Monica Wolfe, director of Kindermusik, teaches seven-year-old Edgar Acosta to read music.
Parents looking to give their youngsters an intellectual boost need look no further, say organizers of music classes for infants.
The Kindermusik program is now operating out of the McNabb Community Centre. The program is a world-renowned class that allows children from just several months to several years old to experience music lessons with their parents.
“Just being in the class with their parents creates a sense of bonding,” says Monica Wolfe, who teaches local Kindermusik classes.
“The social stimulation as well is important, as they interact with other babies instead of just staying at home.”
Most child psychologists and educational experts agree that the early years of children’s lives, especially when they are toddlers, are integral to their later social and intellectual development.
Research has shown that music is one method that will stimulate the areas of a child’s brain that are responsible for literacy and math.
“The good news is that by simply talking, singing, and reading to your child, you are literally turning on his or her brain cells,” says Dr. Suzanne Barchers, author of several books on children’s education.
“Playing instruments, singing, listening to stories, and learning with music with your child –you’ve already begun providing him or her with important social, emotional and brain-building experiences.”
With classes developed for newborn babies right up to children starting kindergarten, there is a wide variety of programming available.
Depending on the age of the children participating, the classes feature a mix of singing, dancing for younger participants, while older students learn some basic musical instruments.
“For lap babies it may be as simple as being close to their parents and hearing the different sounds,” says Wolfe.
Kindermusik was founded in 1978 and now operates in more than 60 countries worldwide.
The popular program has successfully marketed itself to parents hoping to give their child a head start in their development.
Centretown is no different where hundreds of children and parents now participate in the weekly classes.
For Jessica Creces McElhone, enrolling her three-year-old daughter Gwyneth in the program was about instilling the love of music she learned at a young age in her daughter.
“When I was little I was in a program where I learned to read music and play instruments and wanted Gwyneth to experience the same thing,” says McElhone.
“It’s a very formal program and I also like the fact she was able to understand music and get a better appreciation for it.”
While some parents may be pushing their children through rigorous music lessons, McElhone says what attracted her to Kindermusik was the age appropriate instruction.
“You don’t automatically have your three-year-old in there trying to learn the violin. It’s about learning the basics and using their brains in a new way.”