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“What an influence you and this class were, maybe
more for me than my daughter. I come from a very reserved
family. I kept reading in books the importance of singing
to your baby but I was too embarrassed. It made such a difference
to feel that it is OK to be silly and funny and to sing
even if I don’t have a great singing voice, just for
the joy of it and the bond that is formed.” —Parent
There are lots of right ways to make music. I see it as
a joyous, everyday, non-expert activity. It works with or
without words, with or without musical instruments, and
regardless of your vocal skills. Willingness, not expertise,
is all I ask.
My classes are designed to be informal, low key, and welcoming,
providing a safe setting for both adults and children. Children
often have unique ways of becoming comfortable, including
simply observing or cruising the room. But they all absorb
the music, whether or not we think they’re “actively
participating.”
Each class has a predictable structure, beginning with
rhythm instruments and a hello song and ending with the
autoharp or another “real” instrument. As the
children grow and change, class elements do, too. Once babies
start to crawl, balls and cars get chased to the far corners
of the room. When language and movement skills increase,
it’s the kids who tell us what to sing about, and
how to move.
The ‘Start with Music!’ curriculum is based
on folk music, with variations that we improvise. This music
holds a lot of history and it belongs to all of us. When
we carry it home, we’re also helping to keep alive
a very special tradition.
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