EnCantar
Early Childhood Music Education & Music Therapy
“If I were to teach a child the beauty of music, I would not begin with sheet music, notes, or staves. We would listen together to the most beautiful melodies, and I would tell them about the instruments that create music. Then, enchanted by beauty, the child would ask me to teach them the mystery of those little black dots written on five lines. For the little black dots and the five lines are merely tools for creating musical beauty.
The experience of beauty must come first.”
— Rubem Alves
"Here, every child is invited to explore music through movement, voice, imagination, and the heart."
🎵 About EnCantar
EnCantar is a space for early childhood music education and music therapy that nurtures children's development through music, voice, movement, and meaningful connection.
We believe that music is a universal language and one of the very first forms of human communication. Even before birth, babies can hear and feel vibrations, laying the foundations for attachment, safety, and their relationship with the world.
Musical experiences support cognitive, psychomotor, emotional, and social development, offering a space for discovery, creativity, self-expression, and joy.
This project is designed for nurseries and preschools, as well as workshops and experiences for parents and children, exploring themes such as:
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Music and Colour
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Soothing Sounds
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Sing to Me, Mama
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The Adventure of Musical Instruments
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Sound Stories and Movement
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Rhythms of the World
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And many other musical and sensory experiences.
Music for Babies (0–3 years)
A space for connection and discovery through music, where babies and caregivers explore bonding, rhythm, melody, musical instruments, and sensory experiences, while respecting each baby's natural development.
Early Childhood Music Education (3–6 years)
Through songs, musical instruments, musical stories, movement, and creative games, children explore the fundamental elements of music — pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, and melody — while developing artistic expression, creativity, imagination, and self-confidence.
Because we believe that learning music is, above all, experiencing music.
💛 Benefits of Music in Early Childhood Development
✓ develops attention and concentration
✓ stimulates language and memory
✓ improves motor coordination
✓ fosters creativity
✓ strengthens self-esteem
✓ helps children recognise and express emotions
✓ promotes empathy and social skills
✓ develops self-control and self-regulation
✓ nurtures bonds and a sense of belonging.
🌱 What we explore
🎤 the voice
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Children's songs
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Vocal exploration
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Nature and animal sounds
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Dynamics, pitch, and sound movement
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Vocal expression and creativity
🥁 The body
The body is our first musical instrument.
We explore:
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Body percussion
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Motor coordination
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Laterality
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Rhythm
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Free movement
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Dance and body expression
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Body awareness
🎶 Sound Exploration
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Rhythm circles
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Musical stories, rhymes and chants
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Music and colour
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Musical communication
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Exploration of timbres and musical instruments
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Improvisation and musical creation
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Different musical genres
🪘 Musical Instruments
We explore:
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Orff instruments
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Traditional instruments
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Song accompaniment
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Rhythm games
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Individual and group instrumental practice
💃 Movement Games
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Circle dances
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Free movement
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Exploring the relationship between music, colour, and movement
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Exploring musical contrasts:
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Fast / Slow
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Loud / Soft
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Low / High
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🎼Listening Skills and Musical Creativity
🎵 Children learn to:
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Listen attentively
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Recognise and identify sounds
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Distinguish dynamics, pitch, timbre, and duration
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Understand pulse and rhythm
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Create simple musical compositions
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Develop musical thinking
Hello! My name is Cátia Alhandra
I am a singer, clinical psychologist, and early childhood music educator, with over 20 years of experience working with music, voice, and human development.
I began my musical studies at the age of 16 at the National Conservatory of Lisbon and continued my training at the Professional School of Music and Arts of Almada. I hold a degree in Clinical Psychology and a postgraduate qualification in Education through the Arts and Music in Early Childhood from ISPA, complementing my background with various trainings in sound therapy, music therapy, and voice, both in Portugal and abroad.
Over the years, I have collaborated with schools, nurseries, and educational institutions, developing projects in early childhood music education, music therapy, and training for educators.
I believe that music is a path of discovery, expression, and growth, capable of accompanying children from their earliest years, opening space for healthy development and a life filled with joy.
Music is not just a technical skill to be learned.
It is an experience of beauty, connection, and discovery.