HELEN BEACH

E-mail: Helen.Beach@telus.net

Instructor Helen Arrol Beach, ARCT (Performers Piano) and DipFA (Specialization: Kodály Music Education) has been sharing songs and games with very young children for twenty years. She, along with two partners, established Cantate Music School in 1997 where she is presently co-owner and instructor in the "Kodály Music Explorers Program".

Helen developed and taught several adult music education classes with the University of Calgary's Continuing Education Faculty since 1985. She teaches aural musicianship skills for several independent music organizations and choirs. Helen is regularly invited to give lectures and live student demonstrations on Early Childhood Music to various audiences including the annual Kodály Summer Music Programme previously held at the University of Calgary, ECS/kindergarten teachers, employees of childcare centres, and new parent organizations. She is a coach for students needing specialized ear training work or instrumental teachers requesting Kodály training. Helen loves to accompany her professional cellist daughter and her cello students.

Her past musical experience includes teaching in the Early Childhood Kodály Musicianship Program at Mount Royal College Conservatory for 8 years (1989-1997); a sessional instructor at the University of Calgary teaching a course on Early Childhood Music; private lessons in piano, theory, singing; church organist and choir director. Helen was able to participate in the 18th International Kodály Seminar 1995 at the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music in Kecskemét, Hungary. Helen served many years on the Board of the Alberta Kodály Association including four years as editor of their provincial music journal Ephatha.