Bring on the music

Suzie Harrison

The students were younger than the typical school-aged child, topping

out at 2 1/2 years old, but starting early is a concept “Music

Together” believes is important.

“The idea is based on the fact that all of us are musical,”

director and instructor for South Coast Music Together Judy Woodson

said. “We just bring out what is already there. Walking and talking

is just as much a natural birth right as music -- it uses the same

natural learning process.”

Music Together is a music and movement approach to early childhood

music development for infants to kindergarten-age children and their

parents.

She said the good news is that the children don’t have to do

anything, and that’s one of the keys to success. Adults are the

participants, and as they hear them and see their movement they start

to learn it and start joining in.

“You can teach anybody a skill, but only the people you love can

pass on a disposition,” Woodson said.

Six mats on the floor were positioned to make a circle in the

center of the room -- where the adults and children were seated

together with the adults dancing, singing and doing movements

together to go with the music.

Woodson lead the group and she sang through the whole class,

always singing to the class even without the music to reinforce the

basic idea of the class. She asked the adult partner of one of the

infants if they exhibited behavior at home that showed interest in

music and movement.

“Did you notice his response?,” Woodson said. “He’s doing a lot of

dancing and singing.”

Nancy Taylor replied that her grandson, Alec Henkel, who is 2,

always wants to listen to his music and play his guitar.

“He’s learned so much, he learned the love of music rhythm and

dance,” Taylor said. “He sings too, this has really introduced him to

music.”

During the program the children used different learning tools such

as instruments, music sticks for sound and colorful scarfs to

encourage the freedom of movement.

“Remember there is no right or wrong way to play an instrument,”

Woodson said.

They encourage individuality and freedom of expression.

Fehmina Merchant said her 18-month-old daughter Maizah Ali is

getting a lot out of the class.

“It’s helped her develop her vocabulary,” she said. “She sings and

the music is simplified geared toward the child, which makes it

easier to sing, which adds appreciation.”

She said she dances and sings whenever they put on a CD at home

when Maizah is upset and it turns her mood around.

“She’s all happy again,” Merchant said. “It has helped her

tremendously.”

The idea for the class began in ’87 as an educational project of

the Center for Music and Young Children and is now being taught

internationally.

To find out more about the class and when the next session starts

check the Laguna Beach Community Services guide or call Woodson at

(949) 719-5585.