For 39 years Music for Young Children has been celebrating the compositions of MYC Students from around the world. Songs composed by children ages 3 to 10 from Canada, the United States, Malaysia and Singapore.
This year, from March 23rd to April 2nd, each composition will be played and judged within their level in four different regions – Western Canada (BC, AB, SK, YK, NT, MB), Eastern Canada (ON, QC, NS, NB, PEI, NF), United States & Asia (Singapore and Malaysia). The first place pieces from the four regions then go head to head to place Internationally. The eight first place International winners each receive $250 (eight different age levels).
You can watch the International Decisions on our Facebook Page. The Livestream will air on Thursday April 2nd, at 11am EST! Follow us on Facebook for more details to come!
Our ultimate purpose and goal in teaching young children the concepts of composition is to help our students find their voice.
We are Music for Young Children, and our vision to ensure that our students not only have a solid foundation in music education, but also taught the tools and skills for them to feel comfortable in exploring how to express themselves creatively, in their own way.
As musicians, at times we have to focus on the “rules” of music (note locations, rhythms, counting, etc.). But when we get to focus on composition, this is the time when we can step back a little, guide our students, and overall encourage the creative process to sprout and grow.
All MYC students write their compositions out in full. Even 3 and 4 year olds can express their ideas using MYC’s special Critter friends. Frances Balodis, Composition Chair and founder of Music for Young Children, says, “It is important when playing the compositions to remember how young these children are. I am pleased and amazed that they are writing down their musical thoughts. Seeing the hand script is overwhelming – big circles for notes and sticks for stems. They are doing their very best. It teaches them that their music can be shared far across the world…just because it is written down. Many life-lessons learned in this composing adventure.”
Thank you to this year's 11 reviewers, who are all experienced MYC Teachers. They are: Chair Frances Balodis, Owner Olivia Riddell, Tania Granata, Cheryl McDonald, Eileen Leversedge, Carrie Bailey, Barbara Faubert, Dan Tremblay, Melody Louie, Caroline Lenk and Roxanne Mcgahey.
Our Special Guest Reviewers for MYC's 39th Annual International Composition Festival:
Melissa Hill from Nanaimo, BC!
"My name is Melissa Hill and I have enjoyed teaching MYC for the past 16 years. Teaching Music for Young Children has been so much fun and is very rewarding. When it comes to teaching composition and composer tricks, I get very excited! It is so fun for the young children to be free to create the sounds that make them smile. I just love it.
As a songwriter myself, I have enjoyed the composition and collaboration process in creating multiple albums of my original music for many years. It is my privilege to be asked to be a guest reviewer for this years composition festival, and I look forward to playing some of the children’s amazing compositional creations. My hope is that these budding young pianists will continue to grow their love of music for years to come!"
Aimee Rau from Zurich, ON!
"In addition to sharing the joys of music making with hundreds of students since joining the MYC teaching family 22 years ago, I have been blessed with an abundance of opportunities for learning and personal growth for myself through MYC! Composing with my students is one of my favourite components of the program. The children are so proud of their work. It is exciting to witness the crafting of my students’ masterpieces as they learn how to put their musical ideas on paper. Each year I look forward to hearing the creativity of MYC students from across the globe, so I am overjoyed and immensely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of regional judging of the 2026 Music for Young Children Composition festival.
Thank you to MYC for continuing to make composing an integral part of the curriculum and for celebrating the hard work of teachers and students!"
Emma Skeete from Dartmouth, NS!
"I am honoured and thrilled to be a part of the MYC Composition Festival as a regional reviewer. I love guiding my students through composition because they use their skills as musicians to create a song where they make all the decisions. Creativity. Autonomy. Collaboration. We don’t just read notes, students learn enough to create a song.
That is just one of the exciting outcomes of being an MYC student, and just one aspect of the musical journey I get to be apart of as an MYC teacher."
Special thanks to George Litterst, creator of SuperScore. Once again this year George will be creating a free download of the 2026 Winners!
To view the video of the 2025 Composition Festival album: www.myc.com/about-myc/superscore/
roland.com
A special thank you to Roland Canada, who are our sponsor for this year's Composition Festival. We at MYC are proud to be affiliated with Roland and grateful for their sponsorship of many years, as they continue to demonstrate their dedication to music education.
gilmoreprinting.com
We would like to thank Gilmore Printing for sponsoring the printing of the composition stickers that each participant will receive. Gilmore Printing Services is a full service commercial printer that has been providing both digital and offset print services since 1991.
