Arts

Gymboree Play & Music - interactive classes for babies and children Jo Jingles music and singing classes for children Kindermusik music and movement programme Music in the Round Music Together - International music and movement programme Piccolo musical activity group Sound Beginnings - concerts for babies and toddlers Sure Start Broadway/Margravine productions The Music House for Children Quick tips: Sharing songs and rhymes

• Gymboree Play & Music offers interactive classes for babies and children from newborn to under 5. Classes feature sensory stimulation, exploration and learning through play, music and movement and are designed to build children's confidence, imagination, social skills and early language skills. For more information phone 020 7258 1415, email info@gymboreeplayuk.com or visit www.gymboreeplayuk.com
  
  
• Jo Jingles runs music and singing classes for children aged six months to five years. The classes are designed to be fun and interactive, with an educational slant. They aim to promote confidence and independence, and to build social, communication and musical skills. For more information, visit www.jojingles.com
  
  
• Kindermusik is a music and movement programme for children newborn to seven years. There are over 6,000 educators worldwide, with over 75 licensed teachers in the UK. Courses of lessons are provided in eight to 10 week blocks for babies and 18 to 20 weeks for all other age groups. During classes the educator leads a group of parents and children through structured fun activities using music and movement, and there are a wide range of home learning materials also available. Kindermusik is designed to help develop all aspects of childhood development - social, emotional, musical, cognitive and physical skills. For more information visit www.kindermusik.co.uk
  
  
• Music in the Round, based in Sheffield, is dedicated to presenting the greatest music to the widest public in an informal atmosphere. It promotes around 150 concerts a year and runs a variety of education projects. The Music in the Community programme aims to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to get involved in music and includes the Music Box project that takes weekly music workshops into Sheffield nurseries. For more information visit www.musicintheround.co.uk or call 0 114 281 4660.
  
  
• Music Together is a research-based music and movement programme for young children and their parents and carers. Music Together classes are based on the recognition that all children are musical and that they can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat and participate in musical activities with confidence once the early environment supports such learning. Central to the Music Together approach is that young children learn best from the role model of parents/carers who are actively making music. The programme brings families together by providing a rich musical environment in the classroom and by facilitating family participation in spontaneous musical activity at home within the context of daily life. For more information or to find UK training providers visit www.musictogether.com
  
  
• Piccolo is a musical activity group for pre-school children in and around Tyne and Wear focusing on singing and covering hand rhymes, lap songs, action songs, story songs, with an introduction to rhythm and percussion instruments. As well as running regular music sessions, Piccolo offers a number of different training workshops. For more information visit www.piccolomusic.co.uk
  
  
• Sound Beginnings puts on concerts for babies and toddlers providing live music of the highest quality for young audiences and classes to increase parents' knowledge of the beneficial effects of music on early development. Visit www.soundbeginnings.co.uk to find out more.
  
  
• Sure Start Broadway/Margravine in west London have produced Broadway Tales, a CD and book of songs and stories made with writer and storyteller Sandra Agard and musician Jon Owen. For more information contact Sure Start Broadway/Margravine at 49 Brook Green, London, W6 7BJ.
  
  

• The Music House for Children in Shepherds Bush, London, organises specialist music classes for nursery schools. Sessions include singing, action songs and percussion instruments. Call 020 8222 6933 or visit www.musichouseforchildren.co.uk

Parents resources index
Main resources index