FAQ

How does the program work?

Envision your child…

Watching our educational show, singing, dancing, and learning with it.

Exploring instruments with guided audio.

Coloring our worksheets and then proudly putting them on the fridge! 

Happily hopping to our in-person classes (in Portland, OR only at this time).

Playing and singing with musical stuffed animals in our classroom.

Trying out all our instruments in class, like the piano, guitar, mandolin, ukulele etc.

All with the help of a dedicated teacher!

Included in every program and more! Join the Beta Test today!

What is included in the Beta Test?

· Access to premium videos.

· Access to the Founder for boosted home learning support, sharing of ideas etc

· Weekly 45 minute in-person class (for Portland, OR only…soon we’ll expand to you!).

· Listening/Singing assignments with upgraded audio technology (SPL).

· Your own personal, virtual music instructor who guides your home learning.

· Email chats and personalized guidance to make the most of it.

· Your child’s own virtual animal buddy- choose from one of our 6 characters.

· Our snazzy new coloring workbook. 100+ pages!

**The Beta Test is offered at a discounted rate, 40% off the Premium Rate! $60/month.

**For those doing virtual-only, your Beta Test rate is $23.50 instead of $39!

After the Beta Test is complete, you’ll have the option to sign up for one of 3 plans and you’ll continue with the same online instructor.

What ages is this for?

Ages 2-5 years old. For kids 18-24 months we recommend listening to our music and joining our in-person class but not watching videos. Children close to 6 years old who haven’t had much music education would do well to do a few months of our program before taking private lessons etc.

What is included in the paid plans?

Which plan is right for me?

Beginner Plan

This is perfect for: 

• Those who want to try the class before fully committing.

• Those who want a professional assessment of their child’s musical aptitude before starting them in a course (with the Add-on assessment).

Intermediate Plan

This is ideal for:

• Those who want a comprehensive approach to learning music, starting at a young age.

• Those who don’t necessarily have time or extra money for music but want more of it in their children’s lives.

• Those who sometimes give their young kids screen time and want it to be educational and fun when they do.

• Those with a background in music who want support in helping their child learn music.

Advanced Plan

This is optimal for those who want the whole package:

• They live in Portland, Oregon (eventually we’ll have classes offered in other cities).

• Those who want to give their children the chance to explore a variety of instruments that they don’t have at home.

• Those who want their children to have in-person classes for socialization.

• Kids who are interested in music and yearning for more.

• Those who want their kids to have an early start in music.

• Those who know music’s value but don’t have a background in it or those with a background but they don’t know how best to teach preschoolers.

• Those who want to see how their young child does with small amounts of live, private music instruction (with the Add-on assessment and video lessons).

Is my child ready for this?

Yes! Think about how your child, from infancy onwards, has studied the world around them and mimicked everyone and everything. We take that inclination to mimic and put it to good use by having them listen to the language of music: Solfege (aka Do Re Mi). 

By putting a syllable like Do or Re to a sound, they start to integrate the notes of a scale without thinking about it. It’s a natural way to learn!

If you want your child to normalize making and studying music, make it part of their life from the beginning. Our curriculum is designed for young learners. 

What do I need to have at home to start?

If you have nothing at first, that’s OK! Over time you’ll get more than just shakers, like a ukulele, a small digital keyboard, bongos or a small digital drum set, and any other kid-sized instruments your child expresses interest in. Contact us for a list of our recommendations.

If you’re willing to sing the songs and participate in the activities then your child will excel in our program and if you don’t they’ll still thrive in it!

What teaching approach do you use?

We use fixed-Do Solfege (also known as Solfeggio) which helped give our Founder an amazing form of perfect pitch: she hears all tones with Do Re Mi correctly superimposed. Using this method is the key to mad skills!

We also use parts of the Kodály method, including its hand symbols for Solfege (Do Re Mi) and rhythms.

The rest of our curriculum is informed by the Western Classical Tradition and the Founder’s original exercises, songs, and dances. More on the specifics of what she teaches here.

An emphasis is also placed on exposing kids to world-wide and cross-genre music because there’s way more to music than just classical!

What’s the time commitment each week?

Any given day could take between 20-40 minutes, it’s up to you! 

Here’s the breakdown:

· Listen to the SPL songs daily (20 minutes/day) 

· Watch the videos 2-3x a week (15-20 minutes/week). 

· Color the worksheets (10 minutes/week). 

· For those meeting with their virtual instructor add 15-20 minutes every week.

· In-person classes are 45 minutes and are weekly.

What’s the in-person class like?

We’ve refined the structure of our class over more than a decade. Here’s the flow:

· Settle in & Welcome Song.

· New Music Listening, Movement, & Sharing.

· Centerpiece Activity, an original song, dance, or exercise for the kids to learn.

· Dexterity games, an original exercise that builds fine motor skills.

· Sing & Dance Time, with original and familiar songs (Solfege included).

· Intro to Piano, we teach the basics in a hands-on way.

· Coloring Worksheets, our original, kid-friendly curriculum.

· Instrument Exploration & Social Time, kids get to play a variety of high-quality instruments and everyone gets to socialize a bit.

Do parents need to attend class?

Yes, for a time. For any child that isn’t potty trained, we need you there. However, once your child has mastered the art of the potty, you are free to do as you please!

What are virtual lessons like?

We can boil it down to three key components:

1. Initially, we start with parent and child on the Zoom call until everyone feels comfortable with just teacher and student interacting. The parent hangs out nearby and is available if need be.

2. In a lighthearted way, the teacher assesses how the child is doing with the various songs and exercises, Solfege fluency, and concept retention. Often the child can take the lead in showing off their abilities. If your child likes to perform, they’ll love our lessons!

3. The teacher picks a few things to work on in each session. No need to overwhelm with lots of content.

When a bond has formed between teacher and student, a lot of ground can be covered in 20 minutes. We’re laying groundwork: rituals based around “practicing” naturally develop from these sessions.

Are virtual lessons for a preschooler valuable?

Yes, definitely! Here are 3 reasons why!

1. You’ve now got a trusted, professional educator in your support system looking out for your child, helping steer them in a good direction. Less work for you and more learning for your child!

2. You’re normalizing taking lessons and working at skill development (in an age-appropriate way). Practicing music won’t be such a pain when they’re older!

3. You’re speeding up their learning process at an important age. You’re not only boosting their knowledge of music, but also boosting their self-confidence and enjoyment of their abilities!

What is SPL (Solfege Passive Learning TM)?

SPL is Seeds' secret weapon, our magic ingredient that is only available for our subscribers. It's modeled on our Founder's unheard-of ability to hear all tones with Solfege correctly superimposed in her brain at the same time.

That means that any time she hears a song, a doorbell, or a bass line she hears Solfege along with it at the same time, without effort.

SPL is our way of boosting your child's brain and aural skills by recreating this experience!