The term interactive takes on a new meaning in the Kindermusik classes - held now for the past three years at Sunrise Assisted Living - as the youngest generations work with the oldest.
At one of the recent gatherings, the young performers were showing off their stuff to the older crowd. On a black blanket decorated with yellow stars and moons, the real magic was the interaction between two generations seemingly separated by a gulf of decades.
But those differences in years seemed to vanish as the seniors found the same joy in the youngsters' singing and dancing as the performers themselves.
Sara Wyse-Wenger led the little ones and seniors through the program, following the story and sing- along depicted in a picture book. Wyse-Wenger teaches the Saturday morning classes.
The children followed the story of one little engine that could, singing along to the story of a shiny silver train making its way over a mountain.
"I grew up in a family of ten and we sang a lot," said Wyse-Wenger, who also works as a singer in addition to directing the Kindermusik program. "It's such a benefit to a child's dreams to incorporate music."
Kindermusik is divided into two age groups, the 18 month to 3-and-a-half-year-olds meet with the seniors first. Newborns to 18 months visit Sunrise for the later morning session.
"At that time, the babies don't mind sitting on laps," said Wyse-Wenger.
During Kindermusik time, the seniors are invited to sing along with the little ones, sometimes playing instruments along with the younger performers. The music comes from instruments as varied as drums, shakers and car keys.
The collaboration with the seniors is a new addition to the program, which has a 25-year history educating youngsters in music and movement. Just a few years ago, the folks at Kindermusik realized a willing and available audience was eager to work with the kids. The idea soon took on a life of its own, spreading throughout the international Kindermusik community, eventually making its way to Arlington .
"The idea seemed great to me, so I started," said Wyse-Wenger. "Instead of traditional classes, we have seniors around the edges. It also gives us an extra intergenerational experience."
Now, the Sunrise seniors are the beneficiaries of the program, as the visiting Kindermusik kids have become a staple of their Saturday entertainment.
Three-year-old Claire Angel was among those performers last Saturday at Sunrise with her parents Jennifer and Mark for the early class. The music playing in the background to which the kids and seniors sang along was a familiar tune for young Angel, said her mother.
"The class comes with a CD we play at home all the time," said Claire's mother. "So we were interacting with the seniors."
It was her daughter's first time back at Sunrise for the program since last spring, and the 3-year-old was still overcoming some residual shyness. As she stood on her father's head, however, it seemed she was at last coming out of her shell.
Mary Morgan, activities director at Sunrise, said the visiting performers have become an extended family to the seniors in many cases.
"My residents just love to see children of their age anyway," said Morgan.
The parents of the Kindermusik kids are also present at the sessions, a middle generation between the children and seniors.
"It produces an entire family effect with our seniors," said Morgan. "They really get to see the child as a grandchild to them." |
