Mister John is back with tales from his Philadelphia music classes. Philly families, be sure to check out his website for a full schedule of classes and musical learning opportunities!
Letting Things Go: It’s one of the hardest concepts to learn. And one of the hardest to accept, even as adults. The infuriating truth that good things come in life and then they come to an end – and, whether or not we want to, we have to move on.
In my classes, every session, at the start of the session, there is a child who is so enthused by each activity that the moment I shift gears to begin the next thing, she/he losses it. She/he is enjoying the puppet or the instrument or the treasure box so very much, the transition to something new is enough to prompt a full melt-down.
In my first session in Philly, which comes to its own close in two weeks, this child has been “Mason.” From Day One, Mason has been 110% invested in class. He’s so into it, I like to think in 20 years he’ll be a music teacher himself. He’s vivacious and charming and just beginning to find his voice in the one-word-at-a-time acquisition phase that is so brief and so glorious to watch. Hearing a word, understanding it, and repeating the word with meaning. Language development is just incredible. And in a matter of months he’s going to be talking non-stop.
But even though Mason loves class, it hasn’t always been the easiest for him. In our first week in class, Mason got caught in a pattern I’m very familiar with: I began an activity; Mason invested in the activity and was elated. The activity ended and Mason asked for “More?” repeatedly (he’s got “More?” down pat). I moved on. Mason started to have a mini-melt-down as I began the next activity. He collected himself, re-invested into the next activity, elation, end activity, “More?” etc. It was a roller-coaster ride. Not easy for Mason, not easy for Mom – that first week, Mason’s mom had to patiently calm him down through each transition. It can’t have been easy for her – she’s spent good money on this class for her baby, and the first class takes him on the emotional ride of his little life? I approached her after the class and I told her what I tell the parents of this beautiful type of child:
This lesson is a core concept that I’m teaching to all of my students. And we all learn it in different ways. Letting things go.
The way I run my class, there’s always something awesome coming up next. After the drums comes a dance song, after a big shaggy dog puppet comes a music box. You never know what’s around the corner. Because I truly believe that that’s what we have to think about to make it through the hard times in life. There is a rainbow after the storm. As adults, we’ve learned that things can change on a dime – what we want to be permanent can end in an instant. There’s no need to make examples, we all know them too well.
For babies and toddlers, right off the bat, I like to work on this concept. We say goodbye to things. “Adiós big drum.” “Adiós shakers.” “We’ve had some fun, but now we’re done…” I try to be gentle in these moments. I try to model smooth transitions for the kids. And when there’s a student who’s struggling, a Mason, I say “It’s OK. Because look what’s next!”
Our eight-week session is winding down and Mason has made amazing progress. The “Mores?” are used more sparingly. He even kept it together when I brought out the yellow Volkswagen Beatle to pass around during “Ridin’ in My Car.” As upsetting as it could have been to let it go (incidentally, things with wheels are some of the hardest to let go of at this age,) he took his turn with the toy, reluctantly passed it to the next child, looked at it longingly as it made its way around the circle, and then said goodbye to it as we moved on through the rest of class. He’s grasping the concept beautifully.
There is one object that we’re still working through… the parachute. And I have to say, this is an image that I’ll have a hard time letting go of, because it’s so incredibly cute. Picture Mason, riding the merry-go-round that we make out of the parachute, smiling and laughing and just living – having the time of his life. Now, imagine that the activity stops and while the other children climb out of the parachute, Mason says “More?” and lays himself face-down, arms and legs outspread to their fullest capacity, desperately trying to keep the parachute on the floor with his little toddler body. It’s adorable. And never really escalates into a melt-down – thank goodness for bubbles.
(Photo printed with permission of Mom – Mister John, ‘Mason’ and Big Shaggy Dog)
John Francisco is the new Musical Director at Philly PACK in Queen Village and offers baby and toddler music classes at that location as well. Previously, John was an instructor at the Old Town School of Folk Music– teaching Wiggleworms, kid’s guitar and piano, and elementary music instruction for the Northshore Academy Elementary, where he worked with children struggling with emotional, social, and behavioral demands of school. In addition, he was contracted through Old Town School to perform for children and families in Chicago-land hospitals, at large-scale events like the Square Roots Festival or the Milleneum Park Family Tent, and at countless birthday parties.
John has also worked extensively with children with special needs – including six years with the Red Kite Project at Chicago Children’s Theatre (CCT) where he was a performer and creative contributor of sensory-based interactive theatrical experiences for children with autism and their families. For four years, he served as Curriculum Developer, Camp Director and Lead Music/Drama Teacher for Camp Red Kite, CCT’s daycamp for children with autism. He also was a co-leader and developer of CCT’s Polk Workshops for Chicago Public School teachers and administrators– using drama in the classroom to promote the development of social skills, emotional recognition and expression, and as a tool in behavior modification for special needs students. Finally, in 2011, he was the lead teacher and administrator for CCT at HOPE Institute’s After-School Arts Program.
For many years, John worked in Student Services at Erikson Institute, the premier graduate school in child development. He has taught in early childhood settings (KC Academy of Early Childhood Education,) in arts organizations (Lifeline Theatre, House Theatre Chicago,) and in community organizations (Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls.)
John is a professional actor, is an Artistic Associate at About Face Theatre, and has performed in over 50 plays/musicals throughout his career. He also writes plays, stories, and songs for children and families.