Rejoice Creative Music Studio

15/04/2026

Success doesn't always appear in a complete performance of a piece or a tangible art piece.

Yesterday's success was not in the form of a completed piece performed by a little kiddo with additional needs. Rather it was the kiddo's ability to listen and correct herself, and even throwing in a few repetitions to nail the part right.

The process itself, was success!

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14/02/2026

Stories of the music class kind

So the little ones came into session and said in a mock serious tone, "I forgot your name, teacher."

The other one piped up, " Yes.. I also forgot your name!" (giggles).

Seeing through their prank, I responded enthusiastically, "It's okie. You can call me Beautiful. Teacher Beautiful or Teacher Gorgeous!"

Almost immediately the little one said, "You are NOT!!! You are teacher Jane!"

Me: Right.. I want to change my name to Beautiful!

The little 5 year old shook her head, "You are not Beautiful, you are teacher Jane."

Fine. Let's get started.
Reality check from kids!
LOL!

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20/12/2025

https://www.rejoicecreativemusicstudio.com/blogs/scribbles/giving-space

Giving time and space for a child to do a task independently is essential. This is when they tap on previous experiences and consolidate their learning. This also builds up their confidence and self-concept. It is, however, necessary to be sensitive to their level of attainment in the moment. Instead of throwing them into the deep pool immediately, provide a scaffold, and remove it at their pace of growth and development.

So I have been working with a child who is not the most confident in speaking or singing on his own. He enjoys singing and would sing along with me our greeting songs and other familiar tunes. The past few weeks, I began to leave a little space within the music for him to do it on his own. Whenever....

08/10/2025

Progress looks like this:

Kiddo doing repetitions slowly without getting frustrated that (s)he didn't get it right the first time!

It is easy for some, but for some neurodiverse individuals, it can be challenging to focus on just one spot and work on it. It can be frustrating when fingers are not responding the way they want them to. It can be discouraging when "flow" in movement does not come as naturally.

However, what can't be done today, doesn't mean it cannot be done over time. Chip away slowly, patiently and positively!!

08/10/2025

https://youtu.be/vhBCCEMJpUY?si=iOPQvFYcZ0Hr8IlC

Sometimes arranging music for kids to play sparks joy.

O Christmas Tree or O Tannenbaum is a traditional folk song associated with Christmas. This arrangement is written for the intermediate pianist. It starts of...

13/09/2025

Kiddo: Rock Paper Scissors
Mine was a paper hand and hers a rock.
(Silence)
Kiddo: Rock crushes paper.
(proceeds to pound my paper hand with her little fist).
Kiddo: I win so I start first.

Wait... what? Lol!

At least she shows hand at the same time.
It took us a while to get to this stage. Previously, she required a heads up as to what I hand I will be showing before she did.
The next goal: It is all right to lose a round of Scissors Paper Stone. :)

This is not a snarky comment, but we never know what profound goals can be worked upon through a game of Scissors Paper Stone.

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07/09/2025

One of the most satisfying experiences of teaching kiddos of all abilities is to see how they enjoy playing their own music outside “formal learning” repertoire. This not-so-little kiddo who has been playing violin with me for a while now was telling me what some of his favourite nursery rhymes were. So we decided at whim to play one or two nursery rhymes for some light warm up before the actual start of scales and such. So with a few directions from the kiddo (yes, including the transition to Ab major) we musicked.

What fun!

04/09/2025

12/08/2025

*Here There Everywhere*

Me: Okie! Let's hear this piece!
Kiddo: Argh!! Until where?
Me: Until there!? (pointing at the specific bar that has been marked)
Kiddo: Argh!! Until there? (sounding a tad mortified) Yargh!
Me: Okie play me what you have done and we'll go from there.
Kiddo: (put one little palm on the sheet music, covering the first 2 bars of the music) Can I play until there?
Me: Argh!! Until WHERE?!

This is beginning to sound like one of those never ending circle games...

Me: This conversation is going nowhere! Play until there! (pointing at the bar that has been marked).. and not just a palm size worth of music!

Afternote: Kiddo did his homework just that there was a little glitch he had not yet fixed. 😁😁😁

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06/08/2025

A little one had an earworm and was humming a song. I asked what it was and he said that it was from Sing 2. Then..

Kiddo: What songs have you heard from movies that you like?
Me: hmm... oh! "I will follow him", from Sister Act! (technically not originating from the movie.. but we get it)
Kiddo: No..... another one
Me: I like O Happy Day from Sister Act 2!!
(a moment where Kiddo's mind was calculating....)
Kiddo: What songs have you heard... from movies ... from 2020 (onwards)?

Lol!!

I am super impressed by his growing ability to initiate conversations and to paraphrase his questions, though. 😂

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29/07/2025

So I played a recording of "Estrellita" while a little one was having her snack break during a family visit. I asked her if she liked the music. She nodded. That came as a surprise as she likes fast and energetic songs. I thought she mistook what I said and was referring to her snack. After a while, I asked her a second time about the music, and she affirmed her response. I asked why she liked it. She said, " It makes me feel calm." And continued working on her snack.

Impressed. Innate musicality at work.

Disclaimer:

I don't go all preachy about the benefits of music to everyone in the family.

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23/07/2025

https://rejoicecreativemusicstudio.com/blogs/scribbles/when-words-fail-music-speaks-or-tickles

I don’t always talk about the work that I do in music therapy as I find it one of the most difficult subjects to discuss. The very nature of music is intangible, yet it has a visceral effect on people. Many folks have tried to explain music and its impact on us in scientific terms, and I think tha...