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Music bridges age gap at Tealridge

Singing echoes through the halls of Tealridge Christian Retirement Community on Saturday morning as young children and residents gather together for an intergenerational music class.

The curriculum is from Music Together, a worldwide mommy and me class geared toward bringing music into children’s lives and to teach them basic musical skills.

“In the classes you learn how to incorporate singing together and making music together as a family,” Music Together teacher and attendee Heather Hoffhines said. “Music has been shown to help create special bonding moments.”

Hoffhines and her husband graduated from Oklahoma Christian University in 2003 with degrees in biology, but she said they always had a love for music. After graduating, the family moved to Dallas where she first discovered Music Together.

“I discovered this music education program for kids and I took my daughter to it and I was so impressed by it that I became trained to be a teacher,” Hoffhines said.

Eventually, the family made their way back to Oklahoma, where Hoffhines discovered that Music Together classes were scarce.

“I could not believe that it was not in Edmond,” Hoffhines said. “I was determined that I would bring it to Edmond.”

Hoffhines recruited teachers and helped start three Edmond classes in the fall of 2015. However, due to changes in her husband’s job, the family ended up in Tulsa.

Despite the move, Hoffhines still launched the Edmond classes, with one on Oklahoma Christian’s campus at Tealridge led by 2006 graduate Leah Sherman.

During the classes, children five and younger learn rhythms and beats through the use of clapping and instruments.

“I just really love the concept and the classes that are intergenerational because you add a whole other dimension of richness to the classes… everyone sings together, everyone makes music together,” Hoffhines said. “It creates this bonding experience between the generations.”

Throughout the morning, the residents join in on familiar songs like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” along with new songs, unique to the class.

The classes are every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and are geared toward children five and younger, accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit www.gracenotefamilymusic.com or www.musictogether.com.

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One Comment

  1. Kathryn Parker Stephens Kathryn Parker Stephens January 26, 2016

    Oklahoma Christian University president and board really blew it by closing the doors to the older community.
    Love Tealridge and all who have devoted their time and lives to the work there. As well as those who still live there.

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