For Mike Whitla of Rainbow Songs, Inc., a Toronto children's music company, getting millions of views for his YouTube song videos was a surprise. Having thousands of views on a YouTube video is a fair enough achievement for anyone who’s promoting their talents and services online, but when you hit six figures, that’s something to really write home about. Mike hit the bulls-eye with videos from his CD, DinoStory: The Ultimate Rock Opera, a labour of love done as a side project after producing the CDs that work as accompaniments to his classes. “I guess everyone loves dinosaurs,” he smiles.
The CDs that accompany his courses are just as impressive as his rock opera, as is his fascinating method of teaching. His method develops what he calls “the map of the mind” for babies and kids up to the age of five, using music as a pathway to increase language, math, and bodily kinesthetic abilities. Classes are held not only with the children, but with their parents or caregivers as well, because the main point of the classes is to develop music as an ongoing family activity.
“I studied music at York University and taught guitar for years,” Mike recalls of the path that led to his teaching system. “Occasionally, during these times, I’d work with kids and I found I took to it. By and by, I developed my system of teaching. Making music in itself is a joy, but it is also good for brain activity. It is good for language and interacting with the world.”
