Morning Pointe resident Pat Kean speaks with one of Leslie Gardin’s students at her weekly music class.
The residents of Morning Pointe of Hixson are big fans of Gardin’s class. A coffee social immediately precedes the lesson, and it’s quickly become a favorite activity for the seniors living there to talk and interact with the young children learning the basics of music.
Each class lasts for one hour, and Gardin comes prepared with about 12 songs each week to play for the students. The goal, she said, is to get the kids up and moving to the music, which usually doesn’t take very long.Leslie Gardin has been a preschool music teacher for 15 years, but it’s only in the last few weeks that she’s been able to run a program she’s always wanted to try.
Gardin has been hosting a joint music instruction class for preschoolers and senior citizens living at Morning Pointe of Hixson, and the interaction between the tikes and seniors has been “magical,” she said.
“I’m loving how it’s going so far,” said Gardin. “Everyone is just eating it up. What’s really cool is how kids are encouraged to interact with residents.”
The one-hour classes are held each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to noon. Gardin uses the Makin’ Music program to teach the kids beforehand, and comes prepared with a CD of roughly 12 songs for each class for the kids and adults to move and groove to. Gardin said she put the idea forward to the public a few months back and garnered interest from a local home-schooling group.
The class’ success in teaching the children the foundation of music and helping both groups have fun has been so obvious, that Gardin said she is already planning on a spring session. Each session runs for about eight weeks.
“The program is very high energy,” she said. “There’s a lot of body movement, skits and props for the kids to experiment with.”
Gardin brings a bevy of things to interact with, such as ribbons, egg shakers and drums; anything the tots can get their hands on and make noise with.
The biggest benefit, though, might be the personal skills the kids are learning, she said. Having the class with the seniors prompts the children to talk and sing with them. Shyness is banished almost immediately.
“The seniors just adore it, too,” said Gardin.
One of the facility’s residents, “Ms. Betty,” approached Gardin after the first class and said it was the most fun she’d had in “forever.”
“They’re getting to know the kids, and I know they’re looking forward to seeing us every week,” Gardin said.
Gardin said she’s looking into expanding the class to more facilities around Hamilton County as it grows and develops.
For more information about the class, contact Leslie Gardin at 760-420-4026.
Email Shane Foley at sfoley@timesfreepress.com.