February 7, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

‘Makin’ Music’ for young kids returning to Chestnut Hill area
by SALLY COHEN

Musician and songwriter Mickey Leone, of Wyndmoor, is bringing back Makin’ Music to Chestnut Hill after a three-year absence.

Beginning this spring, St Paul’s Church on Chestnut Hill Avenue will host Makin’ Music, an interactive music program for pre-schoolers and their caregivers. There will be a free open house on Monday Feb 25, 10 a.m. All are welcome. Director Mickey Leone ran the program for years at the Watertower Rec Center but discontinued it in 2005. The program was then continued in Oreland and Wyndmoor but returns to Chestnut Hill this spring.

According to Leone, “Many Chestnut Hill Families were disappointed to see the program leave the neighborhood. They kept asking when I was coming back, so I staring looking for a location. St Paul’s is perfect. It is conveniently located and has a great space for us on the first floor.”

If you wander into a Makin’ Music class on any given morning, you are likely to see kids jumping like frogs, singing like birds and dancing and drumming with their parents. “Everyone loves music” says Leone, “and pre-schoolers really benefit from seeing their parents model the joy of music participation with them. Our classes are not a performance but a very interactive experience with everybody joining in.”

Director Leone is a Flourtown native and graduate of Springfield High. He is a musician and teacher with over 30 years of experience and two children of his own.             

In the Makin’ Music Program each week, kids and their caregivers play shaker eggs, bang marching sticks, jam with rhythm instruments and dance with scarves. Every class features lots of fingerplays songs, movement to music and joyous singing. 

During the term, Mickey introduces the Makin’ Music families to the guitar, mandolin, violin, piano and drums plus a new batch of songs each season. Each family receives a professionally recorded CD and booklet so they can listen to and learn the songs at home.   

Recent studies have shown that early music exposure can improve cognitive ability and later math skills, so besides having fun and family bonding, the kids are getting real mental enrichment.

In Chestnut Hill the program will be held at St. Paul’s Church on Monday mornings at 9:15 and 10:15 starting Monday, March 3. In addition to the Chestnut Hill location, Makin’ Music sessions are still held in Oreland at St Philips in the Field Church and at Grace Lutheran Church in Wyndmoor. Mickey Leone has been operating Makin’ Music programs for over 12 years. Programs are available for kids from six months to 5 years old.