Another Unique Story from MacPhail Center for Music

I recently signed up to be on MacPhail's email list, and received my first e-newsletter earlier this week.  The following story is an excerpt from that newsletter, and is a great example of the unique things happening at MacPhail:

MICHAEL SAYS STOP!

Michael is an excitable toddler who receives Early Childhood Music Classes through a partnership between his pre-school and MacPhail.  

Before learning music with MacPhail, Michael had few language skills.  He did not speak, but communicated through expressive grunts and gestures.  When his friends at school could not understand him, he became frustrated and would push them and make an expression indicating that he wanted them to "stop". 

Michael was very motivated by music and loved a large African drum in his classroom.  In class, his MacPhail Early Childhood Music teacher started to sing a song that encouraged impulse control.  They sang, "We tap and we tap and we STOP."  Michael quickly caught on and after singing the song three to four times, he said his first word: "STOP". 

Michael now has a large vocabulary.  MacPhail's teaching artist who works with Michael tells us that his vocabulary has flourished.  In fact, last time she saw him he shared a story about butterflies and caterpillars with great articulation.

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