By Isabell Macrina
Hometown Weekly Staff
What better way to get kids moving even on a day off than with a music day at the library? Music at the Blissful with Evan Haller brings an interactive, movement-packed musical experience for the whole family.
A Boston Parent Paper Family Favorite six times over and touring musician, Haller aims to have a program that doesn’t just entertain young ones, but help them grow mentally, cognitively, and with their community by connecting to them with music.
The library room was packed with kids and their parents ready to boogey down. What really brought the kids in was the interactions Haller brings them in on for his songs. Rather than just repeating the words, though he does that too and they have so much fun, he has them do actions and make noises with the beats.
The froggy song he started them with had the kids sticking out their tongues with hands up in time with lyrics, including them in the music in a way I hadn’t seen before.
But they’re not the only ones getting involved. The librarian and some adults in the crowd had their own moments during the song to get the kids moving and grooving. Through waving hands, jumping out of their shoes (accidentally) and copying the movements they saw Haller making, the song was a great way to get the kids pumped up and energized for a good hour of music.
Between songs showing animal actions, Funky Monkey in particular which had kids hooting and hollering, and quieter songs towards the end of the event to get them more settled, Haller had a kids’ song in his repertoire for every occasion. Even the adults in the room were dancing to the beats and getting in on the songs! Its events like this that bring people back to the root of connection in music, and how it can help kids build language and communication skills
