For 37 years we have been celebrating the compositions of Music for Young Children students around the world. Songs composed by children ages 3 to 10 from Canada, the U.S., Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam.

From March 18 to 28, each composition is played and judged within their level in four different regions – Western Canada (BC, AB, SK, YK, NT, MB), Eastern Canada (ON, QC, NS, NB, PEI, NF), United States & Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam). The first place pieces from the four regions then go head to head to place Internationally. The eight first place International winners each receive $250 (eight different age levels). You can watch the International Decisions on our Facebook Page. The Livestream will air on Thursday March 28th, at 11am EST! Follow us on Facebook for more details to come!

Our ultimate purpose and goal in teaching young children the concepts of composition is to help our students find their voice.

We are Music for Young Children, and our vision to ensure that our students not only have a solid foundation in music education, but also taught the tools and skills for them to feel comfortable in exploring how to express themselves creatively, in their own way.

As musicians, at times we have to focus on the “rules” of music (note locations, rhythms, counting, etc.). But when we get to focus on composition, this is the time when we can step back a little, guide our students, and overall encourage the creative process to sprout and grow.

All MYC students write their compositions out in full. Even 3 and 4 year olds can express their ideas using MYC’s special Critter friends. Frances Balodis, Composition Chair and founder of Music for Young Children, says, “It is important when playing the compositions to remember how young these children are. I am pleased and amazed that they are writing down their musical thoughts. Seeing the hand script is overwhelming – big circles for notes and sticks for stems. They are doing their very best. It teaches them that their music can be shared far across the world…just because it is written down. Many life-lessons learned in this composing adventure.”

Thank you to this year's 11 reviewers, who are all experienced MYC Teachers. They are: Chair Frances Balodis, Owner Olivia Riddell, Tania Granata, Cheryl McDonald, Eileen Leversedge, Carrie Bailey, Barbara Faubert, Dan Tremblay, Melody Louie, Mairéad Frizell and Roxanne Mcgahey.

This year with the Composition Festival being online, we are fortunate have 5 Guest Reviewers from across Canada.

Kim Kent (Saskatchewan)

"I am happy that we can experience Composing in my MYC classes. It is just one more unique offering in MYC’s proven curriculum.

Composing celebrates the students’ creativity. From the simplest of beginnings, like a simple pattern, students can use MYC’s tricks to grow their song. We allow their song to develop over a number of weeks as they add, delete and re-arrange their musical ideas. When they have found the sounds they like and organized them the way they want, they staff it in their own handwriting!

From year to year the students’ Compositions become more mature, reflecting the complexity of the music that they are playing. We celebrate the students’ accomplishment by submitting it to MYC’s International Composition Festival each year. And together we marvel that they are Composers and that is just one more special thing about them!"

Leora Cashe (British Columbia)

"I love the MYC program for its fun loving approach of exploring music in a supportive group setting with students and parents. Together we create a safe space that is perfect for students to compose and to explore their own musical ideas. The yearly Composition Festival is a highlight for me and my students. This rewarding opportunity invites us to be creative and challenge our skills and knowledge of the music language. The act of writing down their song takes their skills to a new level of accomplishment. It's truly inspiring to witness my students' joy and pride of creating, writing down and playing their own song! I'm honoured to be invited to participate as a reviewer and I'm looking forward to being amazed by the experience. A great big shout out to the many MYC musician's who participated! Good work everyone!"

Beverly Doucette (Nova Scotia)

"I love teaching Music For Young Children. It is a great way to instill a life of music in children who then grow into adults who embrace music as part of their lives in different capacities. I’ve been teaching for 33 years now and composing is an aspect of music education that some children embrace and others wet their feet slowly but they are so proud of their song when it is done. I love that children will express themselves so openly as they write. Some children come with a whole song that they have made up in their head and the trick is to get it on paper so that they can then play it not just sing it. Others come with an idea and need to work it a few ways to get what they want. While still others come with ideas and sounds that capture imagination. Some love notes , others words and some like rhythm. I love the uniqueness of each composition. I like to celebrate each composition as it represents each child’s unique self. I’m very excepted to this year be a Regional reviewer. I feel honoured to be able to play the compositions and see and hear the work that has gone into each one."

Amy Martens (Alberta)

"Composition has long been one of my favorite components of the MYC program. What a privilege to get to come alongside our budding musicians and help coax out the creativity that resides in each one! It is so rewarding to help them bring their ideas to life, to gently teach them how capable they are and to see their confidence grow year by year! Composition allows our students to take all the practical and theoretical knowledge that we impart and make it personal. Through composition, every student is given the opportunity to find their own musical voice, to discover the creative and beautiful ideas they have to share with the world. Every March in our studio, we host a Composition Recital.

We just had ours on March 16th and it was such a special afternoon! Always my favorite recital of the year. Listening to each student share an original composition is very rewarding, and they are all so proud of their songs! Parents love the opportunity to see the progression as well. Most Level 1 was honored to be asked to be part of the group of reviewers for this year's Composition Festival, and I am looking forward to getting to enjoy a wider range of compositions from across the country! I am so grateful to be part of our MYC family of teachers; we really have the best job!"

Denise Burnett (Ontario)

"I love teaching the MYC program. Children have fun while learning the foundations of music: rhythm, theory, note reading (Treble Clef and Bass Clef), ear training, and harmonizing. The Composition Festival gives each child the opportunity to put everything they have learned together to create beautiful music that can be shared. You can hear each child’s unique voice. The results are always amazing. I love it when they choose to play their own creations as their favourite song at recital. I am honoured to be involved as a reviewer this year."

Special thanks to George Litterst, creator of SuperScore. Once again this year George will be creating a free download of the 2023 Winners!

www.myc.com/about-myc/superscore/

roland.com

A special thank you to Roland Canada, who are our sponsor for this year's Composition Festival. We at MYC are proud to be affiliated with Roland and grateful for their sponsorship of many years, as they continue to demonstrate their dedication to music education.

gilmoreprinting.com

We would like to thank Gilmore Printing for sponsoring the printing of the composition stickers that each participant will receive.

Gilmore Printing Services is a full service commercial printer that has been providing both digital and offset print services since 1991.