The joy of music is brought to Northford Preschool Academy!

Music Class Taught by Erin Roche

After bringing her daughter to a music and movement class - Music Together - Erin Roche realized that teaching this program was what she had been looking for. Combining her love of music and children into one, made this a perfect fit. Erin has a BA in Psychology and taught preschool for 13 years and Kindergarten for 5 yrs. A registered and certified Music Together teacher in Wallingford at My Music Room, Erin has been teaching the program for 5 years. Erin is from Kensington, CT where she lives with her husband Tom and daughter Emily who is 7 years old.

She is very excited to come share the joy of music with us this year!

Erin’s favorite quote:
Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn't music. ~William Stafford

Why is music great for development in early childhood?

• Socially, music is a natural connection tool- it brings people together and helps them interact with one another. ("The Parent Line" vol. 10 issue 1)
  • Children who grow up hearing music, singing songs, and moving to the beat are enjoying a "rich sensory environment." In other words, they are exposed to a wide variety of tastes, smells, textures, colors and sounds. Researchers believe that these experiences forge more pathways between the cells in the brain. (Preschool music.com)
• Physical development- Put on music and children will naturally begin to move. They will be exploring rhythm, timing, orientation, and coordination, sense of direction, control of their own body, balance, and agility. ("The Parent Line" vol. 10 issue 1)
  • Cognitive development- 90 % of brain development occurs before the age of 5. Music helps make connections in the brain. Music provides children with a chance to build on their knowledge of words and sounds,, sequence events, anticipate changes and patterns. They are building connections in the brain. ("The Parent Line" vol. 10 issue 1)

CAT scans have shown that 1/2 the brain processes the words in a song and the other 1/2 processes the music. Music also stimulates frontal lobes of the brain which are important to both language and motor development (Karen Perles "Music and Movement: Is it Really that Important?, 2009)