The Mycenaean

Nyah von Hamm, senior, has been passionate about playing the piano for the past eight years, so when she created a service project to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award she knew exactly how she wanted to serve our community. 

von Hamm decided to teach a music class at Learning Together, a preschool in downtown Raleigh. The school offers child care for kids ages 1 to 5, kids with disabilities, and families struggling financially. She partnered with Music Fun Time for guidance on her lesson plans. 

Each week for two months von Hamm engaged a class of fifteen four-year-olds in lessons related to music. She allowed them to express their creativity by making instruments while also helping them understand the sounds and types of instruments. She organized musical scavenger hunts to teach the values of music, and brought in instruments to teach them different music notes.

von Hamm did copious amounts of research about the effects music has on child development so, she knew that her lessons had a positive impact on her students. 

“Music has so many effects on child development. It can improve motor skills, cognitive ability and it expands interests… there is alot of social and emotional growth along with it, it’s not just physical.” 

The process did not come without challenges, von Hamm, said, “At first when I was planning the whole thing, I was like there is no way I can do this, I felt so out of my territory, I’ve never taught I’ve only ever been the student when it comes to music.”

Working with kids is not easy; it requires flexibility, patience, and adaptability. Skills von Hamm was able to develop throughout  her experience with the preschool. She also learned a lot about communication and leadership, which will continue to benefit her as she prepares to explore careers. 

von Hamm, said, “I would be so tired walking in, but then I would walk out with a sense of fulfillment. It is exhausting at the moment, but I know that I impacted someone’s life and that is so rewarding.”

von Hamm successfully earned her Gold award while broadening the horizons of the young kids at Learning Together, and gave them an experience they would never forget.