Music Melody

Wollongong West Community Hub’s music program bonds parents and children in an hour of creative education with smiles and laughter as they learn Australian songs and dance.

“Music Melody is one of the most meaningful things we do in the hub,” says Hub Leader Maree.

“It aims to improve literacy, numeracy, communication, organisation and problem solving.”

The hub’s music program has developed following a partnership with Wollongong’s Conservatorium of Music to run a shortened version of their highly acclaimed ‘ChiME’ program, dedicated to the exploration of music through singing, playing, moving, listening and creating.

Teachers tailored the program for refugee and migrant preschool and kindergarten children, and ran the sessions free of charge.

Maree reports that children have become more confident, and have growing sense of belonging to the group.

“The children’s beaming faces and enthusiasm was apparent and the mothers enjoyed it so much that the hub asked to continue the program.” Maree said.

The hub’s new music program paves vocational pathways too, with one mother who has teaching and music qualifications running the Music Melody program during the hub’s playgroup on Friday mornings.

The first hour includes craft and painting which engages mothers and their children, followed by an hour of music, in which the mothers are also actively engaged.