The Music and Dance Academy in the UK

MAD Academy...
music & dance and a whole lot of fun!

The MAD Academy Newsletter – Summer 2007

What's new for next term?

Although it feels as though summer has only just arrived, its already time to think about the Autumn term! But that’s no reason to be sad! In our MAD Academy classes there are loads of exciting activities to look forward to. We've got three fantastic new elements designed to stimulate, develop and inspire! All our babies will be cooing along to our catchy songs as we introduce them to parts of the body. Our walkers to 2s will be playing an exciting game ‘Ralph Says’, and dancing along to the funky MAD song while improving their co-ordination and listening skills. Our 2 to 3 year olds will be having fun with Topic Time, learning about every-day situations in a creative and stimulating way. Finally our 3 to 4 year olds will be laughing and learning as they are taught some fun and energetic team games. And of course there will still be all the old favourites in all the classes - interesting props to explore, fun games to play, great instruments to try out and loads and loads of funky songs and dances!

If all that wasn't enough, Ralph is having a Christmas Party in December so there will be all sorts of great Christmassy activities for everyone to get involved in!

Remember to book up for your MAD Academy classes with your class leader for the autumn term right away. Places are limited and going fast!!!! To contact your nearest class leader, click here>>>

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Summer Fun!

So what did you do this summer? As well as enjoying a few days of sunshine at home, and perhaps escaping for a few weeks to warmer climates, many of you continued to enjoy MAD Academy in our exceptionally popular summer classes. Nearly 60 classes were run in total over the holidays and it seems they were a big hit!!! And what fun you all had! You traveled the globe, listening and dancing to music from all around the world and even joining in with steel drums and didgeridoos. Some of you got the chance to play some golf as you explored the countryside, whist others had fun learning to move and dance like animals – and what great masks you got to wear!!

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Beat Competency – Step!

MAD Academy is committed to helping children develop their ‘beat competency’ because we know that being able to spot and keep a beat is really important. Moving to a steady rhythm is necessary for walking, running, drawing and even cutting with scissors. Even more incredible, research has shown that children who are able to beat a steady rhythm actually do better at school in all their subjects than those who have poor ‘beat competency’. This term our walker to 2’s, 2s to 3s and 3s to 4s will be introduced to Step!, a new and exciting part of your MAD Academy classes. You will meet Polly Penguin and her 3 friends who are looking forward to showing you their special steps and beats. This very basic introduction to musical notation and rhythm will begin to form the basis of your child’s musical education, in the most friendly and fun-ky way! Click here to meet Polly and her friends!>>>

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Did you know … singing develops children’s speech

All children love to sing but did you know it was actually good for them? In order to learn to speak, children need to develop a wide range of sounds. Babies begin this process by cooing long vowel sounds and then gradually adding consonants. Singing with your children either at home or in class can support this development. Children’s songs, like Old McDonald, use these simple sounds and encourage children to mimic them, thus giving them ample opportunity to hear and practice these basic sounds themselves. To find out more ways in which singing can help your child, click here>>>

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Competition Time!!

How would you like to win a MAD Academy goodie bag? One lucky person will win one of our handy plimsoll bags containing their very own mini Ralph, a baseball cap and a set of three MAD cds – Hop!, Skip! and Jump! And if that wasn’t enough, the three runners-up will each win their own set of our three cds! To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is visit the competition page of our website and answer the question, click here to enter>>>

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New Classes!

It is an exciting time for MAD Academy as we expand rapidly. This autumn will see the launch of lots of new classes across the South of England. We would like to welcome Ruth Brown, who will be bringing the magic of MAD Academy to Camberley, Chobham, Woking and Windlesham. Also a big hello to Debs Newman who will be introducing MAD Academy to Farnham, Farnborough, Fleet Hale and Ash. Somerset gets set to welcome MAD Academy as Amanda Smith opens her classes in Taunton, Wellington and Creech St. Michael. Nikki Carr will be opening classes in Farnham Royal, Slough, while Emma Lelliot will be entertaining the children of Henley. To find out more, click here>>>