An innovative music centre which provides young children with a wealth of musical opportunities is expanding its school to include Hendon.

Ham & High: The North London Conservatoire is expanding its music school to include Hendon, in collaboration with Middlesex University, bringing a wealth of musical opportunity to children and families from the local area.The North London Conservatoire is expanding its music school to include Hendon, in collaboration with Middlesex University, bringing a wealth of musical opportunity to children and families from the local area. (Image: Archant)

The North London Conservatoire has announced that it will be teaming up with Middlesex University to offer kindergarten classes for children aged between 17 months and five years of age.

Children learn all the basics of music through a variety of activities, including songs, rhymes, games, listening, movement to music, percussion and dancing.

The group was established as a Colourstrings centre in 1995 and has gained a reputation for musical excellence through its teaching of children of all abilities in Highgate and Muswell Hill.

The new centre will be based in the well-equipped music department at the university, whose director of music Peter Fribbins is actively involved in Colourstrings as a parent.

Ham & High: The North London Conservatoire is expanding its music school to include Hendon, in collaboration with Middlesex University, bringing a wealth of musical opportunity to children and families from the local area.The North London Conservatoire is expanding its music school to include Hendon, in collaboration with Middlesex University, bringing a wealth of musical opportunity to children and families from the local area. (Image: Archant)

Mr Fribbins said: “The university is pleased to support the project using the famous and innovative Colourstrings technique which aims to encourage children to learn in a more ‘child focused’ way, to enjoy the learning experience, and to learn holistically.

“This collaboration is an example of the university seeking to widen its reach and to increase access to facilities for all of the local community, not just its undergraduate students.”

From September the centre will expand further to include babies from six months old and six years old, before instrumental tuition is offered to kindergarten graduates a year later.

One of the centre’s aims is for children to move on from kindergarten achieving levels of musicality at least equivalent to Key Stage 2 for 11 year olds.

Once learning an instrument, children actively participate in a rounded instrumental programme that includes individual lessons, musicianship and ensemble, with numerous performance opportunities.

To register your child for Saturday kindergarten classes, contact Yvonne on 020 8444 9435, email admin@nlcolourstrings.co.uk or visit nlcolourstrings.co.uk for more information.