2 Review:Infant music play with day class

It was our second Eurhythmics class, and this time we explored the xylophone. A smaller number of children attended than last time; only five participated, resulting in a comfortably sized group. With five children and five fathers present, we had ample space for playing and even some ball-throwing. Given the rain today and the forecast for continued rain, it seems likely that weather may affect attendance.

The class began with warm-up exercises; this time, the instructor added a delightful personal touch, singing each child’s name to a pleasant piano melody. My son, unlike last time, was not fully engaged. Last time, he had a short nap beforehand, but not today. He was initially hesitant to participate, but eventually enjoyed the standing movement activities. The program consisted of four segments: warm-up, xylophone playing, bouncing balls, and bubble play. During the warm-up, my son attentively listened to and mimicked the rhythmic sounds and singing he had heard at home.

The xylophone session was delightful. The instructor patiently guided us through the sounds and names of each key. The tempo varied pleasantly, from fast to slow, with graceful pauses. We listened attentively for changes in tempo and the signals to stop. He skillfully played the xylophone with both hands, while the teacher accompanied on the piano and sang along with a microphone.

Playing a musical instrument requires a level of concentration I hadn’t previously realized. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to observe others playing. The highlight was a watermelon-like bouncing ball. The game involved children and fathers sitting apart, gently rolling the ball and chanting “ro~~~ll~~~ing” while catching and throwing it with the same chant, “th~~row~~~ing.” All the children enjoyed playing ball with their fathers, and many fathers had extra balls, resulting in some gentle kicking. It was safe to kick the bouncing balls; the children tried to kick them hard, but the balls didn’t travel far. Throwing the balls was similar.

Following bubble playtime, we have a session of bouncing ball playtime accompanied by music. Music is always incorporated; sometimes it’s background music, and other times she plays the piano. Afterwards, everyone enjoys snacks, and each child receives a xylophone as a souvenir. It was a delightful experience. The present we received was different from our usual classroom sessions; each xylophone note was clearly distinguishable. Thank you for your dedication to building relationships with the children and their fathers.