There is more to the enjoyment of music than simply using one’s ears. That would appear to be the most basic ideology of Poornodaya Vidyanikethan, a school following an alternative educational approach towards a Holistic Learning Experience. Making music for oneself was once a very basic form of education, entertainment and personal fulfilment. Since the development of recordings, however, most are content to listen passively. But is listening ever wholly passive? Percy Afreen, thought not.
On the early morning of Saturday, 10th of February,2018, the lush green campus of Poornodaya Vidyanikethan appeared lively with the little children playing in the park on rainbow coloured see saw ,rocking toy and others with cheerful morning music playing in the background. The first session was a singing exercise to learn the basic musical notes of Solfege Do Re Mi which was really a first-hand experience for the children as they had never heard them before. The children were then asked to colour two paper plates with designs as they wish. The lovely coloured paper plates were then stapled together with raw rice between them and colourful woollen thread were tied up on the holes punched around. The result was a personalised handmade tambourine. The children had great fun in shaking the tambourine in different rhythms.
“Learning to sing is incomplete without an instrument and moreover I wanted the children to make one with their own hands which gives them an enriching experience to play with colours and their little hands are at work too. This makes them very much involved in the making of music not just with their head but with their hand and heart as well.”, explained Percy Afreen, Curriculum Developer at Poornodaya Vidyanikethan and a trained singer, who was conducting the workshop.
After singing the Do Re Mi with the tambourine and then in turns of groups ,Percy then introduced the song 500 miles by Hardy Forst .The children were made to sing with karaoke that made them feel thrilled. After having fruits snacks, the children then formed a toy train to march down to the green campus of the school.
“Be still and listen, the earth is singing.” The Mother Nature is a home for all, and children were asked to listen to the different sounds around them standing in a big circle with the instructors. They then had their hands, legs, heads and even their little bumps shaking and dancing to the fun song ”Hookey Pookey!”.The little children burst out into laughter and smiled at each other having fun, singing and dancing. The workshop ended with the opposites action song, which was an amusing way for them to learn the basic opposites like “Open and Close”, “Big and Small”, ”Fast and Slow” and many more.
“My son really had a great time singing and dancing, He is really proud of the handmade tambourine he would be taking home a souvenir. Thanks to Poornodaya Vidyankethan and I really look forward for such workshop to send my son to.” quoted Mercy Biju, a teacher and mother residing in Kuravilngad.
Neena George Kunnath
Poornodaya Vidyanikethan