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Junior Academy of Music


The Junior Academy of Music (JAM) at Queen's provides a new experience for aspiring and talented young musicians.  Devised and delivered by internationally recognised musicians, the Academy runs each Saturday in the world-renowned Music and Sonic Arts at Queen's University.

 

JAM One | Jam Two | Jam Three | JAM Four 

 


Background

The JAM programme officially started in October 2010 with the launch of ‘JAM One’ for children aged 4-7. Eighty children in this age group are now enrolled in the programme which takes place on Saturday mornings. Activities include a Music and Movement class and the JAM Children Choir.

In January 2011, the School launched the ’JAM Two’ programme for pupils aged 8-11 years old.   Children in this programme are learning to play an instrument, singing in JAM Two choir, and learning to read and write music in their musicianship class.

The children are taught by 11 tutors who include current staff and former Queen’s Music students.

Dr Juliana Licinic van Walstijn, Music co-ordinator for JAM, said: “Being taught by highly qualified professionals whose passion for music teaching and for making music learning fun is at the core of JAM philosophy.

“The JAM programme stands out because there are hardly any music activities subsequent to Jo Jingles available for children of early years (P1 to P3). At the heart of JAM is the idea to provide fun activity classes during which the children not only sing, move to the beat, clap rhythms, but also play tuned and un-tuned percussion instruments, and learn basic musical concepts.

“The best thing is that the children only learn of these concepts after they have sang songs and have discovered it for themselves; the so called experience-based learning. With a focus on singing, all children learn and develop a strong sense of music fundamentals and exactly at the age they should be developing it. The curriculum is carefully selected and prepared and combines teaching methods of well know music educators such as Zoltán Kodály, Émile Dalcroze and Carl Orff.”

JAM programmes are open to all the children; the places are allocated on a first come first served basis.  If you are interested in one of the JAM programmes for 2011-12, or would like to get in touch, please contact jam@qub.ac.uk or phone 02890 975013.