As children head to kinder and school for the first time, early childhood music advocate Beverley Omsky has launched a musical education program, to aid learning and development for children.
Omsky is an early childhood music specialist who is passionate about the power of music in the learning and development journey for children. Her latest musical creation, Adventures at Humminghive, is a fun, musical and educational journey for kids aged two to six years old and is the result of her life’s work learning, teaching and designing musical programs for pre and primary schools, refugees and for her private music education practice.
Omsky describes Adventures at Humminghive as a musical, interactive life skills program for young children.
“The different episodes within Adventures at Humminghive include singing, musical role-play, musical activities and musical storytelling which teach children a long list of necessary life skills such as honesty, turn taking, co-operation, mutual respect, social inclusion, mindfulness, being present and more that they will need every day”.
Omsky says research continually shows the benefits of exposure to music for children and its value in developing life and learning skills that remain with them forever.
She says it’s “a shame to realise how much music is valued in Australia, with the NDIS music therapy programs under attack – but learning and developing via music is perfect for children as it’s easy to understand and the outcomes remain with the children long after the lessons end”.
With the ban on social media for those under sixteen looming, Omsky believes music making could be one of the tools for parents to help children find another activity to fill in the time that children will have available and help smooth the transition away from socials.
She says there are many positive impacts of including music learning in the life of a young child and says it’s not surprising that studies show the benefits of early childhood music making include:
- Students involved in music programs during primary school are more likely to complete high school and pursue higher education compared to their peers who did not participate in music education
- Music training positively impacts spatial-temporal skills, which are crucial for mathematics, and supports improvements in verbal memory and reading skills, essential for overall academic success
- Music education facilitates emotional expression, helping children manage their feelings, while group music-making encourages social skills and cohesion
- Children who participated in music lessons showed significant changes in brain structures related to auditory processing, motor skills, and language
- Music education provides children with a sense of achievement, self-expression, and emotional resilience, improving their overall wellbeing
- Music education enhances creativity, with musically trained children demonstrating more innovative approaches to problem-solving tasks
- Music programs help close educational gaps, offering opportunities for children from under-resourced areas to engage in enriching educational experiences
“Music is a universal language encouraging child to express themselves and a way to instil sensitivity and connection,” says Omsky.
“It is impossible to understate the importance of music in early education for children’s emotional and social development.”
