Pretend play in Eurhythmics! Fun music education for children

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• Music school managementMinoo-shi Baiorin & Ritomikku Kyōshitsu Doruche
  Born in Osaka Prefecture. Began violin at age 4 and piano at age 5. Moved alone to Tokyo to enter the Music Department of Toho Gakuen Girls’ High School, then advanced to and graduated from the Faculty of Music at Toho Gakuen College. As a student, actively participated in competitions and music festivals in Japan and abroad (Kirishima International Music Festival, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna Summer Seminar, Mozarteum Summer Academy, etc.). Also gained extensive experience in orchestral and chamber music activities.Based on the difficult experience of childhood—when the expectations of her mother and teachers were so high that, despite her efforts, she was seldom praised or acknowledged—her fundamental teaching policy is: “First praise, acknowledge, and help students grow!”Believing that “to guide children onto a better path, in addition to violin technique and musical knowledge, I should also deepen my knowledge about children,” she taught at her home studio and at Kawai Music School while earning a nursery teacher qualification through self-study and a kindergarten teacher license via distance learning at a university. She subsequently studied Eurhythmics (rhythmic education) and researched music teaching methods that are easy for young children to understand, obtaining certification as a Eurhythmics instructor from the NPO Japan Children’s Education Center.As the number of students at her home studio increased, she left Kawai Music School. She now offers violin and Eurhythmics lessons at her home studio for learners from age 2 through adults. With the motto of providing students with experiences of “being praised and being recognized,” her guiding principles are:- Cultivate the foundational skills to freely enjoy music.- Nurture the confidence to love one’s own performance.- Develop the applied abilities to foster one’s own growth.She conducts enjoyable and meticulous lessons every day based on these ideals.- Studio website: http://violin-dolce.com/- Studio blog (violin): http://2514cf59134ccd97.lolipop.jp/BLOG/- Studio blog (Eurhythmics): http://ameblo.jp/monaka83/entry-11873625627.html- Studio Facebook page (violin): https://www.facebook.com/vnrhydolce/- Studio Facebook page (Eurhythmics): https://www.facebook.com/rhydolce

Let's enjoy music with pretend play!

At first glance it may look like they’re just playing casually, but pretend play is an activity that requires advanced imagination and creativity—moving and speaking while envisioning things that aren’t actually in front of them.Even though they’re just having fun playing, they can unknowingly develop their expressive ability, language skills, and social skills.It's the perfect activity for a child's development.

So,EurhythmicsBut I incorporate pretend play very often.

Let the flowing music take over and fully become the role as you feel it.

By doing so, children begin to discover within themselves a sense of unity with music and the joy of expression, and before long they naturally slip into a deep state of concentration.

And if it comes to that, the advantage is ours!

By repeatedly experiencing entering a state of deep focus, you’ll become able to control your concentration when it really counts!

Beginner Level | Let's Transform! Part 1: The Wizard and the Robot

Let's use motifs that kids love and enjoy make-believe play to the fullest.

First, the beginner level.

I think even a two-year-old child can easily enjoy it.

First, let's prepare a scarf.

Something like this↓By the way, the scarf is only used as a magical prop, so having one helps set the mood, but it’s fine if you don’t have it.

So, once again, we’ve prepared a video with the actual audio material used in our lessons. Please take a look below.

How to play the video

• The sound of a mage → She/He twirls a scarf and casts a spell: “Hee—nshin!” (Transform!)
• Robot sounds → Clang! Clang! Walking like a robot with stiff, jerky arms and legs

This is about alternating between two pretend-play activities and enjoying them.

1. Concentration to notice when the melody changes
2. Motor nerves that change bodily movements depending on the melody

The purpose is to cultivate it.

Even two melodies that adults can easily tell apart can be surprisingly difficult for young children.

Even if you can’t quite notice the melody changes, start by moving your body and enjoying the flow of the sound!

Once they get used to it, it’s good to say things like, “Huh? The sound changed! What sound is that?” to engage them.

As you repeat it, you’ll gradually start listening carefully on your own, and Eurhythmics will become even more fun!

Intermediate Level | Let's Transform! Part 2: The Wizard, the Robot, and the Monster

If you can enjoy the beginner level without any problems, try tackling the intermediate level next!

It gets a bit more difficult because the melodies increase to three, but since all three have distinctive characteristics, I think you’ll be able to tell them apart quickly once you get used to them!

Incidentally, the monster melodies added in the intermediate level are composed with low tones and slow movements to evoke the monsters’ size.

Please listen carefully, okay? ↓

When you become a kaiju, be mindful of the weight of your sounds and walk with strength in your legs and hips.

As a bonus, walking with a scary, kaiju-like face really gets everyone excited!

Advanced: Let’s Transform! Part 3 — A Wizard, a Robot (with Beams), and a Kaiju (with Roars)

Now, for the advanced final round.

This is a bit difficult.

Because in addition to the three melodies—wizard, robot, and kaiju—it also includes immediate responses (audio cues): the robot’s beam and the kaiju’s roar.

Kids who are used to eurhythmics or have good intuition can breeze right through it, but if not, even adults might get a little confused… maybe (lol)?

But since the robots' beam sounds and the monsters' cries are grouped into sets—robot with robot, monster with monster—if you know that, it might not be that difficult.

Translation

How was it?

Did I respond well?

The content has become more difficult because there are more sounds we have to distinguish, but this advanced section is the most exciting in our classroom lessons.

Because children usually love immediate reactions.

Everyone really loves things like robots going 'Beam!' and monsters going 'Gyao~!'.

Doing it toward a friend, doing it toward your mother, and having it done to you.

They seem to be enjoying communicating with other people.

So please give it a try at home whenever you have some free time!