Since its inception more than 35 years ago, The Little Gym has used Directive Music in all of its classes, starting as young as 4 months old. Here’s why:
A natural partner to music is movement. Don Campbell, author of The Mozart Effect and The Mozart Effect for Children, states, “Movement is an absolute necessity for a toddler, and music stimulates the best kinds of movement.” The brain works by electrical current and needs oxygen and water to function well. Movement helps to provide one of these two elements, oxygen. Another wonderful thing happens with movement. The brain produces endorphins, causing a feeling of energy and making the brain more conducive to learning.
A specific type of movement, cross lateral, is necessary for the brain to be ready to learn to read. This type of movement can be done while moving to music or by tapping rhythm sticks and using different tapping patterns. It is also done while crawling, which is why it’s important for babies to crawl. Cross lateral movement enables the brain to cross the mid-section and is necessary for reading and writing.
What makes our programs at The Little Gym so successful is the use of more than one of the senses. The more senses involved in an activity, the better the success rate of learning. With rhythm sticks, we are activating speaking, hearing and feeling. We are also using both hemispheres of the brain. The real magic of music is that it not only uses both hemispheres, but each quadrant of the brain processes a different component of music. Early childhood experiences that get the child involved in the total process will yield the greatest results.
Music, along with movement, gets the whole child involved in the process of learning. Learning style researchers have found that as many as 85 percent of people are kinesthetic learners. Combining this with the fact that 99 percent of what is learned is unconscious, we must realize the impact of music and movement activities. Music activities prepare the brain for more difficult tasks needed later by preparing the brain to work from both hemispheres.
The Little Gym and Kindermusik
Starting this January, The Little Gym has teamed up with Kindermusik to create a new harmonious partnership. Children (newborn through 4 years) can now sing, dance, and learn through Kindermusik music and movement classes at The Little Gym! If that sounds like music to your ears, speak with an Instructor to learn more and enroll!
— Submitted by The Little Gym of London
