Red, Then P!NK

The colour red was described last week as a “traffic stopper” in our driving experience. Let us now turn our attention to pink, a very prominent colour on the music scene right now... The female mega talent known as Pink, has a hit on her hands with her latest single-...One Last Kiss. As I listen, I am immersed in a world of my own...

Music is a shared experience, not just to be played ‘in your ear’, oblivious to those around you.  It is a powerful life force that has the ability to create social change, to alter our emotional state, to empower us as we live our lives. When Pink’s newest single was played for the first time, I could not believe my ears! It reminded me of another hit, sung by the incredibly talented American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson (...“Stronger”) Then there is Payphone by Maroon 5, another ‘what is the name of that song’ favourite that gives pleasure to so many people, including me!

As mentioned in a previous blog, music and dance have the power to empower and  enthrall children, and bully-proof them. In the final analysis, the only way to deal with bullies is to empower our children, to help them develop the inner strength and fortitude necessary to 'ignore' the bully when he/she comes comes calling.

In “A Hat, A Mat, and Music” I  presented a simple formula to introduce music in an unorthodox way into the primary at-risk classroom... Children require whole body/mind education for body/mind health leading to positive learning outcomes.  Engaging the five or six senses of the body also engages the mind in a multitude of ways for academic success. We cripple our our children when music is not treated with the same respect as are other 'academic' subjects...  Its simple inclusion creates a healthy climate for limitless learning. ... Focusing only on curriculum reduces education’s effectiveness! Let teachers decide whether today is not a good day for ‘reading’, ‘writing’ and ‘arithmetic’. Music - in all its forms - has the power to teach, engage and empower children!

My test subjects have always been our boys, now men, who at a very young age included girls in their party mix. (It was a given.) Allowing the separation of boys and girls to remain - as in all male/female households - is to handicap both sexes. The world is made up of a mix of both. To that end, both should be a part of  the early socialization process. Music can be a wonderful first step in this goal. It is truly the ultimate party mixer!

Music is my passion. It possesses the power to heal, to empower. It is self-expression at its best. (Perhaps that is why I enjoy public speaking)...Self-esteem, self-image and confidence soar when children are exposed to music early in their socialization. Music is an easy first step in equipping our little ones with the necessary tools to learn about the world around them. It helps to break down stereotypical barriers that may exist. After all, we are all the same on the ‘dance floor’...