The impact of music on preschool education: Jo Ashwell's innovative approach

Kenilworth educator Jo Ashwell is combining entertainment and education to give pre-school children a stimulating learning experience.

Ms Ashwell has been an Early Childhood Development (ECD) educator for more than 36 years. She has taught at schools such as Barkly House, Reddam House in Tokai, Monterey Pre-Primary School in Diep River and SACS Pre-Primary School.

Since leaving her full-time teaching position last year, she has combined her love for music with education and has been working as an external educator at various schools and ECD centres since the beginning of the year.

“Music has many advantages. Gross motor skills are essential for any child's development. During the sessions, through rhythmic movements either played on the piano or using carefully selected pre-recorded music, I encourage the children to march, skip, gallop, trot, jump, sway, walk and run all while integrating bilateral integration, rhythm, crossing of midline and building core strength,” she said.

She added that music helps in other areas too, such as when children are asked to clap out the syllables in words or names, thereby infusing early literacy and mathematics into the sessions.

"I also like to work closely with the teachers and consolidate on the educational theme with which they are busy. My sessions typically last around 25 to 30 minutes,” she said.

Ms Ashwell's programme is tailored for children aged from 3 to 6 years.

“Those early years are the most important for any child’s life,” she said.

She has always been passionate about music, having learned to play the piano during her school years and teaching herself to play the guitar.

“It has been the most valuable tool throughout my teaching career,” she said.

Currently, she offers her services at different schools such as Barkly House Pre-Primary School, Micklefield Girls’ Junior School and The Grove, but has enjoyed presenting one-off shows to Herschel Girls’ School, Western Province Preparatory School, Bishops Preparatory, Constantiaberg Pre-Primary, Wynberg Girls Junior School and Wise Owl in Bergvliet.

Ms Ashwell said she derives great joy in working with children.

"They love moving to music and show great delight when invited to participate in action songs, whether dancing as individuals or in a group or pairs,” she said.

She added that the programme also helps to enhance children's social skills, improve memory, foster awareness of rhyming and rhythm, develop listening skills and enhance the children’s self-esteem and confidence among many other benefits. 

Principal Jeni Reid of Barkly House pre-primary in Newlands said having Ms Ashwell at her school on Wednesdays is one of her favourite days of the week.

“And that’s because I can hear real piano music and singing coming all the way down the passage and into my office! Music in a preschool is vital. It brings the children so much joy and pleasure,” she said.

Herschel Girls pre-school teacher, Katie von Hasseln said Ms Ashwell’s energetic and hands-on session had the children fully engaged from start to finish.

“It was heart-warming to witness such genuine and joyful participation. The girls sang, danced, took turns, and moved with purpose, completely immersed in the moment,” she said.

Bishops preparatory school teacher, Fiona Stuart said the boys are engaged with Ms Ashwell on various skills that involve number recognition and language development.

“The boys loved the session, especially the singing and moving to music,” she said.

If anyone would like to find out more about Ms Ashwell’s new innovative teaching methods or the other services she offers, such as staff development, you can email her at jingleswithjo@gmail.com or call 082 951 7563.