Early music experiences in childhood can accelerate brain development, typically responsible for process sound, acquire languages, perceive speeches, and improve reading skills: a five-year University of South California's Brain and Creativity study notes in 2017.
The university partnered up with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and the Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) back in 2012 to commence a study that examines the impact of music instruction on children's social, emotional, and cognitive developments. The study showed that music instruction sped up the auditory pathway's maturity in the brain and increased the brain's efficiency.
However, music does not only help a child to achieve in class academically. It also ignites the brain's part that improves emotional intelligence, social capabilities, motor skills, and overall literacy adoptions. Exposing early education to music helps them identify differences in words and musical notes' sounds and meanings and then assists them in self-expression and communication. Essentially, early childhood education is a term that encourages holistic learnings for children whose age group here starts from birth to around six years old. It is one of the most critical periods in a child's life, as it signifies their initial communication and interaction with parents, peers, teachers, and others. It is also the time when they develop an interest in their lives. Infusing music will improve their emotional intelligence, and help children synchronize their minds and bodies.
Early childhood education is rather complex, and misconceptions on its importance often occur. Many think that basic living skills, for instance, eating, cleaning, and dressing are sufficient, while the stage identifies children’s introduction to social and emotional intelligence, as well as communication, and partnership skills. This has to be done right, though. Holistic education to a child's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs will lay a concrete foundation for lifelong education. Music is powerful to build such a base, and the process is crucial to give a holistic learning experience for both children and parents.
Music and its learning process must become a medium, which highlights joy while learning for children. Think about listening to them stammering the piano's keys but successfully playing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. How does that make you feel as a parent? And how do you think your child feels? Pure joy.
Ensiklomusika Music School is highly particular about early education. The team of educators and Rose Mystica, the founder, have been working together religiously to shape the school as a holistic educational platform through music, instruments, and other complementary elements. During her early years in education, Rose noticed a need to create a safe place for children to learn musical instruments, and turned her school into one. Rose, understanding the holistic approach of music, shapes Ensiklomusika Music School to break the norm, which approaches learning music uniquely.
She carefully built the curriculum of Mini Melody. It is a unique program made especially for toddlers, to help them grasp basic musical ideas and their execution since the early years.
“I saw a pattern whereby children struggle to comprehend foundational musical ideas, such as dynamic and tempo variations,” Rose said, “This is caused by lack of education to musical experience when they were younger. Mini Melody accommodates and prevents the phenomenon to reoccur.”
Mini Melody is a children-focused program specially curated for children aged 1,5 to 3-year-old children. The program signifies the importance of integrating music into early education, which introduces children to musical instruments through diversified methods. The syllabus infuses basic music therapy aspects, which are customized to educate music and soft skills for toddlers. Each class focuses on a group of four to five pairs of parents-toddlers to maintain concentration, and requires parents to participate actively in class. In the class, the instructor will introduce children to the elements of music, for instance, dynamic, tempo, and timbre variations. The learning process incorporates physical movements, different musical instruments - from rhythmic to melodic, and various loudness. Additionally, Mini Melody also encourages the development of children’s soft skills, for instance, sharing, positive attitude, patience, gratitude, to even something as simple as tidying up.
"Mini Melody does not only train children to keep the right tempo in music, should they decide to continue music," Rose said, "It also infuses soft skills habits in class, which helps to accelerate their brain development to help lay the groundwork for a child's overall education."