Thoughts on learning

This morning the MyTown Staff had a great meeting where we discussed (among other things- you know, as our Corey is an excited rambler) the experience of learning. It got me thinking. Our whole purpose in providing private lessons at Mytown is to provide a different type of learning- to blow away the barriers that our education system has built and release artists, confident and creative in their own merit into the community. So what does that look like? Are we dancing flower hippies that hoola hoop in your living room with hawaiian lays on? Or do we revolve around a structured platform of textbook learning, standardized for all students in a method book, void of personal ambitions or experiential learning? Neither, really. Mostly because I've never been able to hoola hoop. Our mission is to create a balance between an artistic student-centered curriculum that is individually defined, and that whimsical artistry that is born in a space created by a platform of freedom. Freeeeedom, the keyword. So what's it look like? Excited to find out.

On Early Childhood Development

In all honesty, it was never apart of our scope of focus to serve young children when we first began. It wasn't until the introduction to Dr. Carroll Rinehart, my mentor, where this not only changed but became a central focus for our services.

According to Dr. Rinehart, from prenatal to 4yo a child who has been exposed to both a language and experience-rich environment, he or she can have up to 40,000+ words in their vocabulary. The opposite is true that by depriving those essential elements to their development, he or she can have less than 10,000 words in their vocabulary. That is a massive neurological gap.

After 4yo the development begins to diminish rapidly and all growth in their communication, social, literacy, math, and science skills are built upon the already established foundation.

So what does this have to do with music?

Music is unique in that it is one of the only learning entrees that is both experience and language rich.

After I discovered this it really inspired me to see music empowerment as much more than even helping students enjoy and express themselves through an art form; I wanted to see MyTown Music partner with families in the process of building great individuals and contribute to a brighter future.

Meet, Polo. (16mo)