It’s got to be one of the top karaoke songs of all time! ABBA’s “THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC”. How often haven’t you heard it and found yourself singing or humming along to those famous words? “Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing, thanks for all the joy they’re bringing”.
ABBA’s words have been ringing in my ears recently. You see, October 2024 marks Wriggle and Rhyme’s 16th birthday. And boy, it is a sweet sixteenth!
Celebrating 16 years of music
It’s been 16 years since I ran the first ever Wriggle and Rhyme class from the lounge in my home in Fish Hoek.
Since then, the business has grown and evolved. I’ve gone through all the stages of motherhood with the business. From exciting conception to a crying newborn, to a demanding toddler, to a feisty tween, to a maturing teenage.
Music for babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and beyond
After launching in 2008, in 2011 we branched out into PRE-SCHOOLS in Cape Town. We extended the programme from babies and toddlers, to include children up to Grade R level. We now have hundreds of children participating in our music and movement classes in pre-schools each week.
In 2013 the BABY and TODDLER programmes were licensed to allow other women to run classes from their venues too. We now have Cape Town branches in MEADOWRIDGE, RONDEBOSCH, CLAREMONT and MELKBOSSTRAND. We also launched our first National branch in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) earlier this year, with classes running in FERNGLEN.
Sharing music with children across Africa
In 2017 we partnered with Lifeline Energy to bring our music to children across the African Continent. Lifeline Energy distributes solar-powered radios and MP3 players to prisons, refugee camps and schools across Africa. These children are now also singing our songs each week!
You can read more about Lifeline Energy’s work HERE.
** Children enjoying Wriggle and Rhyme at a pre-school in rural Zambia **
Music at home
We’ve also created a range of unique and fun musical stories to enjoy. Originally available on CD, these can now be accessed through your favourite music streaming platform – SPOTIFY, APPLE MUSIC, iTUNES, AMAZON etc.
More about our digital music to stream HERE.
The highs and lows
Running a business in South Africa has not always been easy. We’ve had to weather global recessions, the really difficult COVID season and intermittent load-shedding.
Sometimes the song in our hearts has been upbeat and full of joy, sometimes it’s been melancholy and slow.
These are still challenging times that we’re living in. With the rising cost of living, wars and rumours of wars across the world, pain and suffering all around us. It’s easy to become despondent and feel anxious.
But, I wake up every single morning saying “thank you for the music”. Not just for Wriggle and Rhyme, but thank you that I get to be part of something that contributes so beautifully to the lives of children.
Thank you that Wriggle and Rhyme assists our family and many others financially each month by creating work.
Thank you that I have the flexibility to spend time with family each day.
Celebrating with gratitude
So, as we celebrate Wriggle and Rhyme’s 16th birthday, I’m resolved, more than ever, to live in gratitude for all that life brings – the ups and downs, the highs and lows.
My song today and every day is “thank you for the music”!
Written by Kirsty Savides – Founder and Programme Director of Wriggle and Rhyme SA