The Science behind Music and MR PIWI

  By using music, we can engage and strengthen these mental powers, which in turn makes us better learners at anything we attempt to learn.

Memory 

Music that is learned as a child is stored in the brain in an area that is the last to degenerate.  Songs you learn as a child you will take with you to the grave, even if you remember nothing else.   By repeatedly singing the lessons in Honeysuckle Cottage, the lessons  become permanent.

Reason

There have been many scientific studies that show a link between music and language learning.  Early music training before age seven has been shown to increase the number of words a child can remember.  Other studies have shown that music training for preschoolers can help them in later years in areas of mathematics  and science skills.  

Perception

Music is so powerful that it can make us see things that are not even there!  Music affects us emotionally and it can be a valuable tool in helping children overcome emotional blocks to learning.  Music can be a mood shifter and can help children achieve small learning goals easily.  These small victories can encourage a child, who then becomes ready both academically and emotionally to progress.

Imagination

Music can help children relax and enjoy creative thinking, new ideas and tackling new skills.  

Will

Because music engages both our physical senses as well as “MR PIWI” (the higher mental skills), music can help a child maintain focus on the material and move new information into longterm memory.  

Intuition

An interesting study from Stanford University in 2007 showed that music literally lights up our entire brain.  It “primes the brain to pay attention”.  Music helps us to understand our feelings and to interpret the world around us.

What makes music so valuable for the young learner?

• M   Multi-layered, Multi-Sensory Lessons

Through the simple songs in Honeysuckle Cottage, the children can learn not only vocabulary words but also study other subjects such as science and mathematics.  Listening skills as well as communication skills are being developed.

• U     Unique expression and Universal Appeal

By giving children a chance to ignite their imagination, they can learn to express their opinions and ideas about the books and songs.  Children are naturally drawn to music and rhythm, so the lesson becomes very engaging for them.

• S    Structure and Stress Patterns

The words to the songs in Honeysuckle Cottage were carefully crafted to help young learners understand the stressed words in a sentence and to understand the rise and fall of words within a sentence.  English is a musical language, and music is the natural vehicle to carry young learners through a successful lesson.

• I       Instinctive and Intuitive

Babies will turn to the sound of music and young learners will naturally move to the beat of a rhythm.  When that natural response to rhythm is combined with vocabulary and patterned sentences, learning becomes intuitive.

• C     Connection

One of the key factors for a healthy self-esteem is a sense of belonging.  Music offers an excellent opportunity to connect with the group, with the teacher and with their own ideas, feelings and emotions.  

The Power of Music

The easiest way of creating a harmonious balance of the mind and body for young learners  is through music.

• Music Moves Us

In the area of the body, music moves our bodies.  We are the only creatures on the planet that move to the beat of music.  Some birds and animals can be trained in this, but in humans, it is an inborn “gift”.    When children incorporate gestures and movement into their learning, they are in the  process of active learning.

• Music Soothes Us

In the area of the mind, music can relax us and help us to enjoy learning.  New progressive ideas can flow.  Music-based learning moves us to be more open and positive.  

• Music Enthuses Us

The word enthusiasm comes from the greek words “en theos”, which means in God (in Spirit, in the power of the universe).   We have amazing powers which we can tap into, and music serves as a bridge to help you strengthen and engage these amazing mental powers.

And once again you have become HAPPY (Harmonious, Active, Progressive, Positive You).

The Magic of Music

Music offers an abundance of learning opportunities for youngsters.  When we look at the the word “music”, we begin to understand its possibilities.  The most common definition, coined by Edgard Varese, is “organized sound” ; however, the Greek meaning of the word shows the real possibilities of music.  

In ancient Greece, the word mousike was used to mean any of the arts or sciences governed by the Muses.   In the European middle ages, musica was part of the four essential subjects of mathematics.  These four subjects were arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy.  The preparatory work was grammar, logic and rhetoric (speaking).  These seven arts comprised the liberal arts education of the Renaissance and is the basis of liberal arts education as we know it.  Music was considered to be one of the keys to unlocking the world around them.

