I’m delighted that this PR was picked up by Maidenhead Advertiser, who sent a photographer and gave the event a lovely write-up. And, as a result of the Advertiser article, BBC Berkshire will be interviewing Lyn live on 7th February! To find out more, please check out the article on Lyn’s website.
[tweetmeme source= “catherineosborn” only_single=false]Music Matters, the highly popular music class for 0-11 year olds, is celebrating its 10th birthday this week and to mark the occasion, pupils have decided to don fancy dress to raise money for Rosie’s Rainbow Fund, a local charity that provides support to sick children and their families. The charity is particularly special to Music Matters as it counts founder Carolyn Mayling’s son amongst its attendees and another of its pupils benefited from music therapy provided by the charity when he was in intensive care as a baby.
Established in January 2001 by qualified music teacher, Lyn Thomson, Music Matters’ aim was to give as many children as possible a good start in music. Since then, hundreds of children have improved not only their musical skills but their speech and language too.
Lyn says, “As well as being a music teacher I am also a qualified teacher of English as an Additional Language and am particularly interested in the direct connection between learning music and developing language and literacy. Research shows that children who have a good music education from a young age have a huge advantage over their peers when they start school as learning music helps all areas of development – physical, social, emotional and intellectual – and this is what motivated me to start working with very young children.”
Feedback from parents shows that Lyn has succeeded in her aim. She recalls one 4-year-old from a dual language home who had very limited speech. By the end of the first lesson, she was singing songs and after two terms, she was speaking confidently. Other parents report that people are often taken aback by their children’s precocious language skills. It’s not just the children that benefit either, parents who thought they were tone deaf have found their voices after a term or two with Lyn.
Lyn’s most recent venture was to launch the Elentone Singers, a choir for adults that meets for two hours every Thursday evening at Cox Green school. The original singers were parents and grandparents of Music Matters pupils but the choir is now recruiting members throughout the community. No musical experience is required to join the choir and there are no auditions or waiting lists.
To find out more, please visit www.lynsmusicmatters.co.uk, elentonesingers.wordpress.com or contact Lyn on 01628 622651
Rosie’s Rainbow Fund – www.rosiesrainbowfund.co.uk
Catherine Osborn 