Ditties for Dotes & Tunes for Toddlers (Age Groups I & II)

Inspired by the Kodály Method and Orff Approach, these early-years music classes introduce your child to the fundamentals of music through singing, listening, movement, and play.

Research has demonstrated the wide-ranging benefits that music-making can have for babies/toddlers and parents alike, from learning and developmental benefits to enhancing social skills and improving well-being.

These classes provide a solid musical foundation for further musical training (a perfect stepping-stone to pre-instrumental classes in the Royal Irish Academy of Music) and most importantly, instil a love of music.

These courses are delivered in Person at the RIAM, with fun-filled music classes in the heart of Dublin City!

Learning Outcomes

Ditties for Dotes (3 – 18 months old): for all dates please go to course

• Develop a sense of pitch and pulse
• Introduce musical concepts including dynamics, tempo, character, rhythm and melody
• Instill a love of music
• Teach parents songs and games that they can use with their babies outside of class 

Tunes for Toddlers (Age Group I) – (18 months – 3 years old): for all dates please go to course

Introduction to  (FTF II) and Developing (TfT II) the following musical concepts and skills:

• Dynamics: Loud and soft (recognise and perform)
• Pulse: Move/clap/tap along in time to the music
• Tempo: Fast and slow (recognise and perform)
• Pitch: High and low (recognise and perform); vocal exploration (different voice types)
• Melody: Elements of the pentatonic scale 

Tunes for Toddlers (Age Group II) – (3 – 4 years old): for all dates please go to course

• Dynamics: Exploration and comparison of dynamics from very soft to very loud (recognise and perform)
• Pulse: Move/clap/tap along in time to music in duple, triple and quadruple time
• Tempo: Exploration and comparison of speeds (recognise and perform)
• Pitch: High, low, and moving between (recognise and perform); vocal exploration (different voice types)
• Melody: Elements of the diatonic scale
• Instruments of the orchestra

Tutor

Naoise Whearity

Naoise Whearity, a Dublin based conductor, musician and educator, graduated with a BA in Music and French from Trinity College Dublin. She began her conducting studies as a participant with the Irish Association of Youth Orchestra’s Conducting Workshop under Maestro Robert Houlihan. As part of her undergraduate studies, she took choral conducting classes with Dr Orla Flanagan and orchestral conducting classes with John Dexter.

In 2017, after a competitive selection process, she was accepted to the National Concert Hall’s inaugural Female Conducting Programme, under the artistic direction of Alice Farnham, working closely with members of the National Symphony Orchestra, ultimately ending in a finale performance and workshop conducting the full Symphony Orchestra.

Having sung as an alto choral scholar the three years prior, Naoise took the position of Conductor of the Trinity College Chapel Choir in 2018, Trinity’s oldest choir. The choir sang at high profile College events, broadcasts, concerts and tours, most recently to Waterford, Omagh, and Lisbon. During this time, Naoise also conducted the cast and orchestra of both Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar in sell out performances as both musical director and orchestral conductor with the Trinity Musical Theatre Society at the O’Reilly Theatre, as well as holding the position of Musical Director of the Trinity Belles Female A Cappella Group.

She continues to conduct in the Dublin area, leading choral workshops, and taking part in national competitions such as Feis Ceoil, Wesley Music Festival and AIJS. She currently sings with New Dublin Voices.

Testimonials

"The Tutor was full of enthusiasm with a smile on her face each week! There was a great selection of songs - all suitable for babies- fun and interactive to perform. My son and I enjoyed the course thoroughly!" (Áine B.)

"Phoebe really enjoyed the course. The tutor was well-prepared and enthusiastic every week. 30 mins is perfect for this age group." (Nessa S.)

"Many thanks for your lovely course. I found it very suitable for my son. He began to recognise the tutor's voice and the singing. The presentation of the course was appropriate and easy to follow. Singing was soft and relaxing and the tutor's voice was very clear and soothing. Best wishes with your new course." (Josephine B.-C.)

"Special thanks to the tutor. She is a wonderful, kind, gifted, and special person. Thank you for sharing your gifts. (Marc O.)

"The tutor was so lovely, accommodating and caring. It was a joy to come to her class every week. We will miss it! (S. R.) 

Prerequisites

Age: 3 months - 4 years (see individual courses for age limits)

Other: Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the classes.