In addition to using their physical bodies to learn, young learners also use their mental powers to explore the world around them. These mental powers are our “superpowers” and they are Memory, Reason, Perception, Imagination, Will and Intuition.  I have given these powers the nickname MR PIWI™ to stand for each of these “superpowers”.  Developing these mental abilities is crucial for becoming a successful HAPPY learner.  Processing information from the mind and incorporating it into physical learning is top down learning, going from the mind to the body.

MR PIWI (Memory, Reason, Perception, Imagination, Will, Intuition)

When young learners have an idea, they can call on “MR PIWI” to give them the information they need to successfully explore the world and to solve any challenges along the way.

Honeysuckle Cottage uses music as a bridge between these two learning processes and can help young learners connect both methods of processing information.  When these learning tools are combined, you create a “star”, a HAPPY LEARNER.

How the HAPPY Learning Process Works

Part one of the Happy Learning process is "Bottom Up" learning, moving from the physical body to the mind.  Young learners naturally use their physical bodies to learn.  They explore the world with their five senses and by movement. Young learners especially like to learn by using their hands. Honeysuckle Cottage utilizes this tactile learning with built in games such as flaps to open, a spinner, stickers and cards.  It also utilizes movement and gestures to reinforce meanings of words in a physical way.  This is learning from physical to mental or bottom up learning.  When young learners have an idea, they want to express it in a physical way, for example sing a song, do a dance, draw a picture, or have a pretend game about it.  They want to make their idea physical.  Tomorrow let's take a look at the opposite way of learaning, "Top Down Learning".    See you tomorrow!

The Steps to HAPPY Learning (I'M HAPPY)

•  Imagine It

We can start the creative learning engine by engaging the imagination.  Show the children the cover to the book and ask some questions.  

•  Mix with the Magic of Music 

Enjoy the rhythm, the instruments and the beat of the music to help your child intuit what the book is about.  

•  Hear It

Once their imagination is sparked, let the children hear the song and see the images.  We use our ears to hear, but we think in images.  As the children hear the song, they can understand the meanings of the words through the simple images in the book.  

•  Activate It

Young children are naturally active and want to touch things, spin things, open things, and move things.  Each book in Honeysuckle Cottage has a game designed to engage the physical senses and to build learning skills such as memory, deductive thinking, perception, imagination, concentration and predicting.  

•  Pronounce It

The next step is to repeat the key words so that the child knows how to correctly say the key words.   By listening to and repeating the Cool Key Words track,  the child can become familiar with the key words and can start to sing along.

•  Perform It

Gestures and movement are a great tool for helping children understand the meanings of the words.  By turning each book into a performance with music, words and movement, confidence is gained and the child learns how to harmonize the mind with the body.  A little performance, which can be as simple as a morning song time, can be a small goal that every child can successfully achieve.

•  Yours Through Correct Repeition

We all grow up hearing “Practice makes perfect.”  Unfortunately, this is not true.  Practice makes permanent or as the famous football coach, Vince Lombardi said, “Practice does not make perfect.  Only perfect practice makes perfect.”  Correct repetition is key to learning any skill whether it be football, playing the piano or learning to read.  By reviewing the music, words, games, and images often and finding creative ways to explore Honeysuckle Cottage,  your child  will be well on his or her way to HAPPY LEARNING THROUGH MUSIC. 

Tomorrow, let's get into How the Happy Learning Process Works.

Recipe for a HAPPY Learner

• I  - Ignite the Imagination
• M - Mix in the Magic of Music
• H  - Hear the Songs while looking at the pictures
• A -  Mix in Activities that stimulate the mind
• P  - Pronounce It
• P -  Add in the Spice of Performing it with Gestures
• Y -  Repeat and top it off with related activities until it is Yours

In this blog, we will use these ingredients to explore the concepts of each book.  The activities are varied and can be made age appropriate.  Some activities are designed for children as young as two years of age and some can be enjoyed by children as old as ten.   Please pick and choose the activities that will make Honeysuckle Cottage come alive for your child.

What does a HAPPY Learner look like?

