PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FOR TEACHERS

These workshops are designed for elementary and secondary teachers, music teachers, community services, childcare providers, preschool, parents and community health professionals.

We are available for drumming worshops and shows all over Canada and United States!

THREE WORKSHOPS ARE AVAILABLE:

1. Motivating children through music, movement and rhythm games

2. How to facilitate a drum circle workshop

3. Rythm activities to improve concentration and self-discipline in the classroom.

How is this session related to teaching practices?

Specific studies conducted by professionals in the fields of music therapy and mental health show that rhythm: Reduces tension, and anxiety stress, connect people and promotes collaboration. As well as the physical transmission of rhythmic energy to the brain actually synchronizes the left and right hemispheres. Louise’s multicultural program complements teachers’ mission in their curriculum of education. As their involvement in the various rhythm activities, participants will practice leadership, creativity, concentration, peer bonding, and teamwork fostering collaboration and harmony; essential qualities for achieving success at school. Participants will enjoy building communication skills as they realize that, to produce a harmonious performance, they need to listen and engage one another to achieve synchronicity, coordination, discipline, and focus in executing a group performance. Teachers will leave the workshop with new creative ideas (songs, rhythm games, body percussion, and drum circle facilitation techniques) and educational materials adapted to each age group that will stimulate and enrich children’s lives!

MOTIVATING CHILDREN THROUGH MUSIC, MOVEMENT AND SONGS

What is more powerful than music to inspire a children’s activities?

With traditional drums and other percussion instruments from around the world, artistic director, Louise Raymond guides participants through rhythms, and songs in different languages: English, French, Spanish and African dialects, as well as stories, dance and games activities.

The workshop culminates with sample improvisational activities that create a rich learning environment for children.

Through this workshop, teachers will acquire an additional educational technique that stimulates artistic and intellectual creativity in children and reinforces cognitive development.

Workshop participants will leave with tools and ideas to encourage children to explore their sense of rhythm and celebrate community!

HOW TO FACILITATE A DRUM CIRCLE

Experience the transformative power of rhythm!

This interactive and multicultural workshop provides teachers with the necessary tools to facilitate a drum circle using an innovative method created 30 years ago by Californian, Arthur Hull.

The workshop is built on a foundation of rhythms, percussive techniques, improvisation, body percussion and rhythm activities using various instruments from around the world. Participants learn to find their own rhythm while listening to the other drummers.

The participants experience great enjoyment and stress release as they come to realize that in order to produce a harmonious performance, they need to listen to one another, and then engage with synchronism, coordination, discipline and concentration.

RHYTHM ACTIVITES TO IMPROVE CONCENTRATION AND SELF-DISCIPLINE IN THE CLASSROOM.

Why not enliven your class each morning with some rhythm? We will make a game of it.

Experience a dynamic workshop that will stimulate your children’s creativity, ingenuity, and collaboration while learning about a model to improve academic and social success using rhythm.

Are there no drums in your classroom? Employing our expertise, students will learn to create rhythms without a drum. Using furniture or other implements, their own bodies or the backs of their friends, they will soon discover that almost anything can be used as an instrument to create beats and rhythms.

While participating in our interactive group workshop, students will learn about teamwork, communication and shared leadership. Find out how these exciting and educational techniques can be integrated into your student programs.

BENEFITS

If you can talk you can sing. If you can walk you can dance. All you have to do is kick, step, turn, hop, jump, reach, leap and wiggle.

  • Drumming

    • Drumming enhances the ability to focus the mind, stimulate the cognitive development and release stress. It also activates multiple brain systems.
    • Drumming increases self-esteem and results in a sense of empowerment and enhanced ability to focus.
    • Drumming allows people to recognize new possibilities and discover their own natural talent that is inherent in everybody.
    • A drum circle is a unique experience, it is giving and receiving at the same time.
  • Music

    • Playing musical instruments can improve fine motor coordination, help to focus and give self-discipline, and this will help children with behavioral problems.
    • Playing music helps children develop self-esteem, as they feel a sense of accomplishment in producing a rhythm or melody.
    • Music motivates children to participate in a group activity and usually produces a positive emotional response.
    • Music engages a variety of learning styles, integrates multiple human intelligences and creates a communal experience.
  • Rhythm

    • Music and rhythm accesses your brain through your emotion.
    • It allows children to make connections between language, cognition, expression and culture. The rhythm helps to increase motivation, interest, and enjoyment.
    • Rhythm improves an individual’s range of motion, joint mobility / agility / strength, balance, co-ordination, respiration patterns, and muscular relaxation.
    • Rythm helps to develop brain waves. The body has a natural rhythm and when the children hear the external rhythm it makes them feel in harmony and synchronized. It makes them feel balanced. Thinking is clearer and they are not distracted.
  • Movement activities

    • All of the movement activities will help children to develop critical thinking, creativity, memory, learning skills, self knowledge and self control.
    • It increases their ability to cooperate with others.
    • Through movement activities, children will also experience space and body awareness and will develop mutual caring/sharing and respect in a creative environment.
    • These activities enhance the children’s listening skills, refines their awareness and allows them to experience the joy of self-expression.
  • Story telling and singing :

    • Telling stories with the participation of children through the story helps their attention, promotes self-expression, develops their imagination and ways to connect sound, language and movement.
    • By singing together, children will develop how to work with others and develop cognitive abilities because they have to remember words and melodies. Children will enhance their own vocal skills while learning a repertoire of songswith rhythms

WHERE THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN PRESENTED:

MTAO, Music therapy Association, Ontario, Canada

ORFF, Chapter in Calgary and Montreal,Canada

APIC, French Immersion National Convention in Canada

SEBIC, International Baccalaureats Convention in Quebec, Canada

CCTCA, Convention des enseignants (es) à Calgary, Alberta, Canada

NCTCA, North Central Convention pour la région du Nord de l Alberta, Association, Edmonton, Canada

PDTCA, Pallisser District Teachers Convention Association, Canada

GETCA, Greater Edmonton Teachers Convention, Edmonton, Canada

Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, C.-B., Canada

FAMEQ, Féderation de la musique, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Okanagan University, C.-B., Canada

Capilano College in North Vancouver, Early Childhood Educator, Canada

Music for Young Childlren, Naramata, C. -B., Canada

Primary and secondary schools across the country

Letter of reference from CCRR

June 24, 2003

To Whom It May Concern:

Louise Raymond presented a Music and Movement workshop in Quesnel , British Columbia on June 10, 2003 . This workshop was made available to Preschool teachers and childcare workers. The 3-hour workshop was wonderfully energizing and provided hands on practice and many new ideas. Louise demonstrated an ability to initiate a response from the participants and did a great job getting the teachers up moving and singing.

The benefits to children from Louise’s program are very evident to those who attended, knowing the natural curiosity and love of rhythm children have. The fascination that children, and even adults, have with drums and the other various musical instruments Louise had on hand ensures their attention.

The drums and rhythms that Louise uses to engage the children or participants in activities and capture their interest were simple but effective and enjoyable. One could easily see the response this program would have when presented to children. The class was totally and completely enthralled by Louise and her drums.

I highly recommend Louise Raymond as a facilitator for this type of workshop and would welcome the chance to have her come and work directly with children. I feel Louise would provide amazing multicultural opportunities for children to explore and learn through rhythm and music.

Sincerely,

Cari Charron

Program Coordinator CCRR