Music and movement go together naturally. We hear a lively tune and instinctively tap our toes to the rhythm. But did you know that music and movement can lead to early literacy skills?
Local educator and musician Risa Cohen recognized the connection early in her career working with children. She founded Sing Into Reading LLC to help parents and teachers discover the connection.
“As a classroom teacher, the singer/songwriter/performer in me led me to sing and dance with my kids every day,” Cohen said. “I immediately recognized the magic power of music and movement. The music-literacy connection was immediately apparent to me, even before I discovered that there is plenty of research and writing to back it up.”
Cohen took her classroom experiences and shaped them into instructive workshops for educators.
“When people asked me how I got my kindergarteners to write so well, I would tell them about our process, adding ‘we sing and dance every day.’”
Debut album released in June 2024
Cohen recently released a recording of her original songs called “Oh Friends We Love You.” She worked with Chris Antalek at his Toledo studio, Chris’s Music Factory, and finished recording in May 2024. The album, which was released in June, features 10 original songs.
“Chris did not just serve as the sound engineer, but also the studio musician. He even designed the album cover. He used to teach my youngest child, and I have the utmost respect for him,” Cohen said.
Cohen sings and plays guitar on the album, offering short and sweet tunes that are peaceful as well as playful. Each song has a theme, such as kindness and generosity (‘Cause I’m Free), goal-setting (It’s a New Start), and personal growth and learning (Every Day I Grow).
She is hopeful that families and classroom teachers alike will benefit from these recordings.
“Classroom teachers will especially appreciate these songs and I know they will find them useful. Parents and caregivers will also be able to weave these songs into their daily lives. But as much as families and educators will like these songs, children like them most of all,” Cohen said.
Using music to teach motor skills
Cohen incorporates fine motor and gross motor skills in her music, making these lessons enjoyable for children.
“I sing a lot of finger plays and incorporate American Sign Language. This helps children learn finger isolation and dexterity,” Cohen said. “These skills directly relate to handwriting.”
Children will be inclined to get up and dance when they hear these tunes, and Cohen encourages this by incorporating movement.
“Some of the songs on this album utilize motions that cross the midline, such as ‘Directional Lines’ and ‘First You Put Your Thumbs Up’. The ability to cross the midline is necessary to track print across a page.”
“I also sing songs and do motions that build shoulder girdle stability, which is important for handwriting,” Cohen said.
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Workshops and performances
Cohen offers workshops for parents and educators to teach them the benefits of musical education. She has participated in virtual workshops all around the world, and has presented at many conferences. She also offers her program through online classes.
She notes that music connects to literacy in the following ways:
- music can boost memory, self regulation and attention skills
- songs can increase vocabulary and help teach grammar, context and syntax
- beat synchronization has been linked to the ability to read
- music can be a useful tool for teaching auditory processing
- songs containing rhyme and alliteration can be helpful for learning sound discrimination
“I have seen firsthand how powerful and effective this program is, and how much fun it is,” Cohen said. “I feel called to share it with the world. I just can’t see myself doing anything else.”
Cohen can be seen and heard around town, singing her songs at various events. She recently performed at the National Museum of the Great Lakes for Captain Scupper’s Songfest. On August 10, she will be performing for Ordinary Pioneer’s Community Art Fest in Whitehouse. On August 15, she will offer a free concert at Olander Park in Sylvania.
