The free classes offer singing, moving, and instrument playing activities designed by music education students with help from faculty and practicing music educators, which means WMU students are getting hands-on experience while enriching the lives of young people in the community.
One WMU student, Colby Stackhouse, explained why music education is important. “Music is one of the few activities that involve every part of the brain. Students involved in music will perform and learn better in the math, English, and science fields. I wish I was introduced to music at such a young age.”
Stackhouse, who plans to be a high school band director, has learned a great deal from the experience. “The most challenging thing I have done with the Saturday Music Lab is learning to become comfortable with teaching really young elementary children.”
He also said that he learned some things that he couldn’t have learned in any other classes. “The biggest and best thing I learned with the Saturday Music Lab is that music can really be taught at some level to all ages.”
“My best memories come from seeing kids come in with no enthusiasm, only to see them dancing in their class to the music just an hour later. The environment and music allows them to relax and realize that everyone is there to do the same thing. They also get to play instruments, and seeing their concentrated faces when they do so is just awesome.”
Posted by Samantha Macy
The above photo features area students learning basic drumming from a WMU student volunteer.