Since April 2023, if anyone were to pass by Norris Square Neighborhood’s La Paz Garden on a Sunday morning, they would hear music and children. The music comes from a free bilingual music class for children provided by Rhythm Babies.
Rhythm Babies provides music readiness programs to children ages four months to five years in the Philadelphia area. Recently, Rhythm Babies partnered with KABOOM! and the William Penn Foundation to install instruments and bilingual song plaques in La Paz.
Sadly, these free classes with Rhythm Babies in La Paz ended this past October, but the group is leaving its mark on NSNP by allowing it to keep the musical installation in the garden.
Julie Salvano, owner of Rhythm Babies, explains, “We chose to offer to leave the instruments there so people can continue to enjoy them for years to come.”
The permanently installed instruments are unique because they were built with the community in mind. With the instruments, lullabies plaques were installed as well. These plaques include the lyrics to the lullabies in English and Spanish, further emphasizing the neighborhood’s cultural connections.
Not only did Rhythm Babies think of the bilingual aspect of the neighborhood in the installed instruments but also during the classes held.
Each class followed a different lesson plan, allowing the students to learn about multiple instruments, such as guitars, drums, claves, maracas, egg shakers, and more.
With the inclusion of instruments, the classes included multiple songs taught in Spanish and English.
By including two languages, many people “enjoyed learning new words and sharing words they knew with others,” Salvano shares about the bilingual aspect of the classes.
When asked why Rhythm Babies brought its Kodaly Method-based music classes and instruments to the Norris Square community, Salvano echoed what NSNP knows to be true of its community.
“Norris Square was a perfect fit for the project because they [the community members] are passionate about making their neighborhood a great place for their loved ones,” Salvano shares.
If you want to see and enjoy the instrument installation, please visit NSNP’s La Paz Garden at 2201 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19122.
