We heard about Mrs. M's new class just before it started its first summer session. Our kids were already involved in activities for the summer, but Mrs. M's music skills are of a caliber that this was an opportunity not to be missed. Still, for a first class for young kids (early grade school) I expected little more than the usual songs I knew, a bit of Do-Re-Mi, and good music basics. I was so excited the first day they came home singing multiple verses of a song I had never heard before (a traditional African greeting song), which clearly wasn't the basic "Twinkle Twinkle" kind of song that all kids seem to know. This continued through each day of the camp, and at the final recital/program it was amazing to see how much music they, along with an older class, had learned. Not only were songs learned, but the history behind songs was conveyed, which our kids then relayed to us each day, helping the children appreciate the basis for songs from musicals, as well as traditional songs from around the world. It seems that Mrs. M believes children naturally can learn music, that music is part of who we (all people) are, and her experience and skills make her able to accomplish tasks with kids in a couple weeks that I probably could never do, despite my background in music. The final program also included an activity for families involving a traditional maypole, which I was sure would be fun, but I did not expect it to actually work; once again Mrs. M's confidence in the children and their families paid off as the maypole was wrapped, and then just to show it could be done, unwrapped by group effort following old traditions. If you have the opportunity to enroll yourself or those you love, with or without music ability, in Mrs. M's class, you will not be disappointed. She loves music, loves teaching it, and believes that people of all ages can find joy in musical expression, and that is what she facilitates, bringing out abilities others may not know they have.

Holly Burgemeister

Parent