Throughout their days here at TIGS Prep, the children are exposed to music. Music opens a window into their lives and provides a wonderful opportunity for educators and specialist music teachers to engage with the children.
Whether it is music playing in the background as they create beautiful works of art, engaging in social play, in the songs they sing in class as part of their daily routines such as the days of the week, or in the songs they learn in class and the music they sing and play in Music lessons, music is inextricably woven into the fabric of the programme.
A balanced programme that will engage your child and allow them to have fun while learning valuable technical and life skills is a perfect place to start. Early childhood music offers all of this and more. Children are innately drawn to musical activities which, when presented as part of a well-planned curriculum in a caring and respectful classroom environment, can be a most worthwhile learning experience.
Singing, in particular, is an extremely grounding activity. It can help to promote better focus, memory and social bonding. When singing in a group it can deepen children’s sense of community and introduces melodies, language, and rhythms. It is important for them to enjoy the sounds they make, even if the words sometimes go astray or take on completely new meanings.
Music education at TIGS Prep has been developed over many years and is deeply embedded within the pedagogy of the whole school and its links to the wider community. Each week at TIGS Prep the children participate in a ‘specialist’ music lesson with Mrs Bonaccorso. They walk down to the music room with their educators and engage in a variety of carefully planned experiences, including singing, movement and musical instruments. The children participate with enthusiasm and look forward to this each week.
During their music lesson this week, the children identified the beat of a song which required them to listen, concentrate and repeat the beat, as they start to easily identify patterns. Practising repeated activities like clapping to the beat and jumping in time with the rhythm can stimulate brain function and help the children to organise their own reactions and listening skills. They also play soft/slow and fast/loud sounds and learn to pause together on cue, while accompanied by the piano.
