Music is all around us and provides positivity in life. Music is considered academic, physical, and, emotional.
Academically, children who take music lessons become stronger in core classes like math; learning and instrument and how to keep rhythm is quite physical; while, music is also an art, which allows people to express themselves and their emotions.
It fosters the development of creativity in youth and creative minds are important to assist in making discoveries in the world.
Locally, Brittany Aalbers of Manor (originally from Carlyle), a music teacher, recently spoke to the importance of ensuring music programs are available for youth.
“At 2 or 3-years-old music became a big part of me; I have a super musical family background, on both sides,” she explains. “My mom said that they would put music on and I would be singing, dancing, or humming along.”
“I then began lessons at 4 or 5-years-old.”
Aalbers’ love of music has led her to learn to sing, play the piano, obo, guitar (electric, acoustic, and bass), as well as the drums, and she is looking to pick up violin this fall.
“I like to expand my knowledge as much as I can,” Aalbers says. “If I can get my hands on lessons, I’m game.”
Last year Aalbers taught lessons in Lampman where she taught approximately 40 youth in either piano or voice lessons, although she did teach one ukulele and another guitar.
“I’m on maternity leave right now, so I only took six students this year,” she explains. “But this fall I’m looking at going to five different towns once each week: Redvers, Manor, Carlyle, Arcola, and Lampman.”
Aalbers commends the work of Michele Amy and her Kitchen Party pointing to the popularity of fiddling in the southeast as proof of success in music.
“Music has been scientifically proven to help kids learn and develop coping strategies,” Aalbers states. “It also connects everyone. We might listen to different styles of music, which attract people in different ways, but enjoying music is something everyone has in common.”
“I know first hand that music makes a different because it has helped my boys immensely. My first son was developmentally delayed due to a heart problem; so, I started music therapy with him and now he learns very fast and he even sits and tries to play the piano.”
“Music is for everyone; from 0 to 150 – or however old the longest lifespan is – because its beneficial for everyone. There’s work being done in homes of elderly people with Alzheimer’s who –listening to music from when they were younger – can begin remembering bits of their past. Music helps with how we process things.”
“Music is my passion; it’s what gets me through the day.”
