An Innisfail preschool classroom is the site of a pilot project that will help bring a musical movement program to curricula across Canada.
Students at Innisfail Community Preschool have been doing music and movement lessons based on collections compiled by Denise GagnÈ of Red Deer. On Feb. 21 GagnÈ visited the preschool to see how the kids enjoyed the collected music.
GagnÈ said she's developed music curricula for almost all grades and ages.
"Now we'd like to go lower," she said.
The music GagnÈ has written and collected has repetitive lyrics and incorporates movement into singing.
"The movement is really important for the little ones," GagnÈ said. She explained singing helps develop language skills and adding medley and movement helps the kids remember the songs better.
"Music is so important for language development. I think it's a crucial part of early childhood development," GagnÈ said.
The kids of Innisfail Community Preschool are being tapped for their favourite songs, which are titled things like Elephants have Wrinkles and Skateboard Rider.
GagnÈ said the end result from the pilot project will be used "probably all across the country." GagnÈ's programs are used all over North America and she travels across Canada and the U.S. giving workshops on music in the classroom.
Robin Mower, a preschool teacher at the Innisfail Community Preeschool, said she bought the program and has been doing it with the kids since after the winter break.
"I absolutely love it," Mower said. "They love it."
She said the music, which features the kids repeating lines after a leader and doing accompanying actions, helps develop a lot of skills in one activity.
"It's not only music but it's exercise," Mower said.
Mower said she's been doing the program with the students a couple of times a week but sometimes they ask to do it extra times.
GagnÈ said the pilot project would probably go on for at least another year.
