Education For Success
Music Education Article
Music Education For The Preschooler
Kyle BesserIt is never too early to start teaching little ones to enjoy music. Kids love to sing and dance. Most children have some natural musical ability. Nurturing that ability is the key to whether a child's musical ability will continue to grow.
These days parents are so anxious to give their young children the "upper hand" that they enroll them in dance and music lessons as early as ages 3 and 4. While this may appear to make a child well rounded before starting school, this can do more harm than good. Preschool children should be exposed to good music, but in a less formal setting than private lessons. There is a wide variety of different activities more appropriate to the mindset and attention span of a 3 or 4 year old. At this point in their life, preschoolers should learn to enjoy and appreciate music.
Music at Home
The music that young children hear at home on the television, stereo or radio will largely shape their musical choices and also influence their singing abilities. Young children should listen to kid's music. Simple tunes with easy-to-memorize words are the best songs for young children. "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "Comin' Round the Mountain" are a few of the songs many of us learned to sing when we were young. Buy CDs that contain songs designed especially for preschool age children, and encourage your child to sing along. Sing along with them. Buy small rhythm instruments and let them play "marching band." Take the CDs along on car rides to keep your children entertained. Exposing children to age-appropriate songs will help them develop a love for singing and maybe a good singing voice.
Try not to let your preschooler sing along to the latest rock songs. Imitating rock singers encourages improper singing technique and could actually put your child at risk for vocal chord damage later in life. Avoid Broadway style music as well. Most Broadway songs use extensive ranges that will result in poor and out-of-tune singing by young children. Besides, many of the lyrics of rock and Broadway songs are inappropriate for younger children. Young children will benefit much more from singing the time-honored children's favorites.
Music Outside the Home
If you are looking for some musical activity in which to enroll your child, check out the many programs that involve both parent and child. One of the best and most well-known in Kindermusik. Kindermusik was developed in Germany in the 1960s and adapted for American families in the 1970s. Kindermusik is now offered in more than 35 countries. Kindermusik is founded on the beliefs that music nurtures a child's cognitive, emotional, social, language and physical development and that every child should experience the joy, fun and learning which music brings to life. The Kindermusik program accommodates learners from newborn to 7 years of age and provides activities that can be enjoyed and reinforced at home.
If you don't have a Kindermusik program in your area, look for other programs that encourage parent involvement in the child's music education. They usually involve learning simple songs, coordinating creative movement with songs and playing rhythm instruments.
Music lessons for preschool age children are usually a waste of money. Unless a child is the next Mozart, a young child will not have the attention span or the motor skills to benefit from music lessons at this young age.
Music Education In The News
Gaiser Reflects on Demands, Joys of Education - Housatonic Times
Gaiser Reflects on Demands, Joys of Education Housatonic Times Her introduction to New Milford came 43 years ago when she was a student teacher out of the music education program at Western Connecticut State University ... |
School board approves choir trip - Farmington Daily Times
School board approves choir trip Farmington Daily Times Several of the district's music instructors also applauded the district's continued support to music education, which was awarded as the best in the state ... |
Concerts aim to break the silence, restore the music, at Jefferson High - OregonLive.com
 OregonLive.com | Concerts aim to break the silence, restore the music, at Jefferson High OregonLive.com They hope to build community and reinforce the importance of music education across the city while they're at it. Internationally acclaimed hometown band ... |