3 minute read

Religious directory

from The Edge 7/30/20 Telegraph/Intelligencer

from The Edge 7/30/20 Telegraph/Intelligencer, page 3

Cover story: Kindermusik

“I’ve always focused on preschool, primarily birth to 5 years old,” Singh said. “The curriculum is designed by music and child development experts, tapping into all these different things going on developmentally. I’ve had classes with as young as 8 weeks old.”

Singh’s own blog, at www.kindermusikwithellensingh.blogspot.com, describes Kindermusik with Ellen Singh as a music and movement program with curriculum for children age birth through 7 years old. Classes provide a holistic musical and learning experience in the critical first years of young children and their families. This developmental program, guided by a proven methodology, she said, combines music and childhood development, providing opportunities to nurture child/parent relationships and gain a lifelong love of music and learning by a licensed educator.

Musically, she has her foundations in many years of piano and flute lessons, as well as having taught herself to play electric bass guitar. She has performed in various groups throughout high school and college. Additionally, she has enjoyed the opportunities of performing as a flutist in her church and various community orchestras throughout the country, as well as teaching flute lessons. She is currently a member of the Edwardsville Community Symphony.

“In every Kindermusik class, you’re welcomed into a playful and nurturing environment where your child will experience music of varying styles, genres and cultures,” Singh said. “They’ll interact with other children and engage in movement, rhythm and vocal activities that develop far more than just music skills.

“Our approach to early childhood education and award-winning, researchbased and developmentally appropriate curricula prime children for success in school and in life.”

Singh’s lifelong passion and joy has been her work experience in the music field alongside young children and their families, she noted. A graduate of both the University of Evansville, with a bachelor’s in sociology and interpersonal communications, and the University of Illinois, with a master’s in social work with Licensed Master Social Worker licensure, Singh has a broad spectrum of educational and clinical experiences, including child development, group dynamics and relationship building, which are essential in teaching music to children and their families.

Singh taught the SIUE Suzuki Program Pre-Reading Music Theory class from 2005-2011. Currently, she is an adjunct professor for LCCC, where she teaches a class titled “Music for the Preschool Teacher.”

“Another element of my SIUE work, for the last two years, and I absolutely love, is through its SIUE Head Start program in East St. Louis,” Singh said. “I’ve had the privilege of going into all of their seven sites, and the East St. Louis school district. I absolutely love it and plan on continuing and increasing this collaboration.”

Another aspect of Singh’s work is teaching at St. Louis’ Central Institute for the Deaf (CID), inspired by her son, William, now 15, when Singh and her husband, Dave, adopted him at nearly age 5. Dave Singh’s father is a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from India, who came to the U.S. for university studies. William had severe and profound hearing loss, who at age 5 received bilateral cochlear implants, and began attending CID to learn to speak and hear.

“I walk in their doors and I’m inspired every time,” Ellen Singh said.