One of the many things that my husband and I enjoy together is music. Songs that we like are linked to many of our fondest memories, like a soundtrack for our lives. Music is something that we hope our kids will also learn to appreciate. So I was naturally very interested when friends first told me about the Kindermusik early music programme that focuses on fostering a love of music, rhythm, and self-expression in very young children.
Babies can definitely benefit from music. Just as upbeat tunes chase away our blues and gentle melodies help us relax, music can help to stimulate and soothe your little bubs. Already, our four month old tots seem comforted by the classical compositions we stream wirelessly into their cots at bedtime. They love playing with percussion toys and can be distracted by nursery rhymes when we get stuck in traffic.
However, music can be more beneficial to babies than you know, as I learnt from Ms. Yeoh Sheau Iong (also known as Mrs. Teoh), the Vice-Principal of the Selangor Institute of Music (SIM) that aims to instill a lifelong love of music in its students. SIM has been conducting its award-winning Kindermusik at SIM programmes in Malaysia for the last 18 years. Mrs. Teoh is lead mentor in a team of five licensed Kindermusik educators who train and mentor other educators around Malaysia through Kindermusik Malaysia, the exclusive distributor for Kindermusik teaching and home materials in Malaysia.
Mrs. Teoh shared that early childhood development experts have demonstrated that music does more for children than bring them joy – it helps their brain cells make the connections needed for virtually every kind of intelligence. When young children are consistently engaged by music in an age-appropriate, socially accepting environment, they not only have fun but learn on many levels. They gain the phonological processing, spoken language, and comprehension skills that are the foundation of reading. They build the spatial-temporal and reasoning skills required for quantitative subjects like math, science, and engineering. They develop social and emotional skills that are essential for school readiness like the ability to regulate responses and relate to others in complex ways. By moving and dancing to music and playing simple instruments, children improve their gross and fine motor skills. Musical activities that encourage freedom within a fun and friendly structure also spark creativity.
Kindermusik International originated from the US in 1978 and has reached over one million families in more than 70 countries. The curricula and training programmes; award-winning books and music; engaging instruments and activities were created based on research conducted and methodologies developed by esteemed music and movement experts since the early 20th century. These experts include Carl Orff, Shin’ichi Suzuki, Zoltan Kodaly, Rudolf Laban, and Emile Jacques-Dalcroze. The programme aspires to foster music and movement appreciation and abilities in children. Ms Yeoh Sheau In (sister of Mrs. Teoh) first discovered Kindermusik and its benefits for children whilst doing her Masters degree in music education at US’ renowned Eastman School of Music. She obtained certification in and taught Kindermusik there for a year before bringing it back to SIM in 1994. Since then, Kindermusik at SIM has touched the lives of more than 30,000 families in Malaysia. SIM currently runs more than 65 Kindermusik classes a week in the Klang Valley. These classes are also available in Pulau Pinang, Ipoh, Seremban, Johor Bahru and Sabah.
Kindermusik offers programmes for newborns and children up to the age of seven. It has curricula designed to be developmentally appropriate for four different age groups. Kindermusik always involves parents as the child’s first and most important teacher. Kindermusik at SIM has been taught to newborns as young as three weeks old but babies below six months of age tend to doze off mid-way, not because they are bored but due to the stimulation they receive during classes. Parents learn why and how these musical activities help in their child’s development. The home and web-based materials also allow parents to interact with their children using meaningful activities in daily life. Best of all, the curricula grows dynamically as it is continuously integrated with new scientific research.
Over the past 18 years, Kindermusik at SIM educators have seen significant differences in the total development of its participants; especially those who start before they turn nine months old. According to Mrs. Teoh, “Babies may be physically restrained from expressing themselves through movement and speech but they are always absorbing. We can see a big difference once they are physically ready to show what they have absorbed in their earlier months at classes. These children are more focused; exhibit better understanding in comprehending language and following instructions; and have better listening skills and spatial awareness. They are also more sociable and emotionally stable, plus are able to bond well with their parents. Their coordination, motor and balancing skills are also significantly better. These toddlers are usually eager to create different ideas during opportunities provided in class to explore various instruments.”
Interested Makchic mummies can call 03-79566202, 03-21632218, or 03-77221017 to sign up for a trial class. You can also check out Kindermusik at SIM and Kindermusik Malaysia for more information.
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Li-Hsian recently left a career in corporate communications to become a full-time mum to twins. She is learning new things daily as she tries to balance the romance of motherhood with the messy realities of her latest role.
Image credit: Kindermusik at SIM.
