Calling all little monsters....

Do you like to sing and dance or bang a drum? Then come and have fun with me. I'm Minstrel the monster and I like to do all these things too.....

Free Trial Session

Sign up now

Creative and fun musical activities for children aged 6 months to 5 years

At Mini Minstrels we know that young children learn best through play. Music is a powerful tool for cognitive and social and emotional development in young children. Our sessions are specifically designed to have lots of fun with a huge variety of props, percussion instruments and of course Minstrel the monster. Using a mascot motivates young children to participate in a secure environment, sharing the experience of learning by copying the actions and thereby growing in confidence. Our children love spending time with Minstrel - even though he's a monster...

Understanding early childhood and importance of music in this developmental stage.

Mini Minstrels is the brainchild of primary trained teacher Juliette Richards. Juliette has had over 10 years experience working with young children and has been running music classes for over 6 years. Mini Minstrels was developed with the help of a primary school headteacher specialising in children with additional educational needs. In addition Juliette's knowledge and passion for early childhood development gained from experiences with speech therapy and OT with her own preschool children was fundamental in the development of the Mini Minstrels' curriculum.

Music develops early literacy and mathematical skills, fine and gross motor skills and social skills.

Research has shown that active participation in a regular music class can dramatically improve speech development, listening skills, early reading skills and understanding of mathematical concepts. At Mini Minstrels every session includes opportunities for children to actively participate in instrument playing, rhythm, rhyme and basic mathematics. Mini Minstrels uses music specifically written for us that focusses on gross and fine motor skills, cognitive development, rhythm, rhyme and social interaction with both the primary caregiver and Minstrel. We know that repetition of traditional nursery rhymes supports children with language, cognitive, physical and social development and we therefore also sing and dance to many songs that children will be hearing in their every day lives.

Mini Minstrels understands different learning styles and emotional development.

At Mini Minstrels we recognise that no two children are the same. Children have different learning styles and develop skills, both emotional and cognitive at different paces. Children are encouraged to become active in class at an age-appropriate level, but there is no requirement to participate in any section of the class, allowing the active participation to be child-led. We recognise that while some young children need to explore the environment, others may need to absorb the instructions before feeling comfortable to participate. We offer a variety of learning options - auditory, visual and kinesthetic through the use of our props and instruments. Our sessions are themed and have a regular structure, so that children learn what to expect, developing confidence and social awareness. Research has shown that regular attendance and active participation in a structured musical programme dramatically improves both cognitive and social development. We hope that every child attending Mini Minstrels loves music and continues to enjoy playing music throughout their school life and beyond.