The perfect window of opportunity for kids to start music lessons is between the ages of 3 and 10. I’m not sure if the neuroscience research holds up for composing songs during this age too, but there is definitely some anecdotal evidence of it – elementary school students Menea Vladi Kefalov and Ande Celeste Siegel of Reed Elementary School in Ladue recently won first place in the elementary song with words division of the COMP (Creating Original Music Project) contest put on by the University of Missouri-Columbia for their piece titled "War."
You can hear the repeat winners’ performance on "Show Me St. Louis" here.
The COMP contest – which SmartParenting’s Sharon Linde posted about last November – had several local winners among older students as well. They included:
The 22 statewide winners for 2012 performed their works live in Columbia last month and received cash prizes for themselves and their schools. If your musically inclined student didn’t make the final cut this year, no worries – the eighth edition of the annual contest will be accepting entries in the fall.
By Amy De La Hunt, Health Blogger for SmartParenting
Amy De La Hunt is a journalist and editor who lives in the St. Louis metro area and works across the country as a writer, copy editor, project manager and editorial consultant on everything from fiction books to monthly magazines to blog posts. When she's not chauffeuring her teenage sons to activities, Amy is an enthusiastic amateur cook, landscaper, Latin dancer and traveler. Follow Amy on Instagram @amy_in_words
Longmeadow Rescue Ranch is hosting its annual Spring Fling for families on April 20. The fun includes an up-close look at the Longmeadow Rescue Ranch horses, wagon rides through the 165-acre state-of-the-art horse farm and animal rehabilitation facility, and lots more.
Kids can work on existing gym skills, learn new skills or just play around during Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym. Reservations are not necessary.
Young artists and their families are invited to complete a fun craft activity in the galleries at the St. Louis Artists Guild. This program is designed for Pre-K to elementary-age children and their families.
Preschoolers can learn, play, explore and grow at the Saint Louis Art Museum's Wee Weekend program for its youngest visitors. Join in on the adventure as your little one discovers new ways of interacting with art and each other.
See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.