A MUM-OF-THREE and former clarinetist with the Royal College of Music has managed to create the perfect harmony among the under fives.
She has chanelled their incredible energy in a way that is music to the ears of frazzled parents looking for new ways to occupy as well as educate their youngsters. Helen Smith is passionate about teaching the under fives about music and in the past ten years has produced four CD's, two video's and a book called, 'Hairy Bear' which is narrated by Rory Bremner. She lived in Hanwell for 20 years, is now based in Shepherds Bush but holds classes in Ealing and Chiswick and teaches in nurseries and holds parties.
She launched Cadenza in 1989 to work her classes around her three children and share her love of music with the very young. Helen said: "If you encourage your children to listen to and enjoy music it opens up the same bit of the brain that deals with maths and language so as well as enjoying the music it also helps them develop.
"I don't segregate the ages because they learn from each other. I do lots of different things, but the format stays the same and there is a lot of repetition. Very young children learn better and gain more confidence if they can do the same thing over and over again."
The format involves 10-15 minutes of singing traditional songs with actions, then Helen plays the trumpet or clarinet and the kids get a go on a variety of instruments such as drums and shakers and finally Helen plays a tune and the kids have to work out which animal it relates to such as Itsy Bitsy Spider.
Helen said: "The children love it and have great fun. Very few children get to see live trumpet playing. I have had really good feeback from Ofsted inspectors who visit the nurseries about the education benefits of my classes."
The 40-minute classes are held at Ealing Town Hall, Uxbridge Road, Ealing on Tuesday and Thursday at 10am and Christ Church, Turnham Green, Town Hall Avenue, Chiswick on Wednesdays at 9.45am. They cost £6 per child (£3 for siblings) and you can just drop in. For more details contact Helen on: www.cadenzaclasses.com.
