SNIPPETS
MUSIC AT THE HEART OF
THE PRE-SCHOOL CURRICULUM
In 2010, scientists from Northwestern University discovered that music had an
incredible effect on people. According to them, "the effect of music training suggests
that, akin to physical exercise and its impact on body fitness, music is a resource that
tones the brain for auditory fitness and thus requires society to re-examine the role of
music in shaping individual development”.
Music has been a key learning component in Kinderland since its first kindergarten
in Singapore was established in 1978. The school strongly supports the Ministry of
Education’s latest direction to place more emphasis on developing children’s music
and physical abilities at a young age.
BRAIN AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
In 2012, a paper published in Frontiers in Cognitive Auditory Neuroscience suggested
that music enhances a child’s ability to acquire language and that music comes
before language in childhood development. Studies have also shown that exposure
to music at an early age helps to fully stimulate and engage both the left and right
brains. By repeating sounds associated with words, they remember vocabulary and
basic parts of speech.
Kinderland’s Twinkleland and Music Gems, conducted once a week for children
at the nursery level, encompasses listening, singing, rhythm training, music and
movement, music with story, and ensemble performance. These courses help
children to improve their concentration, boost self-confidence, enhance their speech,
better their expressions, and further develop sensory motor abilities, amongst others.
KEYBOARD MUSIC BENEFITS
"Piano instruction is thought to enhance the brain’s 'hard-wiring’ for spatial-temporal
reasoning, or the ability to visualise and transform objects in space and time,"
according to the late Professor Emeritus Gordon Shaw of the University of California.
Spatial-temporal reasoning is particularly important for the learning of mathematics
and science.
Kinderland's Children Music Programme is taught by professionally-qualified music
teachers. The curriculum has been specially structured to include songs and solfège
singing, rhythm and harmony training, keyboard playing, music notation reading,
and ensemble performance. Benefits include better concentration and memory,
more attentive listening, ability to express feelings better, greater sense of rhythm,
understanding of the basic rudiments of music, ability to read music scores and
appreciation of teamwork.
ALLERGIES BEGONE!
IT’S JUST LIKE MAGIC!
Deviating from traditional music teaching methods, Magic
Fiddler has developed a fun and holistic teaching approach
to kindle a passion for music and music appreciation in your
children. Their ensemble/band performance will teach your
child to become a good team player while developing their
confidence and self-esteem.
Magic Fiddler believes in using music to build good
characters. The school’s holistic approach enables your
child to develop a firm musical foundation
while gaining knowledge of rhythm, pitch,
dynamics and the history of world-renowned
composers and their works. With lessons
are conducted by highly experienced teachers,
Magic Fiddler offers a variety of instrument
courses for all ages and a range of classical
to contemporary music classes. Their syllabus is
carefully designed to suit a child's learning abilities,
with an unfaltering mission to integrate the element of
fun into all lessons for maximum musical immersion.
We’re also glad that the institute also has a new outlet
at the new OneKM shopping mall focusing on the important
artistic elements of music, dance and drawing!
Email them at [email protected], visit them at
www.magicfiddler.com or check Magic Fiddler out at the
following locations:
DELFI ORCHARD 402 Orchard Road,
#02-01/02/24, Tel: 6238 1833
JUNCTION 10 1 Woodlands Road #02-06,
Tel: 6877 0993
ONEKM #03-03/04 Tel: 6735 9652
(Open October 2014)
THE GRANDSTAND 200 Turf Club Road,
#04-02. Tel: 6463 6586
6
Family & Life • Oct 2014
Here’s a fun fact: allergic rhinitis, the medical name for
the sniffles you get when you breathe in something from
the environment that you are allergic to, affects one out of
two children in Singapore aged between four and 17. This
allergen could be anything – dust mites, cigarette smoke,
plant pollen, haze, etc. While allergies cannot be cured (at
the moment), the symptoms they trigger can be managed
with antihistamines. The easy to take ADEZIO syrup, in
Lychee Flavour, is a second-generation antihistamine, is
alcohol free and sugar free that treats your child allergy &
cold symptoms.
It is also available in tablet form. ADEZIO is a brand
suitable for both adults and children that provides 24-hour
allergy & cold relief.
ADEZIO is available at the pharmacy dispensing counter
of Guardian, Watsons, Unity, Mustafa, independent
pharmacies and clinics.
Like ADEZIO on Facebook (www.fb.com/
allergycoughcold) to receive health updates on allergies,
coughs and colds.