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Teaching kids to love music, one kazoo at a time
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A colorful parachute and ball engage kids with the music.
When do children begin to connect with music? How many songs can a toddler remember? Where can parents go to interact with their kids and actually enjoy the class themselves?
The answers can be found at The Music Train music classes with Anya Thomson.
In a gorgeous art studio in the Denver Highlands just west of downtown, Anya and the Music Train entertain infants to 4 year olds with lively songs and dance while exploring music concepts such as dynamics, pitch, rhythm, timbre, improvisation, and melody. Sitting in a circle on comfy cushions, parents and their kids sing along with Anya and her guitar to songs that are catchy, fun to sing, and virtually impossible to forget.
This is a class for kids that I, as a parent, found irresistible. Anya succeeded in converting me into someone who claps, sings, dances, and makes hand gestures in front of other adults and children. That in itself is a feat.
Musical beginnings
After years of being a skilled musician and stay-at-home-mom, Thomson founded The Music Train to replace a beloved music class at a local library. Her experience with kids and instruments became the perfect combination for parents hungry to teach their children about music – and to get out of the house with kids full of energy.
Thomson especially loves to help the more shy or timid toddlers in finding themselves through music. “I love watching them find their confidence and begin moving away from their parents lap and joyfully dance and sing with other children and families,” Thomson said. This was especially true of my son, who stood stoically through the first few classes but eventually began to participate with other kids. At home, he sang and danced to the CD that comes with the classes which includes original songs and recordings from the teachers themselves.
Thomson added, “There is a little boy who began class when he was 6 months old. He is 1 and 1/2 now and has already discovered his singing voice and is experimenting with various pitches and rhythmic patterns through his toddler babbling. It's remarkable to see this music development in action in such a young child. Music is like language, acquisition is happening before they can even speak.”
Becoming a part of the class is not only fun for the attending parent, it is a must. “A parent’s enthusiastic participation will help keep your children engaged,” said Thomson. Children learn by mimicking their parents and those around them. “Since the young child learns best through their own experimentation and play, I urge parents to simply model the music behaviors, i.e. banging the drum in rhythm, strumming the guitar.”
Becoming involved
The Music Train also sponsors The Family Concert Series every third Saturday of the month from 4-6pm at The D'Note in Arvada. Each month a different artist, showcasing music from various genres and cultures, performs an engaging show for families with young children.
Thomson is also actively engaged in the Highlands community, and it shows. Virtually every week, I would see her strumming her guitar and leading group sing-a-longs at various local events. She loves children, music, and the community of parents that have come together as a result of her classes. She enjoys seeing “parents developing new friendships and kids making their ‘first’ friends.”
This is certainly true in my experience. Many of the parents in my morning class are now friends after having fun with music and babies. Anna Domenico, a local Highlands mom, said, “I think Anya is great, and the way she keeps the music flowing nonstop really helps all of the kids adapt and enjoy themselves. She interacts with each kid in different ways based on their comfort level, which is really helpful.”
Domenico’s daughter has found comfort in the group setting and in finding her own inner, budding musician. “The instruments are especially fun for her at this age. She is also interested in the ‘other babies’ as she says. She loves seeing the different ways they interact with the music and the instruments and learns a lot by watching the other moms and kids. It's so cool to see babies natural love of music encouraged in this class.”
Sing that tune
Sessions are 10 weeks, with the Springin’ Jazz themed session beginning this week. Many sessions are still open for enrollment.
Thomson is offering a delicious incentive: the next five families to register for classes, mentioning this Examiner.com article, will receive an indulgent body product from Highlands’ own Native Wisdom Skin Care, created and developed by Jennifer Wolf. Choose from Blueberry Honey Body Wash or Lotion (made for kids but often used by the adults!).
The Music Train
Eliot Street Collective
2460 Eliot Street
Classes are Thursdays and Fridays, starting April 2, in Denver.
Classes also available in Evergreen.
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