Musical Moments

About

Musical Moments’ Dear parent/carer, welcome, haere mai! It is my hope that by participating in this program, you feel empowered, encouraged and excited on a daily basis to be a co-creator with your child/pēpē in a myriad of musical moments, and in so doing, contribute to fostering a calm and joyous relationship and a life of cherished musical memories between you.

It is a journey that you have embarked upon. As I travel with you during a portion of this journey, I envision my role being one of a guide. To add to your kete of existing personal resources and knowledge, I will offer tools to assist you to be your most musical self; encouragement to open your voice and body to singing and moving in your own unique way; invitation to explore your inherent creativity; and repertoire to mold as fits with your family culture, and as far as your imagination enables.

In summary, I wish for you a growing confidence and competence in using your own unique, intimate and portable instrument; your voice and body; plus building a musical repertoire of songs and scaffolds which help to facilitate music making anywhere, anytime as you navigate the journey of parenting/caring.

This 10-class series (1 hour a week for 10 weeks) program has been carefully crafted, and is always organically evolving in relation to the contributions of families who participate and share their own musical inspirations, improvisations and song and rhyme treasures.

Core goal of the program ‘To empower and encourage confidence and competence in parents/carers to engage in daily musical play with their child.

’ Everyone is a musician "
If you have a voice box, you can sing; if you have a body, you can move!" Marie Willis Humans are inherently musical beings; we have a beat within our heart which changes with our mood and energy level; rhythm in our gait and characteristic gestures; and intonation in our voices which conveys our emotions. We naturally express ourselves, and engage others in a dance of conversation and communication through sound and movement. Thus, there are no musical pre-requisites to participate in this program, simply a willingness to explore the wonderful world of music-making with your co-creator musical being; your child.

Course Facilitator: Marie Willis, Dalcroze Eurhythmics Certificate, BMus (Hons), PG Dip.MTh Marie is a passionate advocate for encouraging people to bring live, interactive music-making into their everyday lives and that of their families. Marie draws on over 25 years of facilitating learning, and fostering well-being through the power of musical connections with people from many walks of life. Her roles have included ‘Music Educator’, ‘Workshop Facilitator’, ‘Performing Arts Specialist’ and a 10 year career as a ‘Registered Music Therapist’. Marie believes that everybody is capable of making meaningful connections through music and she loves to witness those musical moments. She has a young child who loves to engage spontaneously with “musical games”; rhymes all the time; and who believes that playing the drum, tambourine and harmonica simultaneously is normal- why not!

(1) 'Musical Moments' 10-class interactive music confidence/empowerment series for parents and babies/pēpē (0-12 months); (2) 'Being Your Most Musical Self'- empowerment/encouragement workshops for parents/expectant parents and family/whānau members.