Music is Magic
Having my own daughter has made me appreciate music even more. Even at her young age (11 months), I can already see how much she enjoys it. She loves being sung to and bouncing when she hears the music's beat. She loves exploring sound with musical instruments. Music can instantly calm her down when she is overtired, and it also brings her so much happiness and excitement when she’s playing. Watching her respond to music so naturally reminds me of how powerful it is for all ages.
Presenting….The Pine Needles! A Spring Room band that formed one chilly morning!
In early childhood, music brings together joy, connection, comfort, and learning in such a natural way. In the Spring Room at Inver Glen, music is woven into our days through singing, dancing, and our routines. There are so many ways music positively affects the Springies. It helps build confidence, language skills, memory, rhythm, and social-emotional connections. Some of our quietest children will suddenly light up during a familiar song and belt it for all to hear. Others find comfort and regulation through music during transitions or hard moments.
The teachers will often sing a familiar song when they need the preschoolers' attention, or it is time for a transition, and the children, more often than not, will stop what they are doing to sing along. A simple song pulls everyone gently away from what they were deeply involved in and into a common space of pause or a smooth changing gears from one activity to another. Music is not only fun in our class, but a useful tool!
Preschoolers and Memory Care Residents raising their “arms up high,” as one does, for the beloved song, “A-Ram-Sam-Sam.”
One of the most special parts about music in our program is how it connects the children with the seniors in memory care. Even when words are hard to find, music has a way of bringing people together. The children and seniors often recognize and enjoy the same songs, and it is so sweet to watch those shared moments happen naturally. Songs like “Country Roads,” “If I Had a Hammer,” and “You Are My Sunshine” bring smiles, singing, clapping, and memories for everyone involved. The children love hearing the seniors sing along, and the seniors truly light up when the children join in beside them.
Mr. Gregg and a throng of his adoring fans.
Mr. Gregg (our director, Sarah's father, and a professional musician) comes in once a week to sing with the children and seniors, and it has become such a meaningful part of our mornings in memory care. The children eagerly gather around him, ready to sing or to ask him to play one of their favorite tunes. The children, seniors, and teachers cherish this time as it sparks so much joy and shared connection when we listen to new songs and old ones, too. With music being such a foundational element of learning, we are lucky to have such a strong music presence in our school.