Musikdrama Academy Malaysia

Watch out for Kid’s World@TVIQ on Astro (Channel 552)

musikdrama — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:35:12 +0000

On the 1st of October 2009, my musical drama class kids (ages 7 – 11) were very excited as this was their first time going on TV. Yes, the Jet TV Sdn Bhd production house came to do a shooting of our program. They wanted to feature our program as part of the segment of the program called ‘Kid’s World@TVIQ’ on Astro which will start its broadcast from 17 Oct 2009 onwards. This program will screen 15 minutes in each episode on areas that enable kids of ages 7 – 15 or those young at heart to learn about technology, going green, sports and health, arts, DIY and etc.

Thus, on 1 Oct 2009, my drama kids had their 1st interviews. Some of them were as nervous as mice while some were as steady as rocks. One of the crew even picked out some of my kids and commented that they would be potential actors and actresses. Hmmmm! Not bad, eh?

So, watch out for MusikDrama Academy on Kid’s WOrld!TVIQ (Channel 552) – short snippets of our program & interviews…. sometime in November 2009. Will update you soon!

Posted in Classes

School Holiday Program 2009

musikdrama — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:57:55 +0000

Exciting School HOliday Program from 7th – 10th Dec 2009.

This year’s theme will be:

“Musical & Crafty Kungfu Panda”

Venue: Bumble Bee Music & Arts Studio

27, Jalan Puteri 4/1, Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong.

Further details, please click below:

Posted in Classes

“Mummy, I can’t do it!”

musikdrama — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:40:05 +0000

Written on 13^th June 2008

The Challenge

Teaching musical drama classes is my passion. To be able to teach my own children in the musical drama class is a special ‘Privilege’. Yesterday, I taught my group of home-schoolers (with my son too) at the USJ homeschool centre. Our theme was on ‘String Instruments’. We were having a Rhythmical activity during the theatre games where I instructed the children to follow the pitching exercise. They were supposed to stand on the chair when they hear a high pitch sound and sit on the floor when low pitch sound was heard. After playing on the instruments for them to listen and associate their movements a few times, my son, as usual volunteered to start doing the movement first. However, after trying twice, he failed to follow the proper pitch movements. Embarrassed and disappointed, he gave up trying and went to hide himself at the corner. The others continued to try until they got the cue. This made my son even madder. Throughout the last 20 minutes of lesson, he just refused to join the others. I tried to coax him into trying again and that he could do it, but to no avail. Being a strong-willed child, he held on to his stand.

Heart of a teacher cum mother

As a mother, I felt angry and I didn’t understand why he would refuse such a simple pitching movement. How could I encourage him to try? I have to keep my cool though, since the class was still on. As a teacher, I knew I have to persevere in winning ‘discouraged children’ to come out of themselves. That’s what the course is all about. I moved on to another activity, Musical mime play, where I could get him to notice and respond a little while the rest of the class were still actively participating. At the end of the class, he was still NOT THROUGH!!!

”I ain’t gonna give up on him.” I had to think about something quick to get him back on track. So, I sat down together with the children and started talking about their first baby steps. I threw them the question: “What happens if a baby decides to say to himself that he’s not going to try to walk because it’s just too painful and difficult to do so?” Very smart answers from each of them such as, ”Then he’ll be lame for the rest of his life”, “He’ll not be able to run and play”, “He’ll not be able to play Wild Force Power Rangers” etc. All the while, I was trying to peep at my son from the corner of the eyes to see how he would respond. I encouraged them about the most important persons in their lives like parents, teachers etc who would encourage them to persevere and not give up etc. I knew my son was listening. As I continued, ”You know, sometimes, the hardest thing is when you fail and you feel like a fool – embarrassed and very, very sad.” ”I understand your feelings; I feel like that too… many, many hundred times more than you do.” “But you know what, I told myself I want to be like that baby, do not care or worry about whether being laughed at or anything like that, I will focus to try to walk, that’s right. Walk, I must do it.” “Such child-like faith”. Then one of boys said, “yes, just like the disciples of Jesus who shooed the children away and Jesus told them not to and that everyone who has child-like faith can come to him.”

