ERICA ELLIS is one of four members of Leading Notes, an educational music group in York Region. (Courtesy Learning Notes)
Children deserve an interactive musical experience, say members of Leading Notes.
The band of university students perform at York Region schools throughout the year, teaching children the importance of music and the joys associated with it.
York Region residents Michelle Eisen, Alex Morley, Erica Ellis and Erica Coutts strive to show kids in kindergarten through grades 4 how much music can enrich their education and overall experience in school.
The four met last September in the University of Toronto’s Institute of Child Study program.
In January the group started performing as Leading Notes as a way to reach out to children but also further their own love of music.
“All of us have a passion for teaching and interacting with children,” Eisen, 25, says. “Music has always had such an important role in our lives since we were really young.
“The kids are so engaged in what we are doing.”
Eisen, who used to perform with the Thornhill Community Band, plays the keyboard, flute, guitar and sings. Morley, 24, performs the banjo, electric and acoustic guitars and concertina — a small piano. Ellis, 22, plays the guitar and does vocals while Coutts, 24, is on percussion and vocals.
A few months back, Leading Notes introduced children to Lewis, a handheld puppet and fifth member of the group.
If that’s not enough, they are thinking of introducing the fiddle and saxophone to their ensemble.
The band teaches children about math and English skills through a mix of original and classic songs.
Eisen says the songs are geared to the youngsters but aren’t at all babyish.
Leading Notes has performed at 1,000 schools in the GTA.
Eisen says they hope to release a CD in 2011 covering some of their biggest hits.
“I’d love to continue it well into the future,” Eisen says. “Each of us are involved in the band as much as possible.”
Morley says it is important to reach kids at an early age.
“It is a great way to bring music (to kids) in a very organic way,” he says.
They are also performing later this fall at a downtown Indigo.
Morley says more often than not, traditional music classrooms are stiff and not relaxed.
“We like to play and share music together,” he says. “It is a great education tool.”
And so far, kids seeming to be loving Leading Notes.
“I was lucky I was born into a musical family,” Eisen says. “The second I was born I was sitting at a piano.”
Not all kids are that lucky, she says.
But they hope to change that. One classroom at a time.
