Toones Music, Math and Play

Learning through Music and Play

Toones Academic Music (TAM) has designed an innovative curriculum for elementary school students to improve students' academic skills. We have developed our curriculum and teaching methodology on the basis of a research study lasting five years. The result is the Toones Methodology which teaches "Academic Music" wherein students connect ideas through music and thus learn to excel in math and language-arts. Learning through play comprises an essential component of the Toones Methodology. The Toones program specifically targets children between the ages of 5 and 10 to help them discover how music and play advances their math, language arts, reading and social skills. The Toones program has demonstrated that it significantly improves student performance on the California Standard Test (CST) for Math & Language Arts. Students and parents alike love the program. Read what they and others have said about Toones.

We reinforce these concepts in learning through various activities:

Music All students receive short (two times 30 minutes) Academic Music lessons per week during school. Those who attend more often receive more lessons and make the most progress. Toones leverages these short lessons in several ways which collectively set the foundation for the Toones learning experience: short lessons (10 minutes on average) take advantage of the shorter attention span of young children; the lessons function as a short and enjoyable "break" away from other activities such as homework or math studies; it is very common for numerous students to want to have their turn at piano at the same time, and it is a testament to the Toones approach that the converse is also true: students may be so enjoying what they are doing that they do not yet want their piano lesson! consistent and frequent lessons provide the best reinforcement and support; students not in lessons often hear music that they themselves have played or will play; students develop a sense of community and identity around their common experience as students;

Academic Subjects Children discover and practice basic math concepts, critical thinking and problem solving skills with hands on activities. Music related activities and hands-on teaching help students to achieve their full potential in Math & English. The Toones staff advances each child individually, and Toones incorporates individualized tutoring, such as for homework or special topics, as an integral part of the program.

Toones In Action We make learning fun with music. Children learn various music games with lots of physical movement. Through theses music games children learn to transfer key skills to academic subjects. Key learning areas which transfer from the music games to academic study include visualization of abstract concepts, counting, grouping, focused concentration, group participation and socialization, and observation and analysis. In fact, one of the guiding principles of the Toones Methodology is that Audio/Visual learning through the music games is not only fun but also enhances the students' ability to learn and memorize (Hear, Dance, Sing and Write).

Practice Students continue to work on new pieces, receive additional help as needed, and enjoy playing pieces already learned. The students view playing for each other at the end of practice as a fun activity, and they also learn how to be good listeners and peers by offering positive critique and support. As with the music lessons, there always is no lack of volunteers to play for others.