Additional classes

Dominika Pietras

• Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz: Music Teaching, Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology
• Arthur Rubinstein School of Music, Bydgoszcz: Piano, Eurhythmics
• University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations: First Certificate in English

Playing an instrument has a positive effect on a child’s development. It stimulates their psycho-physical development, improves manual co-ordination, develops their aesthetic sense and above all their musical talents.

Learning to play an instrument stimulates both the left and right sides of the brain. It improves memory, concentration and creativity. It allows artistic expression (free jazz through improvisation).

In the initial stage of working with pre-schoolers, I use the ‘learning by ear’ method, which focuses on ‘tuning the ear’ to sound, and ‘mobilising fingers’, or developing the agility that will allow the child to play notes that are intentional rather than accidental.

We focus attention purely on movement and sound – eyes control fingers and ears control the sounds they produce.

During lessons the children discover, through means of play, the shape of the instrument, and its range of high and low tones.

In lessons, children are introduced to a short song which they try to play and sing by ear, thus developing their musical memory. A third of lesson time is dedicated to learning musical notation.

Patrycja Kowalewska

"Creativity is the driving force behind human’s every action.
The theme of my classes will be a meeting - a triad - of a teacher - guide, of a child - sensitive artist and the world - things, people and their emotions.
My classes’ motto is: Each of us has a beauty. You only need to let it free. Each of us has been endowed with a special talent. It only must be nurtured. To grow you need to create, to create you must be able to love yourself and others."