Tunes for Toddlers (Age Group II)

Inspired by the Kodály Method and Orff Approach, these early-years music classes introduce your child to the fundamentals of music through singing, listening, movement, and play.

Research has demonstrated the wide-ranging benefits that music-making can have for babies/toddlers and parents alike, from learning and developmental benefits to enhancing social skills and improving well-being.

These classes provide a solid musical foundation for further musical training (a perfect stepping-stone to pre-instrumental classes in the Royal Irish Academy of Music) and most importantly, instil a love of music.

These courses are delivered in Person at the RIAM, with fun-filled music classes in the heart of Dublin City!

Other age groups:

Children aged 3 - 18 months should participate in our Ditties for Dotes course

Children aged 18 months - 3 years should participate in our Tunes for Toddlers (Age Group I) course

Tunes for Toddlers Age Group II Course dates for Spring 2025

 March/April Course:

• Wednesday 5th March 2025 (2:00 - 2:30 PM)
• Wednesday 12th March 2025 (2:00 - 2:30 PM)
• Wednesday 19th March 2025 (2:00 - 2:30 PM)
• Wednesday 26th March 2025 (2:00 - 2:30 PM)
• Wednesday 2nd April 2025(2:00 - 2:30 PM)
• Wednesday 9th April 2025 (2:00 - 2:30 PM)

 April/May Course: 

• Wednesday 30th April 2025 (2:00 - 2:30 PM)
• Wednesday 7th May 2025 (2:00 - 2:30 PM)
• Wednesday 14th May 2025 (2:00 - 2:30 PM)
• Wednesday 21st May 2025 (2:00 - 2:30 PM)
• Wednesday 28th May 2025 (2:00 - 2:30 PM)
• Wednesday 4th June 2025 (2:00 - 2:30 PM)

For any enquiries about this course, please contact shortcourses@riam.ie or call 01 632 5300.

Introduction to the following musical concepts and skills:

• Dynamics: Exploration and comparison of dynamics from very soft to very loud (recognise and perform)
• Pulse: Move/clap/tap along in time to music in duple, triple and quadruple time
• Tempo: Exploration and comparison of speeds (recognise and perform)
• Pitch: High, low, and moving between (recognise and perform); vocal exploration (different voice types)
• Melody: Elements of the diatonic scale
• Instruments of the orchestra

Age: 3 - 4 years

Other: Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the classes.

Naoise Whearity

Naoise Whearity, a Dublin based conductor, musician and educator, graduated with a BA in Music and French from Trinity College Dublin. She began her conducting studies as a participant with the Irish Association of Youth Orchestra’s Conducting Workshop under Maestro Robert Houlihan. As part of her undergraduate studies, she took choral conducting classes with Dr Orla Flanagan and orchestral conducting classes with John Dexter.

In 2017, after a competitive selection process, she was accepted to the National Concert Hall’s inaugural Female Conducting Programme, under the artistic direction of Alice Farnham, working closely with members of the National Symphony Orchestra, ultimately ending in a finale performance and workshop conducting the full Symphony Orchestra.

Having sung as an alto choral scholar the three years prior, Naoise took the position of Conductor of the Trinity College Chapel Choir in 2018, Trinity’s oldest choir. The choir sang at high profile College events, broadcasts, concerts and tours, most recently to Waterford, Omagh, and Lisbon. During this time, Naoise also conducted the cast and orchestra of both Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar in sell out performances as both musical director and orchestral conductor with the Trinity Musical Theatre Society at the O’Reilly Theatre, as well as holding the position of Musical Director of the Trinity Belles Female A Cappella Group.

She continues to conduct in the Dublin area, leading choral workshops, and taking part in national competitions such as Feis Ceoil, Wesley Music Festival and AIJS. She currently sings with New Dublin Voices.

A short introduction from Sophie Lee

"This course was thoroughly enjoyed by my 4 year old, who experienced a great sense of achievement and self satisfaction each week." (Avril S.)