroom.
We aim to strengthen and reinforce the child’s native language while gently introducing the basics of second language through songs, games, puppet shows, and stories. Our multilingual group of children model language through each other with conversation and group play.
We believe that language acquisition is most successful with young children when it is introduced in a lively, interactive, and natural way.
Music : Children love music. They respond in a beautiful natural way that seems to come from a mysterious collective unconscious. We have seen two year olds point their toes and gently glide about the room upon hearing a Bach minuet. We have seen children “boogy down”, bending their knees and swinging their hips upon hearing an up-tempo blues. The excitement manifest when children are encouraged to play musical instruments is extraordinary.
Music is also a vector for learning listen to and be attentive to one’s neighbour. Playing a simple rhythm together is already a major accomplishment for very young children. These skills and aptitudes are encouraged and nourished in our program. In our three-year-old class we will begin actual individual instrumental instruction.
Activities : In our class, children have an opportunity for both collaborative and individual play. Collaborative play includes sing-a-longs and musical games, as well as art projects, and circle time. Art projects are regularly exhibited for all to admire. Each child brings home his art work at the beginning of each vacation period. Working together as part of a group teaches children respect for others, self-control, and patience, while helping children develop a sense of community. Children also enjoy less structured playtime when they can explore the many creative and educational games and toys in our classroom, as well as play imaginatively with each other. This kind of play encourages independence, independent thinking, creative problem solving, and self-discovery.