Pianist’s initiative helps kids learn through music

They have two wings — one is for the private schools and the other catering to the underprivileged kids.

Dr Sudha Raja, Head of Academics and Operations, shares with us the activities of Rhapsody. “We are promoting a structured approach to music education in schools in and around Chennai. It works on an idea that one can learn many subjects using music as a medium. For example, arithmetic (where rhythm is typically used), or biology (songs on nature, breathing exercises, etc.), physics (exercises that teach children to understand tone, pitch, frequency, timbre, Doppler Effect and so on). The curriculum has been devised from KG classes up to Class 8 and takes children through a guided, structured and systematic approach. And makes them sing too,” she says.

The Foundation is organising Rhapsody Annual Singing Challenge 2018 — a carnival for children to showcase their talents. The event will be held today at Museum Theatre from 9 am onwards. “Students from private schools will be performing from 9 to 10.30 am. This will be followed by the competition between Corporation schools and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. There are 12 schools participating from the Puzhal and Minjur area, which are a part of our Road to School-CSR Project with Ashok Leyland. We will be giving them five topics from which they can select one topic and unleash their creativity in subjects like Mathematics, Science and languages through music,” she explains.

Also a choral music expert, Sudha says that music can be used to stimulate a child’s thinking and imaginative ability. “Music can serve as the binding force in bringing learning from different subject disciplines together. We tend to think of music class as a time for singing together. The music room becomes a rehearsal space for school functions and events. However, we firmly believe that the value added to a child’s intelligence as a result of musical input is untapped, and Rhapsody is a step in that direction,” adds Sudha.