The Science behind Music and MR PIWI

  By using music, we can engage and strengthen these mental powers, which in turn makes us better learners at anything we attempt to learn.

Memory 

Music that is learned as a child is stored in the brain in an area that is the last to degenerate.  Songs you learn as a child you will take with you to the grave, even if you remember nothing else.   By repeatedly singing the lessons in Honeysuckle Cottage, the lessons  become permanent.

Reason

There have been many scientific studies that show a link between music and language learning.  Early music training before age seven has been shown to increase the number of words a child can remember.  Other studies have shown that music training for preschoolers can help them in later years in areas of mathematics  and science skills.  

Perception

Music is so powerful that it can make us see things that are not even there!  Music affects us emotionally and it can be a valuable tool in helping children overcome emotional blocks to learning.  Music can be a mood shifter and can help children achieve small learning goals easily.  These small victories can encourage a child, who then becomes ready both academically and emotionally to progress.

Imagination

Music can help children relax and enjoy creative thinking, new ideas and tackling new skills.  

Will

Because music engages both our physical senses as well as “MR PIWI” (the higher mental skills), music can help a child maintain focus on the material and move new information into longterm memory.  

Intuition

An interesting study from Stanford University in 2007 showed that music literally lights up our entire brain.  It “primes the brain to pay attention”.  Music helps us to understand our feelings and to interpret the world around us.

What makes music so valuable for the young learner?

• M   Multi-layered, Multi-Sensory Lessons

Through the simple songs in Honeysuckle Cottage, the children can learn not only vocabulary words but also study other subjects such as science and mathematics.  Listening skills as well as communication skills are being developed.

• U     Unique expression and Universal Appeal

By giving children a chance to ignite their imagination, they can learn to express their opinions and ideas about the books and songs.  Children are naturally drawn to music and rhythm, so the lesson becomes very engaging for them.

• S    Structure and Stress Patterns

The words to the songs in Honeysuckle Cottage were carefully crafted to help young learners understand the stressed words in a sentence and to understand the rise and fall of words within a sentence.  English is a musical language, and music is the natural vehicle to carry young learners through a successful lesson.

• I       Instinctive and Intuitive

Babies will turn to the sound of music and young learners will naturally move to the beat of a rhythm.  When that natural response to rhythm is combined with vocabulary and patterned sentences, learning becomes intuitive.

• C     Connection

One of the key factors for a healthy self-esteem is a sense of belonging.  Music offers an excellent opportunity to connect with the group, with the teacher and with their own ideas, feelings and emotions.  

The Power of Music

The easiest way of creating a harmonious balance of the mind and body for young learners  is through music.

• Music Moves Us

In the area of the body, music moves our bodies.  We are the only creatures on the planet that move to the beat of music.  Some birds and animals can be trained in this, but in humans, it is an inborn “gift”.    When children incorporate gestures and movement into their learning, they are in the  process of active learning.

• Music Soothes Us

In the area of the mind, music can relax us and help us to enjoy learning.  New progressive ideas can flow.  Music-based learning moves us to be more open and positive.  

• Music Enthuses Us

The word enthusiasm comes from the greek words “en theos”, which means in God (in Spirit, in the power of the universe).   We have amazing powers which we can tap into, and music serves as a bridge to help you strengthen and engage these amazing mental powers.

And once again you have become HAPPY (Harmonious, Active, Progressive, Positive You).

The Magic of Music

Music offers an abundance of learning opportunities for youngsters.  When we look at the the word “music”, we begin to understand its possibilities.  The most common definition, coined by Edgard Varese, is “organized sound” ; however, the Greek meaning of the word shows the real possibilities of music.  

In ancient Greece, the word mousike was used to mean any of the arts or sciences governed by the Muses.   In the European middle ages, musica was part of the four essential subjects of mathematics.  These four subjects were arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy.  The preparatory work was grammar, logic and rhetoric (speaking).  These seven arts comprised the liberal arts education of the Renaissance and is the basis of liberal arts education as we know it.  Music was considered to be one of the keys to unlocking the world around them.

