Hi! I'm Carol Smith

To explore my website, just follow the links on the left.

 Welcome to my website! To visit me here again, please remember my URL: http://www.myc.com/teacher/CSmith/ and enter it in your "My Favorites" folder. You can also find me using the "Search for a Teacher" tool under Teaching Locations, and also at www.concertpitchpiano.com

I really enjoy teaching the Music for Young Children program written by Francis Balodis. Children love learning the musical concepts that are taught each week as they come to group lessons and meet other children of their own age. Music is taught in a fun, inviting, and interactive environment that encourages young ones to learn the basic musical concepts that will enable them to continue on in music for the rest of their lives.

I have been living in the Newmarket area with my husband and seven children for the last 26 yrs. I have a Master's Degree in Music as well as my Grade 10 from the Royal Conservatory of Music and have been teaching piano lessons for many years.

I have been involved in many musical productions in my local church and am presently involved in leading worship there now.

   Enjoy watching this video clip about the MYC program: www.youtube.com/user/MYCKanata

The importance of parent-child music classes

By being present in classes, parents become aware of their child's learning styles, strengths and
interests. Parent participation allows reinforcement of concepts and skill building at home. The
presence of a parent provides stability and security for the child, for whom this may be the first
structured experience.

Parents believe they should be involved with their children's homework and that it
creates parent-child bonding. This is quality time and parents can help children with daily
practice which builds a habit that leads to progress and a feeling of success.

Testimonies from parents:

Since both my daughters were 5 years old they have been enrolled in Ms. Balodis' program
Music for Young Children. As both a professional musician and teacher (I teach composition
and orchestration at the post secondary level, and I am Technical Co-ordinator for the Royal
Conservatory of Music and the Glenn Gould School), I can testify that Ms. Balodis' program is
excellent for young children. My children have learned the fundamentals of musicianship and
composition while having fun. I was always amazed that when I asked my children when they
started at MYC "What did you learn in today's lesson?" they responded with "Nothing ... we just
played games." When I queried further I found out that through game playing they learned
about pitch, rhythm, melody, dynamics and the basics of composition (thematic development).
At a very young age my children not only learned how to compose music and write out their
compositions, they learned about the importance of copyrighting one's material. .. now that is
through a music course.
As a board member of the Guild of Canadian Film Composers I have had discussions with
fellow Canadian composers who have sent their children and grandchildren to Ms. Balodis'
MYC program because we all felt that her method of teaching is one of the best ways to teach
children music while still maintaining a fun learning environment that emphasized individuality,
creativity and exploration.

Gary Atkins, Technology Coordinator

RCM / The Glenn Gould School Teacher, The Trebas Institute

I have a 7-year-old son who is beginning his second year in the MYC program and his
progress is phenomenal. What I like most about the program is that it is NOT just keyboard
training. He has improved in math by working on rhythms. His ear is far more developed than
mine or his older brother's who has studied the piano privately for 4 years.
He is an associative learner and the stories for the notes and keyboard really let him learn
quickly - not to mention being able to actually visualize the notes and their position on the
keyboard. He is also developing an appreciation for the great composers by listening to them
in class and clapping the rhythm each week at home. He is beginning to see how much more
there is to music than just "sounding pretty". He loves puzzles and math and MYC is opening
the door for him to see that music is full of math! And best yet, he is having fun. He doesn't
even think of piano lessons or practice as work, but almost a game.

Tara Turner

 I look forward to hearing from you if you have any other questions regarding the program.