SRU invites children and families to sing, move and play at Oct. 22 event
Slippery Rock University student Libby Rock, back right, leads a Halloween music event for children and their families. SRU will host another free event called “Sing. Move. Play.,” Oct. 22, in the Swope Music Hall as part if the University's Early Childhood and Elementary Music Community Engagement Initiative.
Oct. 18, 2022
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — "Sing. Move. Play." Slippery Rock University is hosting this aptly named event for families with children as part of its Early Childhood and Elementary Music Community Engagement Initiative. "Boo" could also be added to the title, as this will be a Halloween-themed version of the event. "Sing. Move. Play." will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m., Oct. 22, in the Swope Music Hall Band Room, Room G9. The event is free and open to the public. Families, caregivers, and elementary-school-aged children are invited to attend and wear their Halloween costumes. Tickets can be obtained online at sru.edu/tickets.
"This is a great family event that promotes social development for children," said Cassandra Eisenreich, associate professor of music. "When we plan musical experiences for children, those are the three important aspects: singing, movement and play. These support everything from cognitive growth and problem-solving to self-expression, creativity and social development."
Children and their families will be guided through musical activities, including sing-a-longs to popular children's tunes such as "Five Little Pumpkins," as well as movement exploration, dancing and a craft project.
Leading the event will be two SRU students, Libby Rock, a senior dual music therapy and music education major from Sewickley, and Ben Jamison, a senior music education major from Evans City.
"We are getting experience working with children that will benefit us later in our careers," said Rock, an aspiring music teacher and music therapist. "It's more than getting comfortable teaching music to elementary school students, but on a deeper level, it allows us the opportunity to learn and connect with individuals who we might not be able to connect with otherwise. I've taught the 'Sing. Move. Play.' and 'Tuneful Tales' events for more than two years now and it can be nerve-wracking to make sure everything falls into place, but these events are so important, especially since the pandemic, to have opportunities for people to connect on a human level and enjoy music and movement."
The Oct. 22 event is the second of four events for children and their families hosted by the SRU Early Childhood and Elementary Music Community Engagement Initiative during the 2022-23 academic year. There will be another Sing. Move. Play. event with a Valentine's Day theme, 9:30 a.m., Feb. 11, and an event titled "Tuneful Tales: The Lion and the Mouse," 10 a.m., April 1, which will feature a concert and instrument petting zoo.
For more information, visit the community engagement section on the SRU Music Department webpage or contact Eisenreich at 724.738.2440 or cassandra.eisenreich@sru.edu.
MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu