Notable Notes

Children… Blooming in Their Own Time

By Susan Kirton

When my children were younger, we enrolled them in swimming classes with the hope that they would become comfortable in the water.  The two older children had no difficulty in transitioning from parent and child classes to going on their own.  The youngest one, however, did not adapt so easily.  After the first day, I was ready to pull her out of class since she did not even get into the pool.  The teachers assured me they would get her into the water if I continued to bring her each week.  It continued with me bringing her, getting her into her swimsuit, and then changing her out of her dry swimsuit and going home.  The half hour class consisted of a teacher walking her around the pool while watching other children having their lessons.  She resisted vocally all the while.  This continued for a few classes and then one day I no longer heard her resistance.  I looked at the pool and there she was walking down the stairs into the water.  She continued over the next couple of years and became quite a confident swimmer.  What has this got to do with music classes?

I have shared this story with some of my parents when they have come to the first class and then feel that it is not for their child due to lack of participation.  Some continue and some do not.  For the ones who do, we enjoy watching their children’s development, creativity, family bonding, self-esteem, confidence, emotional development, and enjoyment of music.  We, as teachers, know that other benefits are language development, self-expression, memory skills, concentration, social interaction, fine motor skills, listening, problem solving, teamwork, goal setting, and coordination. 

There is one class in particular that comes to mind.  There was a child who had just started and wanted to actively explore the room during the whole class.  The child’s mother kept apologizing for her behavior.  Little Stephanie was also in that class, singing and participating in all the activities.  The active child’s mother was surprised to find out that Stephanie was just as distracted as her child when she started music classes. 

I can relate with the parents wanting to withdraw after the first class, but am extremely delighted when the parents continue and they can see the changes in their children just as I saw the changes with my daughter.  Now she is all grown up, still loves to swim and is studying to be an early childhood specialist.  If you have a child that resists going to class or one who does not seem to participate with the other children during class, hang in there.  It is so wonderful to watch children bloom in their own time.

Susan Kirton received her Licentiate for Vocal Performance (L.C.C.M.) through Conservatory Canada, and her Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music (A.R.C.T.) for Singing Performers and Teachers.  She has taught singing, piano and Musikgarten for many years.  She has also received her Level I Orff at the University of Manitoba and Level II certification through the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association.  She is currently the Regional Representative for the Northwest Region of the ECMMA.