MAKING MUSIC with Ellen Hoffman
Information for schools, parents, and libraries
| WHAT IS MAKING MUSIC? |
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 Making Music, designed specifically for toddlers and preschoolers, tries to blur the lines between rhythm and reading, music and movement, instruments and imagination, to create a memorable experience for children. Using a blend of music theory, music therapy techniques, and early childhood education philosophies, Ellen Hoffman has created programs that are ideal for preschools, libraries,and birthday parties. Ellen has been using her unique Making Music curriculum since 1993, to the delight to preschoolers across Massachusetts. It not only enhances and develops a child's love of music, it uses music to teach educational concepts and stimulate a child’s creativity and imagination. All music is “live” with Ellen on the guitar. The emphasis is on learning through discovery, promoting a musical experience drawn from a child’s own environment. Every child gets the same instrument to play per activity (no waiting for a turn!) with an average of 7 different musical activities during each lively session. Add balls, books, teddy bears, pom-poms and puppets to the mix of instruments and you have 45 minutes of pure fun! (Note - library programs are generally 45 minutes, classes held at preschools are generally 30 minutes)   |
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| FOR LIBRARIES | FOR SCHOOLS | ||
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From Wayland to Winchester, Sudbury to Sterling, Boston to Berlin, librarians across Massachusetts have embraced MAKING MUSIC as a way to promote reading readiness and add a musical component to storytime. Ellen has performed for children at over 60 libraries, and has also been called upon to host workshops for children's librarians on integrating music and storytime. She encourages the use of imagination, where drums and mallets become pans and spoons; sand blocks become trains, the gas and brake pedals of a car, airplanes or helicopters; rhythm sticks become walrus tusks, oars, bunny ears, violins, or ski poles; and pom-poms become silly hair, brooms, paintbrushes or horse tails. Ellen also finds rhythmic books to match certain themes. Books used have included Rain Makes Applesauce, Where Does the Brown Bear Go? Mary Wore a Red Dress, and Baby Blue Car Said No. With bags full of fun, Ellen aims not only to entertain, but to promote reading readiness skills, and send parents back with a host of ideas for storytime at home. Recommended group size is 20-25 children. Programs can be targeted to developmental ages - 2'3's and 4-6's as needed. SUMMER/FALL 2011 DATES August 5 - Chatham - 10am August 18 - Norton 10:30 and 1pm November 8 - Jamaica Plain (Connolly)10:30am November 9 - East Boston 10:30am November 10 - Honan/Allston 10:30am December 2 - North End 10:30am December 7 - East Boston 10:30 am December 8 - Honan/Allston 10:30am |
Ellen has taught the Making Music program at preschools for over 20 years. Whether you need a weekly music teacher, or someone who comes monthly or seasonally, Ellen can create series of programs based on your needs. Ellen works with teachers to assure that her music activities enhance and compliment the curriculum of each school. Sample instruments used are bells, drums, maracas, sand blocks, triangles, rhythm sticks, tambourines, cymbals, finger cymbals, tone bars, and more. Some sample themes have included hoildays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, December celebrations, April Fools Day) transportation, fall, dinosaurs, the magic of three, rain, colors, etc.Ellen has taught at First Friends and Beth-El preschools in Sudbury, at Kids-A-Lot in Stow,and is currently in her ninth year as music teacher at Steppingstones Preschool in Stow. She is also currently doing an afterschool enrichment program at Fair Acres school in Marstons Mills. In addition to working with children, Ellen has been a guest on teacher development days to help educators incorporate musical activities into the classroom...even if they can't play an instrument or carry a tune! |
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| REFERENCES and BIRTHDAY PARTIES | |||
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Delight your child by inviting Ellen to your next birthday party. She'll bring her bags of instruments (recommended party size is 7-12 children) plus puppets, pom-poms and more for 45 minutes of interactive fun! Within minutes, everyone will be playing, dancing and singing! REFERENCES: "Everyone here said it was one of the most interesting and useful music programs they had ever attended...I loved the many ways you showed people how to incorporate music and rhythm with everyday tasks... Lee Parker, Norton Public Library "All of my story time parents want her back as quickly as possible..." Sherry Eskin, Honan/Allston Library "Ellen teaches parents (and musically challenged librarians such as I) how simple, natural and easy it is to include music in storytime. The participants were raptly, boisterously attentive and amused. Ellen certainly has preschool humor down pat. The room was rocking--and laughing. A good time was had by all....Ellen Van Dalinda, Parlin Library, Everett "Your program was terrific! I loved watching the kids having so much fun.!" Kitty Schacht, Mansfield Library "We loved having you! It is such an awesome program. You make it fun and creative, yet organized." Valerie Morgan/Cotuit Library "Making Music was just wonderful today. The program more than met our expectations!" Janice Chase/Stoneham Library "You bring creative music, clever developmental clues, colorful instruments and an enthusiastic energy to each performance. We especially appreciate your ability to weave children's literature into the musical visit." Barb Gariepy/ Goodnow Library, Sudbury CONTACT INFORMATION: Ellen Hoffman (508) 477-4763 (508) 517-4686 ellenshoff@comcast.net | |||
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