Teacher workshop on Early Childhood Music Education at The Study School

“The world is in great need of more music education. When students play music, it allows a part of their artistic mind to express itself, which is very important in helping to balance a child intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally.” Paul Reed Smith

On March 9, 2024, The Study School organised a presentation to train teachers on how to integrate music in their teaching methods. Ms Shivani Wazir Pasrich, school director and her faculty presented various techniques designed to apply different aspects of music in the classroom. These techniques included vocal warm-ups, rhythmic skills, listening activities, mindfulness and storytelling with music. 

Maestro Saskia Rao-de Haas and her team ‘Sangeet4All’ served as mentors for the afternoon. Maestro Saskia Rao-de Haas is a renowned Dutch musician and composer known for her deeply evocative music and technical virtuosity. 

Educators from various Delhi schools attended the session, and The Indian School-Second Shift was represented by Ms Reena Wahi, Ms Neera Bhagat, and Ms Anjum Tandon. 

Music education has played a significant role in our development as individuals and as a society. It has been used for entertainment, healing, bringing people together, and education. Music stimulates the brain, exposes students to wider vocabulary and provides exposure to different languages.

During the workshop, the teachers were introduced to fun variations of popular songs such as "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," "Natkhat Chuha," "Hum Jungle Mein Gaye," and "Hello/Namaste." They also learned SaReGaMa body games and listened to a musical story called "Tansen Finds a Guru." 

The highlight of the session was the "Animal Choir Presentation," which received a standing ovation from the audience. The host school's teachers curated a melody consisting of different animal sounds, which was a treat to the ears.

The workshop concluded with the school director thanking the mentors, participating teachers, and the audience for their contribution to making the "Educating the Educators" series a grand success. The workshop was an enriching experience for the educators, as they learned how to seamlessly integrate music into their curriculum, improve their vocal abilities, and create a calm and peaceful classroom environment.