Erica Hernandez is a “Music for Young Children” Teacher, specializing in children ages 0-4, returned to the library last week to offer some music and moves for the weekly Children’s time at the Millbrook branch. A private piano teacher and primary choir director for over 10 years, she joined the MYC program three years ago and enjoys sharing her gift of music to young children who learn to play and compose their own music in her programs. In addition to the standard MYC programs, she also offers “Sunrise pre keyboarding classes” for 3 year olds in addition to her other appearances.
On Friday Hernandez joined 49 participants at the Millbrook branch of the library to lead the audience in a presentation of songs and dances from the “Pony” CD provided by the MYC program, “Music Pups”. There was plenty of action to accompany the songs, as children tapped sticks, danced with scarves, rang their bells, and shook their rattles, and galloped around the room. This skillful instructor finds the children to be enthusiastic in their participation, and she “loves seeing the kids trying to sing the songs even though they don’t know the words”. Hernandez hopes to return to the branch where she always sees new faces in this welcoming atmosphere.
After the action, the activities settled down on the carpet as Library Coordinator of Outreach, Programming and Partnerships Lindsay Molloy read “Tall on the Saddle” by Anne Carter and David McPhail. The library’s copy of this book was signed by the author, addressed personally to the Millbrook library. The story continued as the participants pretended to be little cowboys and made their own ponies as the day’s craft.
The audience provided firm evidence that Molloy’s outreach efforts are working, as participants at this event came from the immediate area as well as from Warsaw, Blackstock and Pontypool.