St. Paul's Preschool in Haymarket recently hired Alexandra Dempewolf as the school's new music director. She will teach 4-year-olds using the A Beka curriculum, and will also direct the school's music program, including the children's Christmas concert.
She also plays the violin in the Manassas Symphony Orchestra. Though only 25, she has been playing the violin for 19 years. Dempewolf has also had many years of piano lessons and voice lessons.
Dempewolf said she joined the staff at St. Paul's Preschool because she wanted to expose children to classical music.
"Research shows that there is a connection between
children's mathematic abilities and their early music experiences," said Dempewolf. "It is be-cause music is organized in mathematical patterns," she added.
Dempewolf is now giving violin lessons, but hopes to begin offering piano lessons in January.
School director Kathleen Katz said she is pleased to have attracted Dempewolf to St. Paul's teaching team. She said studies show that exposure to music early in childhood helps students achieve.
"I was very good in math," said Dempewolf, "And my father, who was also exposed to music at a very young age, became a physicist," she added.
"Music is an important part of our family," said
Dempewolf. Her father played the violin and her grandfather was a violin maker from Germany. "My grand-mother trained to be a classical pianist. My dad is very knowledgeable in classical piano."
Dempewolf takes after her grandfather, who spent hours composing music. "I love to compose classical music," said Dempewolf.
Katz said that scientists do not know why music boosts mathematical abilities, but they believe that it is because music never stands still and thereby forces the brain to make sense of rhythm and harmonies.
"Some scientists say the intellectual response to music is inborn and that the brain at infancy is specifically wired to receive, process, and learn from the highly ordered patterns of sound in music."
Dempewolf added, "The month I have spent here at St. Paul's is the most rewarding experience of my life. I have never enjoyed a job so much."
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