WELCOME HOME: Mel Taylor-Ryan plans to hit the right note in helping children develop with music at Northern Rivers Academy of Music in Wangaratta. PHOTO: Steve Kelly
Written by STEVE KELLY.
A PASSION for music and teaching has brought Mel Taylor-Ryan back to Wangaratta almost two decades after she left.
Music has played a vital part in her life and she plans to share her extensive knowledge through her role at Northern Rivers Academy of Music in Wangaratta, teaching Early Childhood Music.
She has lived life and developed as a musician herself, graduating from Wangaratta High School 1992, and with this early development of her skills, she has been able to be successful with her teaching and connect to her students.
After studying at Latrobe University in Melbourne, along with a Diploma in Children Services, Ms Taylor-Ryan moved to Coffs Harbour for 15 years, until she and her two children, Joshua and Grace, decided to move closer to family members in Wangaratta.
"Music has always been important to me and I feel that music can change a person’s life," she said.
"Dealing with the magic of music from day to day that children cherish so much makes it difficult for me to imagine a world without music.
"The program builds self confidence in children and I have seen the shyest of kids really blossom through the program."
Ms Taylor-Ryan teaches children from two to five years old in her program which she said helps children develop cognitively, socially and emotionally.
She takes a holistic approach to meet children at the level they’re at and treats every child as an individual, who has different needs.
The program develops children’s listening and auditory discrimination skills, aural and visual memory, sensitivity to rhythm, concentration and creativity.
The focus on children having fun is also paramount to her objectives because Ms Taylor-Ryan believes "if it’s not fun for children, it ain’t working".
"Children as young as two interact in bouncing and patting rhymes, short songs and I have had many comments from teachers later in a child’s life that they can really tell the difference," she said.
And if the next maestro comes out of Ms Taylor-Ryan teachings, she said it would be an added bonus, but fundamentally she just hopes to share her love of music and encourage that of the children she teaches.
|