I was always amazed at how music transformed my children. When my oldest two were babies, music was one of the few things that calmed them BOTH — at the same time! When my youngest was born, my daughter was 6-years-old and my son was 5, and music was, again, the thing that we could all enjoy together. I loved fixing the rearview mirror on the back seat and watching them all bounce, clap and smile as we sang along to our favorite songs. Many, many times when they were little, I found solace in my car with my three children peacefully asleep as the music of Chopin, Brahms or James Taylor soothed their tiny souls. These were just a few of the signs that my children loved music…and why I love music — because it was my super nanny!
Music can alter a child’s mood instantly. We all have our personal stories of using music to calm a colicky baby, singing a family lullaby to put our little one to sleep, or getting through an endless car ride singing “The Wheels On The Bus.”
Music is very much a part of our everyday culture. Years ago — before iPods and iTunes — music was something that we MADE. Before the age of technology, when I was a child, music was either playing on the radio, sung by a church choir, or sung by my parents from the front seat of our station wagon. Eventually, I got a record player, then a tape player, and much later, a CD player (all of which are prehistoric now).
Music-making is something that we need to work on, something we need to create. Our experiences with music started in our early childhoods, and it is our job to create these important musical experiences for our own children.
Thankfully, more attention is being paid to the role of early childhood music exposure and how it influences our children. Why? Why music? The short answer is that music is fun, but extensive research has shown that exposing children to music stimulates their overall intelligence and emotional development, nurtures their self-esteem, and at the same time, encourages creativity, self-confidence and curiosity.
Can early childhood music learning really make our children smarter? Well, recent data from the University of Texas indicates that students who had an early childhood music education received higher SAT scores. Studies have also shown that music can benefit cognitive abilities — particularly spatial abilities, higher reasoning and motor skills, and greater understanding and higher achievements in language and math.
Music has also been proven to develop the “whole child.” Music exposure has shown to increase overall intelligence in children by shaping attitudes, interests and self-discipline. Music can be inspiring and motivational, even to the youngest listener, thereby helping with focus and listening skills. Music is blind to age, gender and ability.
Give kids music!
Years ago, families would gather around the piano or the radio in the evenings and sing songs together. Over the years, we have lost this important family pastime, but there are still things that families can do to share the joy of family music. There are many fun and inexpensive ways for parents to explore music with their children.
Here are some interesting music-making ideas that you can try with your child:
• Sing with your child — You may not be the next American Idol, but chances are your child will think you are!
• Make music with things around the house — Get creative and look for everyday things that you can transform into musical instruments. How about making a maraca out of a plastic water bottle? Just fill an empty bottle with some dried beans and re-seal for an instant shaker!
• Introduce your child to different types of music — Add variety to your child’s musical life by playing a different type of music each day. Classical, country, rock, rap, big band, jazz, or whatever you love! Just mix it up.
• Try playing a harmonica or a kazoo — An easy and inexpensive way to introduce your child to an instrument and have them experiment with creating different sounds and tunes. Play together and make your own band!
• Talk about music — As you listen to music or make music, talk about it! Talk about how the music makes you feel or what it may remind you of. Tell stories that involve music and singing.
• Try a music class — Exposure to an early childhood music and movement program will help to lay the foundation of childhood music learning.
Mary Aloia is the director of Staten Island Family Music. Staten Island Family Music offers Music Together classes at three Staten Island locations. To learn more, call (888) 731-8719, or visit www.sifamilymusic.com or www.musictogether.com.
