Leap, Vault, Sing, Pluck

September. Perhaps the word drapes itself across your psyche like a big, dark cloud, spelling out the end of your lovely, unstructured summer. Or, depending on circumstances, it dances across your mind like a merry sprite, teasing you with the spectre of uninterrupted days and solid routine as the kids go back to school.

One thing is certain, September is a time for new beginnings. Among the dozens of extracurricular pursuits available for your children to embark on, which do you want your kids to explore this year?

Kids love bouncing, climbing, tumbling and balancing, so gymnastics is a natural choice. And music is good for the brain and the soul. So how about starting some lessons?

Budding gymnasts can take advantage of at least half a dozen gymnastics centres in Ottawa. The Ottawa Gymnastics Centre in Westboro runs recreational and competitive classes for all ages. There is an extraordinarily wide range of options for kids under the age of six like Babynastics (for infants aged 8 to 15 months), and Tall’n Small (parent and tot classes for children 16 to 36 months).

Meanwhile, Starr Gymnastics (and Fitness) on Lancaster Road offers instructional classes, birthday parties, camps, a drop-in playtime and even a postnatal rehab class. We also like Spring Action Trampoline in Sandy Hill, where classes run the gamut from Kinderbounce to competitive trampoline. Drop in to a class or book a bouncy birthday party.

Now what about music lessons? Traditionalists say kids should be at least six years-old to start piano lessons and eight or nine for guitar. But Suzuki-method teachers believe in starting them as young as three. A key difference is that Suzuki teachers expect parents to attend lessons and sit in on practice sessions, acting as the child’s music coach between lessons. The Suzuki-method also emphasizes initially learning by ear over reading music.

There are Ottawa Suzuki schools specializing in piano, guitar and strings. Check out The National Capital Suzuki School of Music for violin, viola, cello, guitar or flute, Ottawa Suzuki Strings for violin, and Suzuki Piano or Suzuki Guitar. Ottawa Suzuki Music also offers Headstart Suzuki, a pre-instrumental program that introduces three- and four-year-olds to musical concepts by focusing on rhythm, singing, motor development and aural training.

If you’re more inclined to shout encouragement from the kitchen than the piano bench, the traditional path may be best for you. In that case, we like The Ottawa Folklore Centre in Old Ottawa South as well as the Ottawa Conservatory Vocal & Dance Performance Academy) in Westboro. West-enders should check out the Ottawa Music Academy & Kanata Music Academy.

No matter where you go, mid-August is the time to secure the most desirable time slots for September so start your research. Bounce high, play on!

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