Preparatory Studies

Overview

We offer first steps in music for children who are starting their school journey. This is a general music program in a group setting that focuses on preparing the children for private music lessons. Emphasis is placed on providing comprehensive musical training with creation, listening, movement and rhythm games. The children will get to know instruments, different musical genres and get to know basic music terms. During class an emphasis is placed on respect, positivity and friendship where the students can make music in a good atmosphere. The pre-studies groups participate in concerts and events in their neighborhood where they make up the Grafarvogur Children’s Choir and the Fossvogur Children’s Choir. Lessons take place in Grafarvogskirkja and Bústaðakirkja.

During the first year the emphasis is on singing, recorder and percussion. The kids will also get to try the violin. The materials used is the book Tuttugu töffarar and Tónlistin er þín by Auður Guðjohnsen. The students will also need to bring their own recorders.

During the second year the emphasis is on singing, keyboard and the ukulele. The materials used is Það er gaman að spila á píanó by Örvar Ingi Jóhannesson, Hljómleikur by Helga Þórdís Guðmundsdóttir and Tónlistin er þín by Auður Guðjohnsen.

During the third year, students will start private lessons on an instrument of their choice but they also have an option to be part of a vocal group where they will continue to learn the basics of vocal technique. The voice students will continue to sing in parts and those who wish will get to sing solos. The vocal group rehearses in Grafarvogskirkja on Tuesdays at 18:10-19:00.

Lesson times:

Grafarvogskirkja: Tuesdays. 1st year at 16:30-17:40 and 2nd year at 17:00-18:10.

Bústaðakirkja: Wednesdays. 1st year at 16:30-17:40 and 2nd year at 17:00-18:10.

Teachers

Valdís Gregory

Valdís began her music studies at a young age when she started learning the violin. At the age of 10 she switched to cello, while also studying voice and piano. Valdís graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford and has a master’s degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Valdís has also participated in the String Teacher Workshop at The Ohio State University. As a singer, she has performed in numerous musicals and opera productions, and as a cellist, she has played with various groups as well as in the pit of musicals. She has won numerous awards for her musical performances and has performed and taught in the United States, Germany and Iceland.

Auður Guðjohnsen

Auður graduated with a diploma from the Reykjavík School of Singing in 2001. She completed a postgraduate degree in Voice from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow in 2003. She graduated with a LRSM degree in Voice Pedagogy from the Reykjavík School of Singing in 2005 and received a M.Ed.Art. from The Icelandic University of the Arts in 2017. Auður has performed at numerous concerts in Iceland and abroad, including symphonies, oratorios, opera performances, and jazz concerts, both as a soloist and as a part of a larger group. For many years she has sung in choirs such as Schola Cantorum, Barbörukórinn and Cantoque Ensemble. After completing her master’s degree, Auður published a songbook for children, Tónlistin er þín (The Music is Yours). She works as a composer, singer, children’s choir director and voice teacher.