February 10th, 2010 12:06 pm
Music is arguably the best start to your child’s education and it is never too early to give your child the gift of music.
Music - the best choice you can make for your child's future.
Parents choose to enrol their child in music lessons for many reasons. Some wish to provide their children with the musical education they wish they had been given as children. Others learnt music as a child experience and want to provide their children with the same opportunity. Other parents take a more holistic approach and realise that music stimulates learning in all areas of the brain, providing the perfect opportunity for the left and right hemispheres of the brain to develop and grow together.
Music is:
- a physical skill. Learning to play an instrument develops fine motor skills. We use our ears, eyes, bodies and brains when we engage in music making.
- an intellectual skill. Like a second language, we learn to read, interpret and play a musical composition. Higher end reasoning and cognitive skills are used in order to interpret and execute the written musical score.
- an emotional skill. As we listen to and play music, it allows us to interpret, respond to and express our emotions in a way that many people find challenging in today’s result-driven, high stress lifestyle.
When is the best time to commence music lessons? This is an individual choice, but the earlier a child is exposed to music, the more integrated it will become in his or her everyday experience.
Babies respond to music from within the womb, moving in response to fast or strong beats and relaxing to the soothing sounds of a mother’s lullaby. It is this early instinctive response to music that allows very young babies to enjoy the benefits of a music class. Early childhood music classes allow babies as young as three months to experience music through massage, lullabies, songs, instruments and movement. This special time allows strong emotional and physical responses to develop alongside these musical experiences and babies quickly learn to relax to a familiar lullaby or dance along to a familiar song.
Music is for children of all ages and toddlers delight in nursery rhymes, action songs, playing instruments, dancing and bouncing to the beat on mum or dad’s lap. Simple songs and rhymes develop language through the repetition and rhythm of familiar tunes. Later, preschoolers will enjoy making up their own silly words and verses that relate to their daily experiences.
The decision to commence music tuition will depend on each child’s personality, cognitive and physical abilities. Not all five year olds will be able to sit down and concentrate on learning an instrument for half an hour or commit to regular practice. Select an instrument that your child wants to play and that suits your child’s personality. When looking for an instrumental teacher, do your research. Both you and your child deserve a qualified, experienced, understanding and engaging music teacher who will foster a life-long love of music in your child.
(Tanya Goodman holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music (Honours) in Flute Performance from Sydney Conservatorium of Music, a Graduate Diploma in Education and is a Licensed Kindermusik Educator.)
visit Tanya’s website: Sunshine Music
visit Kindermusik: Kindermusik Aust&NZ
find a class near you: Kindermusik