I hope the lovely weather continues for the long holiday weekend.  I am heading way way North for a birthday treat (not mine)

Wednesday classes are as normal

Marilyn singing Way up High

Marilyn had just turned 3 and was practicing in the car after class

 Next week will be the last class before the Spring break – looking forward to seeing everyone.  If you have a 3, 4 or 5yr old  – Mums, Dads, Grannies and Grandpa’s all invited to sit in and watch the class.

There is a wedding in the hall next week so we are relocating to 81 Hyndland Road for the morning.

Come out of the hall, turn left and at the top of Novar Drive cross the road and keep right.  81 Hyndland Road is the first main door tenement after the Church.

It will be a bit cosy for the one day and we will be back in the hall as usual on 4th April.

Thanks for your understanding with this change of venue.

A very short film of Magnus (just turned 2) singing his favourite song.  He doesn’t sing in class – just at home!

Magnus Way Up High (2yrs old)

Best wishes to all those who have been unwell recently and wishing you all a speedy recovery.  

Just in case you didn’t realise just how important music classes are for your child right now!

Since 2009 I have been visiting the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation in Mumbai.  It’s a music school that encourages Western Classical music so everything is taught in English.  I have been helping the school develop a pre5 music programme so every visit I train the teachers and work with the children.  The programme has expanded enormously since my first visit and now there are toddler classes as well as outreach work in NGO run schools as well as classes for 3,4,5,6yr olds.

The working days are long in Mumbai and the evenings are full of socialising (and eating which is very important).  A typical day is 10-7pm of training, classes and meetings.  I am fortunate to have relatives in Mumbai (my maternal grandparents were born there) so I get  to meet up with extended family and eat more.

I enjoy the training and teaching immensely and am very proud that I have helped develop a programme which now works in schools with children who really do not have very much.  It is a bit odd to hear them saying rhymes that I teach in my classes here but then, it’s all about developing linguistic skills and confidence and the English language is so important in India that it somehow does work. 

I left on the 1st January and arrived back last Tuesday 14th January.   I just about made my flight as the queues were so long at security and immigration and having just sat down, a young lad came up and asked if I would mind swopping seats as he wanted to sit next to his friend.  I asked him where his seat was as I was keen to keep my aisle seat and he replied “business”.  I thought he was joking but turned out he wasn’t.   I was almost too excited to sleep in my bed but as it was an overnight flight I thoroughly revelled in the luxury and slept wonderfully.  I  know the likelihood of this happening again is very slim (as much as the likelihood of buying a business class ticket!) but it was certainly a very nice way to end my trip.