Church Music Program Developing Skills In Kids

Cookeville First United Methodist Church ready for the fall launch of its early music program designed to help develop fundamental skills in children.

The program is a year-round program that the church has done for years. Coordinator of Worship at Cookeville First United Methodist Church Kathy Evans said the program uses more than just musical instruments as they use scarves and parachutes. Evans said the program allows children to learn and have fun doing it.

“It is a developmental process to get them to really listen and match pitch and stay in rhythm,” Evans said. “And those are lifelong skills for everybody.”

The program will have classes in the fall and will be divided up by age group. Evans said she has done the music program for about 25 years and has seen a positive impact on the children who have participated.

“What we have seen in our program at the church is those children that start coming through that are just very musical and become very good singers and readers.”

Evans said they encourage parents to participate to set an example for children.

“There’s a lot of singing,” Evans said. “The parents and grandparents are asked to be very participatory, and be good role models for the children so that they are learning to respond to command.”

Evans said she wants to focus on the listening ear for children. The classes are usually in the morning, and class duration can vary from three to five weeks. A schedule for the upcoming classes this fall is not official. Evans said the church has shown lots of support for the program.

“It’s really dear to my heart,” Evans said. “And it is a wonderful opportunity for our church to give back to the community.”