by Elizabeth Connolly
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Needham Free Public Library (NFPL) was full of bliss last Thursday morning when musician Evan Haller of Music at the Blissful regaled local children with enchanting stories, lively songs, and spirted dancing.
About 90 people gathered in the community room on this particular day; attentive and ready to participate. The class, which takes place monthly, included over 45 minutes of music-themed play and dance and was geared towards ages 0 to 2.9 years old.
Haller’s program focused on songs and movement that promoted language and social development, fine motor skills, and body awareness. The piece de resistance were light, colorful scarves Haller brought out towards the end, which excited all of the young children in attendance. “These are fresh from my washing machine and dryer,” he told the audience with a smile. “If your kiddos get sick, it is not from this class!” He then proceeded to guide the group through a series of engaging activities that involved plenty of scarf-throwing, much to the young attendees delight.
“I really enjoy it, and I like to do be able to offer it for free (admission) when I can,” said Haller about the program. Mr. Evan, as he’s sometimes called, hails from Needham and offers classes and programs like this one, as well as concerts and birthday parties. In fact, he just got back from a summer tour of 33 shows at 28 libraries in several different states. Last spring he released a new CD, his third, which is titled “It’s Me, Evan!”.
Haller is a distinguished, nationally recognized children's musician, boasting multiple awards. His overarching goal as a musician is to create enriching experiences where children and their families can flourish and realize their full creative potential, all while fostering a sense of community among attending families.
Excitingly, Music at the Blissful will return to NFPL on October 20th. For a comprehensive list of all upcoming library events, please visit NeedhamLibrary.org.