At that moment, at the corner of my eye, I noticed my son’s eyes getting redder and he was wiping his tears away secretly. I finally understood that he was not trying to rebel on purpose or to make havoc. The true fact is that he was bruised in his ego and if I did not address this matter, he would go deeper into his shell. I concluded the chit-chatting session by encouraging him to try the exercise again. This time I got my students to cheer him on. He still refused though, so I thought just give him time. A moment later, someone shouted “Hey, JY did it! He could do that already!” He secretly did it on the chair without me noticing it and wow, that was the first breakthrough. Hmm… he was still aloof. He didn’t want to help me carry the stuff as he would do normally. He just walked away and tried to avoid eye-contact with me. You know, I felt crushed, like wanting to give up but I knew I had to hang on there.

Winning his heart again

On the way back, we (some of my students, my son & I) talked about their interests etc. After a very long while, then I asked my son (seated right behind the driver’s seat) “Do you want to be like that anymore?” “No.” “Do you think you can try the movements again next week without getting angry?” No reply. “Maybe we can practise a few times at home so that you’ll be able to do it during the class, OK?” “Ok (softly).” “I’m sorry, mummy.” “I forgive you. I understand how you feel. Please don’t give up easily the next time you face something tough, OK? We’ll try to work at it together, OK?” ”OK.” “Please give me a hug.” I held my hand backwards and he touched it with his warm hands. I knew I had won him back.

Weekly Classes and Workshops for Children, Youth, Educators and Parents

musikdrama — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:30:44 +0000

Weekly Classes for Children:

1. Musical Drama Classes

a) Introductory – Step 1 (ages 4 – 7 years old)

b) Step 2 – Grade 2 (ages 7 – 11 years old)

Workshops for Children and Youth:

1. School Holiday Musical Drama Program

a) ‘Act, Move and Sing Now! Kids’ Theatre I’ – Introductory – Step 1 (ages 4 – 7 years old)

b) ‘Act, Move and Sing Now! Kids’ Theatre II’ – Step 2 – Grade 2 (ages 7 – 11 years old)

c) ‘Act Now! Youth Theatre’ – (12 – 18 years old)

Workshops for Educators/Parents/Sunday School Teachers/Anyone who works with children

1. ‘M&M Workshop – Creative Teaching Skills using Music and Movement’ (1-day workshop)

For those teaching children between ages 4 – 6 years old

2. ‘SpeeD Workshop – Creative Teaching Skills using Speech and Drama’ (2-day workshop)

For those teaching children between ages 4 – 6 years old

3. ‘Musical Drama Train the Trainers Workshop’

For the teachers who are teaching the MusikDrama Horizons program in the home-school centres which uses the Horizons Kindergarten Program

a) Workshop I (Introductory Level – Step 2) – Unit 1 – 2 (2-day workshop)

b) Workshop II (Introductory Level – Step 2) – Unit 3 – 5 (2-day workshop)

About Michelle Loh Jee Yin

musikdrama — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:08:27 +0000

Introduction:

Being one of the proactive and dynamic personalities, Michelle Loh Jee Yin is an educator, trainer, Ambassador of Character Forever, curriculum developer and home-school mother. Her passion in enriching young lives motivates her to give herself to teaching even from her school days. She was a tutor and spiritual mentor to her juniors then. After graduation, she lectured in a renowned private college in Kuala Lumpur for many years.

Home Schooling:

As a keen believer of character-building and self-pace learning in children, she chose to stay home full-time to take care and educate her two lovely children since 2003. Being an industrious person, she started a home-based kindergarten (home-school for preschoolers) for her own children and some neighbourhood preschoolers in year 2005.

