PICTURED, BACK ROW, FROM LEFT, ARE GAIL VANDERSLIK AND STEVEN NORDSTRUM; MIDDLE ROW, FROM LEFT, KAT, ELIZABETH, MICHAEL, AND HAMMY; AND FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT, AYA, MEGAN, GABE, EMMA AND KASSIE. CELIANNA AND DANTE ARE NOT PICTURED. The Sounds of Music Studio has always recognized the need for younger children to experience music.

Kids need educational help to sort it all out. It means developing functional literacy, teaching children to understand and experiment with the many ways music influences their behaviors, their attitudes, and their beliefs, as well as the many ways that music functions in society.

Findings show that after one year of music education, the musically-trained children performed better in a memory test that is correlated with general intelligence skills such as literacy, verbal memory, math and IQ. According to the research, it is clear that music is good for children's cognitive development and that music should be part of the pre-school and primary school curriculum, in addition to any outside music training kids receive.

Sounds of Music Studio recently began a group music class called, "Do-Re-Mi" which meets on Mondays for one hour. The class rapidly filled with 3 to 6-year-olds. Another class is in formation. The lessons are designed for 10 children attending class unaccompanied with or without an adult.

The weekly lessons provide an opportunity for singing and vocal development, movement, listening, playing of simple percussion instruments, exploring musical concepts, learning the rudiments of reading and "writing" musical notation, and ensemble development. In addition, children will explore and learn to play the glockenspiel, a simplified dulcimer, piano and the recorder.

These classes are designed as a bridge between the aural/movement experiences of early childhood and formal musical instruction. The program is designed to provide readiness for the young child who is eager for first experiences with musical symbols and instrumental discovery.

For further information contact Gail Vanderslik, Sounds of Music Studio 742- 5867, or sliktoy@sti.net.