Ways to Help your Child Appreciate and Develop a Love of Music

Articles on Music | Topics: music, musical

by Akana C. Morales

It is a well-documented fact that babies learn while they are still in the womb. The early years of a child's life are vital for creating a foundation of lifelong musical learning. The early years of a child's life are central for creating a foundation for that child to love music for the rest of their life. Young children are exposed to all kinds of learning, including music. Reports have shown that early music experience can improve early childhood growth and spatial interpretation. Just listening to music brings the opportunity of further developing a child's capacity to form mental images of physical objects; distinguish variations of objects; and to recognize the visual world correctly.Children do not have to receive formal musical training in order to obtain the benefits. Play music for them frequently through out the day or night; sing songs with them; let them take pleasure in playing instruments and making music while listening to music. In addition to being beneficial to them, they enjoy activities that make them laugh and music is fun and comes naturally to children.

Music is a universal language for all ages and peoples across the world. Children are natural born musicians. When they are exposed to music during the early years, it will enhance their learning process by boosting language maturity, creativity, dexterity, and social interaction. Parents, childcare providers, and other adults in the child's life, can play a vital role in introducing music and movement into a child's life. It is not essential to play an instrument well or sing in tune to help young children understand musical sounds. Children do not need to know the dynamics of musical performances or goals. In fact, music play (whether recorded or live) can be a pleasing, developmentally suitable activity in spite of musical aptitude.

Music can add to a soothing atmosphere for infants and toddlers and they quickly begin to sort out musical sounds from other sounds. Caregivers can cultivate a temperament for music in very young children and toddlers by chanting to them; copying the sounds, they make rocking, patting, and moving along to a beat. Considerate planning is aware of the children's interests and balances lively and calm music and movement times.

Older preschool children can realize movement as a form of nonverbal contact as they begin to tell stories and articulate their feelings through body movements. They discover to copy patterns of sound and rhythm and become conscious of music in nature, for example whistling wind, chirping birds and crickets. Once children begin to use their voices to sing, it becomes essential for them to pay attention to the music. At this stage, children take pleasure in songs that ask them to move and swing around, jump, twist, and clap their hands. Playing "follow-the-leader" gives them an opportunity to copy and learn the variety of ways their bodies can keep time with a song, and use of easy props will encourage children to incorporate music with movement.

Children react positively to music that they recognize. Playing a recorded song several times as background music can increase familiarity and develop vocabulary as the lyrics are learned. Making up new verses for familiar songs and impulsive singing as they, play can help children comprehend that music is a form of creative expression.

Historical Quote

A woman drew her long black hair out tight
And fiddled whisper music on those strings
And bats with baby faces in the violet light
Whistled, and beat their wings
And crawled head downward down a blackened wall....

—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)

Musical instruments mesmerize young children. Infants ought to be encouraged to make their own music by playing with rattles and bells. Drums, xylophones, and shakers are now made for very young children and they can have fun as they learn about music. At the same time, they are improving their fine motor skills. Using almost anything you can find in a home can also make instruments. It can be as simple as the wooden spoon tapping on the pot.

It is important to let children discover the various types and styles of music. Increasing children's horizons by presenting a variety of music from other places around the world and ethnic groups is one way of accomplishing the goals of a multicultural learning.

If given the chance, young children rapidly realize that music communicates a range of things, including feelings and ideas. They should feel free to discover and enjoy a wide array of musical sounds and the body movements that music encourages.

We strive to provide only relevant articles on our website. If there is a specific music-related topic that you would like us to cover, please contact us here.

Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Ways to Help your Child Appreciate and Develop a Love of Music" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by MusicInstrumentsCds.com.

Christmas Music
By Keeley Vaughan
Memory is closely tied to songs. For many people, some of the most powerful and inspirational feelings come from warm memory of the holiday season....

Keeping the Beat – Why Percussion is the Foundation of a Band
By Ula Hood
Anything you find that you can thump on and create a sound is percussion. Hitting two sticks together creates a percussion beat....

Music Theory
By Lance Robbins
Within the musical community, there is a debate about the value of music theory that will probably never ends. Is it important to study music theory scales, or is it much better to just dive into the music and experience it viscerally....

Is an Adult too Old to Learn How to Play a Musical Instrument?
By Orchid Owens
Is an Adult too Old to Learn How to Play a Musical Instrument? There is no qualm that learning to play an instrument, as an adult is a not the same experience as learning to play when you are a child. Anyone can learn to play a musical instrument....

How Posture Can Affect your Playing a Musical Instrument
By Coralia Noble
The art of playing a musical instrument is more than just the ability to pluck a string, blow in a hole or pound on a key. One must know everything from how to properly hold the instrument, what to do with your hands and how to properly sit or stand....

How To Promote Your Music
By Ronnie Moody
New bands often have the same problem. They play and rehearse, but they don’t know how to get people in the door....