In addition to using their physical bodies to learn, young learners also use their mental powers to explore the world around them. These mental powers are our “superpowers” and they are Memory, Reason, Perception, Imagination, Will and Intuition.  I have given these powers the nickname MR PIWI™ to stand for each of these “superpowers”.  Developing these mental abilities is crucial for becoming a successful HAPPY learner.  Processing information from the mind and incorporating it into physical learning is top down learning, going from the mind to the body.

MR PIWI (Memory, Reason, Perception, Imagination, Will, Intuition)

When young learners have an idea, they can call on “MR PIWI” to give them the information they need to successfully explore the world and to solve any challenges along the way.

Honeysuckle Cottage uses music as a bridge between these two learning processes and can help young learners connect both methods of processing information.  When these learning tools are combined, you create a “star”, a HAPPY LEARNER.

How the HAPPY Learning Process Works

Part one of the Happy Learning process is "Bottom Up" learning, moving from the physical body to the mind.  Young learners naturally use their physical bodies to learn.  They explore the world with their five senses and by movement. Young learners especially like to learn by using their hands. Honeysuckle Cottage utilizes this tactile learning with built in games such as flaps to open, a spinner, stickers and cards.  It also utilizes movement and gestures to reinforce meanings of words in a physical way.  This is learning from physical to mental or bottom up learning.  When young learners have an idea, they want to express it in a physical way, for example sing a song, do a dance, draw a picture, or have a pretend game about it.  They want to make their idea physical.  Tomorrow let's take a look at the opposite way of learaning, "Top Down Learning".    See you tomorrow!

The Steps to HAPPY Learning (I'M HAPPY)

•  Imagine It

We can start the creative learning engine by engaging the imagination.  Show the children the cover to the book and ask some questions.  

•  Mix with the Magic of Music 

Enjoy the rhythm, the instruments and the beat of the music to help your child intuit what the book is about.  

•  Hear It

Once their imagination is sparked, let the children hear the song and see the images.  We use our ears to hear, but we think in images.  As the children hear the song, they can understand the meanings of the words through the simple images in the book.  

•  Activate It

Young children are naturally active and want to touch things, spin things, open things, and move things.  Each book in Honeysuckle Cottage has a game designed to engage the physical senses and to build learning skills such as memory, deductive thinking, perception, imagination, concentration and predicting.  

•  Pronounce It

The next step is to repeat the key words so that the child knows how to correctly say the key words.   By listening to and repeating the Cool Key Words track,  the child can become familiar with the key words and can start to sing along.

•  Perform It

Gestures and movement are a great tool for helping children understand the meanings of the words.  By turning each book into a performance with music, words and movement, confidence is gained and the child learns how to harmonize the mind with the body.  A little performance, which can be as simple as a morning song time, can be a small goal that every child can successfully achieve.

•  Yours Through Correct Repeition

We all grow up hearing “Practice makes perfect.”  Unfortunately, this is not true.  Practice makes permanent or as the famous football coach, Vince Lombardi said, “Practice does not make perfect.  Only perfect practice makes perfect.”  Correct repetition is key to learning any skill whether it be football, playing the piano or learning to read.  By reviewing the music, words, games, and images often and finding creative ways to explore Honeysuckle Cottage,  your child  will be well on his or her way to HAPPY LEARNING THROUGH MUSIC. 

Tomorrow, let's get into How the Happy Learning Process Works.

Recipe for a HAPPY Learner

• I  - Ignite the Imagination
• M - Mix in the Magic of Music
• H  - Hear the Songs while looking at the pictures
• A -  Mix in Activities that stimulate the mind
• P  - Pronounce It
• P -  Add in the Spice of Performing it with Gestures
• Y -  Repeat and top it off with related activities until it is Yours

In this blog, we will use these ingredients to explore the concepts of each book.  The activities are varied and can be made age appropriate.  Some activities are designed for children as young as two years of age and some can be enjoyed by children as old as ten.   Please pick and choose the activities that will make Honeysuckle Cottage come alive for your child.

What does a HAPPY Learner look like?