Our Story
Happy Beat is a culmination of passion, experience and a love of children and music. Developed and founded in 2012 by Catherine Austen, Happy Beat has been around for many joyful years, expanding through nursery schools and primary schools in Johannesburg. The current director, Lyla Faye, aims to keep up with the rhythm and reach more and more children with Happy Beat.
The Teachers
Lyla Faye Hurdus, Teacher and Owner
Lyla Faye is performing artist and songwriter, blessed to have worked with many well-known South African artists, musicians and producers over the years (starting in childhood, singing children’s vocals on Ed Jordan’s “Beautiful Creatures” albums).
In addition to her career as a singer, she has years of experience as a vocal coach to children and adults of almost all ages. Lyla finds great purpose in sharing her gift for music with others and believes that Happy Beat is a wonderful way for children to find self-expression while developing various life skills.
Happy Beat Services
- Classes are held once a week and are thirty minutes long.
- Personal Feedback is given twice a year.
- Certificates are awarded at the end of the year.
- Open classes are offered twice a year for parents to come and observe.
- Children’s Birthday Parties
Singing
- Children become more confident in themselves by expressing themselves through singing.
- Children are encouraged to use their voices in different ways. This is important for developing pitch and tone.
- Learning songs helps children to improve their memory.
- Singing is an uplifting activity.
- Singing encourages children to be a part of a group and is a fun social activity.
Music Theory
- Children are introduced to music theory in a fun and interactive way.
- Children learn to read music and play along with percussion instruments and backing music.
- Each child is encouraged to take theory notes home and practice with their families.
- Children read and play their own notes for the group. This also builds their confidence in themselves and their abilities.
Dramatisation
- Dramatisation helps children to identify their emotions and builds their self confidence, by acting out a character or pretending to be different creatures or even in expressing their own stories.
- Children are encouraged to be creative and imaginative.
Happy Beat Classes Involve
- Music appreciation
- Movement to music
- Djembe drumming
- Learning to play a variety of percussion instruments
- Music theory
- Singing
- Active Listening
- Dramatisation
- Fine and gross motor skills
- Integration of left and right brain
- Memory
- Observation skills
- Body awareness and self awareness
Music Appreciation and Active Listening
- All kinds of music is used in the classes.
- Children learn to identify sounds in the music.
- Children develop an appreciation for music.
- Learning to listen is a skill which is emphasized in the lessons.
- Learning to hear the emotions in music.
Movement to Music
- Rhythmic movement and free dance encourage self expression.
- Children are able to interpret what they hear and feel with their bodies.
- Children develop an understanding of their bodies and to move in certain ways, for example, crossing the midline.
- Spatial awareness, they learn to perceive where they are in relation to the space around them.
- Muscle development, they gain flexibility and core strength through a series of fun activities and exercises.
Djembe Drumming
- Children learn about the drum and how to play it.
- Children create their own rhythms and are able to express themselves individually.
- Children learn to play rhythmically in a group.
- Playing in a group encourages self expression and self confidence.
- Drumming stimulates both sides of the brain and is an excellent activity for whole brain development.
- Drumming has been found to be beneficial for improved co-ordination and memory.
- Drumming is a stress reliever and is such fun.
Testimonials
Little Earth Kids Preschool absolutely loves Happy Beat! From the moment Happy Beat arrive at the gate the kids are in awe with the happiness and excitement she brings. The little ones absolutely love thier class and it has been such a pleasure having Happy Beat a part of our school! Thank you Happy Beat team for the amazing and wonderful service you offer.
We have had Catherine and Happy beat at the school for 13 years. She has always been enthusiastic and excited about her music lessons. Catherine is always well prepared and uses a wide range of musical instruments with the children and the children always have their own instruments to play. Her lessons are fun and very interactive. She engages well with children of all ages and the children respond well to her. Happy beat is one of most popular extra murals and I would not hesitate to recommend Happy beat to all school as an extra mural.
Happy Beat brings love and enthusiasm to every music class at Linden Little Scholars Academy. I appreciate Catherine’s expertise and her ability to engage every child in each class. She is a creative music teacher that draws children into a world of music. Each time she arrives, her presence, well-organized lessons and complete enthusiasm touches the life’s of our learners. Catherine’s expertise comes shining through with each learner’s encounter.
Happy Beat visits us weekly and what a treat! Our children are always thrilled to see the teachers and have a blast seeing ‘what’s in the bag’, playing and learning about different instruments and of course, Djembe drumming (my personal favourite!) The teachers are always been completely professional, always on time and pretty on the ball with the admin behind the scenes, and most importantly of all carries a most exuberant and interesting energy which the children love. Definitely a must at any school!
Happy Beat is the BEST extra mural for your child to be enrolled with. The children learn through music and have so much fun at the same time. They are the most amazing teachers and my 11 month old has the best time participating in Happy Beat.