New to music lessons?

Let the Kanack School make it easy! Registration is open now for our Spring session of Playing From The Heart, our new 10-week course for beginner musicians.

Based on Creative Ability Development, this course teaches a small class of young beginners their first music lessons on the violin or cello and concludes with their first recital!

Our Spring Session of Playing From The Heart begins March 29, 2025! We recommend this for children ages 2-8. Not sure? Call us and see if this class is the right fit for you child.

A group of young violin students practice their violin bow hold using candy. They are watching and listening very carefully.

Following a Child’s Lead

Our approach in Playing From The Heart is based on the idea that with proper guidance and artistic technique, then social skills and intellectual ability will develop naturally and beautifully as the children strive to create the most beautiful creative expressions they can. By giving them tools, instruments, basic technical instruction, and creative puzzles, they will easily follow the path of their innate creative spirit to achieve their highest potential.

The Basic Concept of CAD:
The Disciplined Practice of the Freedom of Choice

There is an old ingrained idea in education, that freedom and discipline are opposite teaching concepts. However, in the study of creativity, they are not opposites; they are, in fact, equally essential. It is the disciplined practice of the freedom of choice that develops creativity with an unparalleled intensity. Creativity is the art of choice. When children practice making creative choices in a disciplined manner, they develop high levels of artistry and ability!

At the CAD preschool, we use structured improvisational games to practice the freedom of choice. The students repeatedly search for the best-improvised solution to each creative puzzle. This disciplined creative practice leads them to experience beautiful inspirations in multiple artistic languages.

Social Skills in a Creative Environment

There are three rules that every CAD classroom follows:

1) There’s no such thing as a mistake (When a child creates, all creative choices are his own. Anyone who interrupts his flow by offering suggestions or criticisms, becomes the creator by virtue of their criticism.  Therefore criticism is not allowed.)

2) Applause and Silence (All creativity is built on creations which came before; therefore we listen when someone shares their ideas and thank them by applauding those ideas. CAD classrooms are full of joyful applause and respect for the ideas of others.)

3) Never criticize a friend (Since there is no such thing as a mistake, no one is ever allowed to criticize another person.)

Children who are raised in this environment:

  • learn to collaborate and create with others

  • learn to respect each other’s ideas

  • Have a high self-esteem

  • Are easily able to express themselves