Performances + Events
From left: Nikki Naghavi, Vanessa Trien, and Phil Berman
In the latest NEC Studio Session, Vanessa Trien, director of Early Childhood Education in NEC’s Expanded Education department, is joined by Phil Berman, Early Childhood Education coordinator and faculty member, and violinist Nikki Naghavi ’23, the Expanded Education Department’s special projects lead, for a demonstration of the kind of music-making and play families can expect to experience in early childhood classes offered by NEC Prep.
“Music is transformational,” NEC President Andrea Kalyn has said. “It connects the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — and so it can unlock the whole child.”
This past fall, Trien explained that “the early childhood years, from birth through age 5, is a period of extraordinary growth in brains, bodies, and overall human development. Scientific research has proven that making, listening, and responding to music in these early years — singing with others, clapping a steady beat, moving expressively to music, exploring a variety of sounds and instruments — benefits the ‘whole child.’ It stimulates the development of social-emotional, cognitive, and gross and fine motor skills. It helps children learn to regulate their behavior and manage their feelings, deepens connections with others, and fosters a sense of belonging. Making music is a richly multisensory experience and is one of the most beneficial activities to engage in with even the youngest of infants.”
In this Studio Session, the Early Childhood team puts their enthusiastic and important work on display and invites families from across Boston to learn more about and register for Early Childhood Education classes at NEC Prep, which is celebrating 75 years of service to the community.
