Preschool Children Use Music to Develop Skills through New York State Grant
Utica, NY (March 31, 2010) – The Early Childhood Program at Upstate Cerebral Palsy has implemented a new Arts Infusion Program to promote growth among preschool children through music and songs. The project is made possible with funds from the Arts Infusion Program, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, administered locally by the Central New York Community Arts Council, Inc.
Through the Arts Infusion Program, Juliane Price of Clever Canaries Music Together is helping to enhance the children’s cognitive, emotional, social and physical development through classroom activities such as art, language and dramatic play. Students are performing in a series of coordinated movement and free expressive dance exercises to feel music, which will incorporate themes for self-exploration, self-expression and learning.
“This program combines the arts with education in a manner that enhances the learning opportunities provided to the students,” said William Mullin, director of family support services at Upstate Cerebral Palsy. “Staff is always exploring new, creative ways to include the arts within the educational curriculum which makes learning fun for the children.”
Upstate Cerebral Palsy children in the New Discoveries Integrated Preschool program and the Promise program for children with autism will benefit from the four-month long program. For more information about Arts Infusion Program at Upstate Cerebral Palsy, contact Mullin at (315) 798-4006.
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Upstate Cerebral Palsy is the premier provider of direct-care services and programs for individuals who are physically, developmentally, or mentally challenged and their families. Upstate Cerebral Palsy currently employs more than 1,900 full and part-time employees at 74 locations throughout central New York. As direct-care and education centers, these include medical, clinical and therapeutic personnel, teachers, social service staff, maintenance, clerical and general support staff.
