The benefits of approaching academic learning through music are being explored at The Hindu Young World Rhapsody Summer Camp which began this week. Twenty-two children have enrolled for the first batch of the six-day workshop that helps unleash their creativity in subjects like mathematics, science and languages through music.
“We felt this was a new way of getting children into summer camp, where we don’t actually emphasise on studies,” Sivapriya Senthilkumar, executive director of Kangaroo Kids, the host campus for the event, said. “Through this exposure, parents will perhaps understand that even through music you can learn,” she added.
The camp caters to children in three age groups – Kids (4 to 6 years), Junior (7 to 10 years) and Senior (11-14 years). This year, astronomy and Vedic mathematics have been added to curriculum. The children will be allowed to showcase their talent in songs that they have learnt at the end of the camp in a valedictory concert. Selected students will participate in the ‘Voices-in-Harmony Challenge’, to be held on June 21 in Chennai.
Curated by classical pianist Anil Srinivasan, founder of the Chennai-based Rhapsody Music Foundation, the programme has reached out to thousands of schoolchildren in southern India. Pedagogue Dr. Sudha Raja heads the Rhapsody educational team. The instructors are formally trained musicians who engage the children in singing lessons that are followed by group activity in crafts and dance.
Said a parent whose two daughters are attending the camp in Kids (4 to 6 years) and Junior (7 to 10 years) categories, “combining music lessons simultaneously with academics helps to increase the students’ concentration. It is nice to see children getting interested in their camp activities and mingle with others rather than just their electronic gadgets.”
The camp for a second batch will be held from May 2 to 7. The course fee is Rs. 1,500. Certificates of participation will be given to all students.
The venue is Kangaroo Kids School, 5-E/1, Ramachandrapuram, 11th Cross, Thillai Nagar East, Tennur, Tiruchi. For further details, contact 044 24984052 / 9941187619 / 9731881502 / 0431-4050900.
Online registration: www.thehindu.com/ summermusic
