By Sandy Meyer
Kim Lee has always had a love of music and studied the piano for 12 years before beginning to teach it at age 16. After teaching private lessons full-time since 1987, Lee recently decided that she really wanted to find a way to teach young children the love of music. “My husband Roy and I are now proud grandparents of two wonderful boys. Ever since they came in to our lives I started looking for a more comprehensive pre-piano program,” Lee said.
She found that in Music for Young Children and will begin her first classes for three to four-year-olds beginning on August 21. Music for Young Children was introduced in 1980 and has 24,000 students over three continents. Lee says that she received very extensive training which included three years of summer classes and seminars to be certified to teach the classes.
This program is the first of its kind in the Brandon area and teaches young children how to read and begin to play simple music notes, setting the foundation for an extensive knowledge and love of music. What is so unique about this program is that it incorporates the parent into the learning as well, adding a bonding element with the child that helps with the learning process. “The child just flourishes in that environment because they get all that positive reinforcement,” said Lee. She also points out that many published studies across the world show a significant benefit in cognitive development in young children who study music.
The Sunshine program for three to four-year-olds is a 32 – 36 week curriculum and classes are 55 minutes once per week, consisting of up to four students. Lee plans to add a Sunrise program for two to three-year-olds in January 2014. The classes are packed with lots of learning activities and include some homework to keep the concepts fresh for each class.
More information on this innovative new program can be found at www.myc.com/teacher/KiLee or by calling 453-2879. Classes will be held at Lee’s new location at 1653 Bloomingdale Rd. in Valrico.
