Sylvia Chave will be celebrating the spookiest time of the year with a series of shows. (Sylvia Chave)

Candy, costumes, make-believe and more; for Sylvia Chave Halloween isn’t just one day, it’s a season.

Chave is kicking off the Singing with Sylvia season with her Halloween Howl (Oct. 30 & 31, 2017) at The Refinery. These concerts are designed for the pre-school set but Chave says her music does just as much for the whole family.

“I think families don’t have the kinds of opportunities to sing together that we did as children growing up.” She explains, “Music is a great connector. These songs are something parents and grandparents can take home and enjoy with their children long after the show.”

“Music is a great connector. These songs are something parents and grandparents can take home and enjoy with their children long after the show.”

Chave has spent the better part of two decades sharing her music with the children of Saskatchewan and has seen first hand what music can do, giving children the tools of self-expression.

“Music can help children self-soothe, express joy and sadness, it’s even an easy way for them to follow instructions.” She says, “If I tell a group of children to lineup, some may follow but if you sing the lineup song, everyone gets in on the action. It becomes a game and that’s a much more fun way of looking at things.”

Chave has been working with Chatelle Cory, of Speech Therapy Saskatoon to tout the effects of music on young, developing minds. The pair presents workshops on the benefits of Singing With Sylvia shows.

“Music plays an important role in speech, language and literacy development,” says Cory. “Current research in the area of brain plasticity demonstrates that musical training results in not only improved musical performance but is linked to improved verbal abilities, non-verbal reasoning and general intelligence.”

Chave says her work is all about improving life for children and their families.

“It’s my dream to be sitting with a group of people and singing with them,” she says. “I love dressing up and bringing a few surprises into every show. There’s nothing better in the world than getting a group of kids to celebrate music along with me!”

There are four shows to choose from. Monday Chave will perform at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday the shows will be 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.. Costumes are encouraged.

Click here for ticket information.