Designing Confidence-building Curriculum for Children:

As she is also a multi-talented person, she started designing and developing a comprehensive, original musical drama and character-building program to enhance interest in the English Language using music (singing and rhythm), dance (movement) and drama (expressions and acting). She believes in inspiring and helping ORDINARY kids to be courageous to express their thoughts and feelings by cultivating skills in the area of music, dance and drama using the beautiful and rich language of English. Her passion is also to inspire and train educators or parents on the use of creative approach through music, dance and drama in teaching or communicating with children. Currently, she is conducting musical drama classes (ages 4 to 12 years old) and Adventures in English Language Literacy Classes (Creative Phonics English Program) for children in kindergartens, Music & Arts & Language enrichment centres, home-school centres and home-based.

Building Character and Parenting:

As one of the Ambassadors for Proactive Parenting Forever (non-profit organization which champions character-building in children), she has conducted various DVD-facilitated workshops for both parents and educators (since 2006) such as:

a) Parenting workshops:

1. Award-winning parenting program “Active Parenting Now”, authored by Dr. Michael H. Popkin (Ph.D.) U.S.A.;

2. Renown child psychologist and author, Dr. Kevin Leman’s “Making your children’s mind without losing yours”;

b) School of Character workshop:

“Building 6 pillars of Characters in Children”, program authorised by ‘Character Counts’ (U.S.A.)

Besides, she is also a trained Facilitator for a character-building abstinence-until-marriage program for youth (secondary and tertiary students) organised by Focus On the Family, ‘No Apologies – The Truth about Life, Love and Sex’.

Deepening Spiritual Growth:

She has also written Bible study materials for mothers and Youth (teenagers), which were used widely in the Youth Fellowship and Mother’s Support Group in her church. Currently, she is actively serving as a Sunday School teacher in her church.

Michelle Loh Conducts…

musikdrama — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:08:31 +0000

I Conduct

Weekly Classes for Children:

1.       Musical Drama Classes

a)     Introductory – Step 1 (ages 4 – 7 years old)

          b) Step 2 – Grade 2 (ages 7 – 11 years old)

2.       Adventures in English Literacy Class (AELC) – Phonics Reading Program

a)     Starters: Learn Sounds and Alphabets (ages 4 – 5 years old)

b)    Emergent Readers: Phonetic Awareness (ages 5 –6 years old)

c)     Fluent Readers: Grammar Acquisition (Grade One – Three) -

                                                           (ages 6 – 10 years old)

Workshops for Children and Youth:

1.       School Holiday Adventures Program (Math Magic, Discovery Science & Phonics Fun)

a)     Young Explorers (Ages 5 –6 years old)

b)    Young Adventurers (Ages 7 – 10 years old)

2.       School Holiday Musical Drama Program

a)     ‘Act, Move and Sing Now! Kids’ Theatre I’ – Introductory – Step 1 (ages 4 – 7 years old)

          b) ‘Act, Move and Sing Now! Kids’ Theatre II’ – Step 2 – Grade 2 (ages 7 – 11 years old)

          c) ‘Act Now! Youth Theatre’ – (12 – 18 years old)

3.       ‘No Apologies – The Truth about Life, Love and Sex’ Workshop (organized by Focus on The Family (M))

A character-building abstinence-until-marriage program for youth (secondary and tertiary students)



Workshops for Educators/Parents/Sunday School Teachers/Anyone who works with children

1.                   ‘M&M Workshop – Creative Teaching Skills using Music and Movement’ (1-day workshop)

          For those teaching children between ages 4 – 6 years old



2.                 ‘SpeeD Workshop – Creative Teaching Skills using Speech and Drama’ (2-day workshop)

          For those teaching children between ages 4 – 6 years old



3.                 ‘Musical Drama Train the Trainers Workshop’

          For the teachers who are teaching the MusikDrama Horizons program in the home-school centres which uses the Horizons Kindergarten Program

          a) Workshop I (Introductory Level – Step 2) – Unit 1 – 2   (2-day workshop)

          b) Workshop II (Introductory Level – Step 2) – Unit 3 – 5   (2-day workshop)



4.     ‘School of Character Workshop – Building Six Pillars of Characters’

          (organized by Proactive Parenting Forever)

          For educators, parents or anyone who works with children or youth