Talented Kirsty is in tune with how music enriches young lives ... in “This is Exeter”

all reviews: previous review Top cellist adds another string to bow ...

CHILDREN naturally like to sing and try and make music. But as well as being fun it can also help with their development.

It is widely recognised by experts that listening to and participating in music and movement stimulates a child’s senses, enhances their language development, improves social interaction, encourages self-expression and builds confidence.

Of course your toddler won’t know about all these added benefits — they will just like the sound it makes.

My daughter, Olivia, will burst into song at the drop of a hat and loves tapping out beats on her toy drum and xylophone.

She also likes to sway and dance whenever we play any of her favourite CDs — she is particularly good at the hokey cokey.
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So I was very interested to hear about the Music Awareness sessions that are being offered at the Whipton and Beacon Heath Children’s Centres.

They are run through Exeter Young Strings, an organisation set-up by cellist Kirsty Hugill in May 2000.

These free sessions have been funded through Youth Music and the Social Inclusion Programme and are aimed at children aged from two to four years.

We went along to the session held at the Whipton centre on Friday morning. It is a small informal group, which is led by Kirsty, who is herself a mum of two.

Parents and youngsters sit on cushions in a circle on the floor while Kirsty introduces different songs, gets the youngsters to march to different beats and even have a go at playing a musical instrument. It was a mini cello in the group I attended.

Rather than just singing along, the sessions encourage youngsters to feel the pulse and beat of the music. This in the long term will help them to learn to sing in tune.

“Introducing them to instruments at a young age and turning the activity into a game helps them to hear where their fingers should go — rather than just instructing them to put a finger in a certain place,” said Kirsty.

“This all sounds like it should be very serious. But I always try to make the sessions great fun for everyone and not hard work at all.”

Kirsty, who has been a cellist for 17 years, is passionate about getting youngsters to feel the music in the hope that it will make learning to play an instrument easier and more natural for them.

The regulars at the session Olivia and I attended certainly seemed to enjoy the classes.

Elaine Snell has been taking her 20-month-old daughter, Megan, for two weeks. “She really loves joining in and playing some of the instruments,” said Elaine.

Maria Mancini has been taking four-year-old Nadia since April and is hoping she will soon join Exeter Young Strings. She said: “Nadia really enjoys the group. She sings all the time at home and since she got to try one here is very interested in playing the violin.”

The Music Awareness Group is held at the Beacon Heath Children’s Centre on Wednesdays from 1pm-1.45pm, and at the Whipton Centre on Fridays, 11am-11.30am, More details on 01392 427063 and 01392 464754 respectively.

For information on Exeter Young Strings, contact Kirsty on 01392 460444 or email exeteryoungstrings@yahoo.co.uk, or log on to: www.exeteryoungstrings.org.

previous review Top cellist adds another string to bow ...