Why music is so beneficial to children
"Music is unique to humans and, like the other arts, is as basic as language to human development and existence. Through music children gain insight into themselves, into others, and into life itself. Most important, through music children are better able to develop and sustain their imaginations and unabashed creativity. Because a day does not pass without children hearing or participating in music one way or another, it is to their advantage to understand music." (Gordon, 1997:3)
Rhythm and music are important in the development of many essential skills needed by young children in the overall learning process, including language and maths skills.
Music and songs learnt as infants help to develop auditory skills such as rhythm, timing, and speech.
Music can refine physical coordination skills by playing musical instruments and encouraging movement and dance. In children these skills also help them to become more aware of their body parts and develop their temporal awareness.
Little Bee Music Lessons
Little Bee lesson plans include a variety of music, dance, rhythm and actions to help children develop a wide range of skills. Most importantly, through repetition in class a child will absorb the songs, actions, and dances, they hear every week. Often children will then begin to sing the songs at home and their development will continue as self motivated practice. The love of music has begun.
Songs - singing develops the understanding of melody, but also works on auditory, language, and timing skills, along with general confidence and camaraderie. Simply listening to singing lets children absorb the music and get used to the feelings the sounds and rhythms create.
Actions - songs with actions practice the multiple processing skills of children by having them listen and/or sing the words along with performing the corresponding movements. Actions give children a way to express their knowledge of the songs subject by describing or showing you what they are singing about. Over time the relationship between the words they are singing and the actions they perform become clearer and will infinitely help children with their language skills. Actions also help develop coordination and dexterity.
Rhythm and Rhymes - chanting, clapping, tapping and rhyming all work on auditory, language, and timing skills. Games are made out of rhythms and rhymes to make them fun. Coordination and confidence, along with the beginnings of a basic sense of mathematical skill are progressed through learning rhythm.
Instruments - at the beginning we use mainly percussive instruments as this stops children becoming too overwhelmed with different notes. The simpler percussive instruments allow children to concentrate on the different sounds each instrument makes, as well as the different ways they are played to make noise. As the children develop, more musical instruments are introduced. Playing an instrument along with the music helps develop a sense of timing and rhythm. Over time, children will go from simply learning to play the basic instrument, to playing along with the beat of the music and learning to stop and start, to playing and recognising slightly more complicated rhythms and notes. Dexterity and fine motor skills are honed by learning to play the basic instruments, giving a fine base for a child to continue learning instruments later on.
Dances - simple steps and movements are what we concentrate on at Little Bee Music. Dancing lets children feel the beat through their bodies by moving, marching, stepping to the rhythm of the music. Pre-walkers or beginner walkers can be held by the parent/guardian and feel the movement through them also. Dancing and moving also gives children the opportunity to feel the different emotions that music can emit and provoke through the use of phrasing, tone, key, timing, and expression that it contains. Confidence, coordination and expression are enhanced through dance.
Songs - singing develops the understanding of melody, but also works on auditory, language, and timing skills, along with general confidence and camaraderie. Simply listening to singing lets children absorb the music and get used to the feelings the sounds and rhythms create.
Actions - songs with actions practice the multiple processing skills of children by having them listen and/or sing the words along with performing the corresponding movements. Actions give children a way to express their knowledge of the songs subject by describing or showing you what they are singing about. Over time the relationship between the words they are singing and the actions they perform become clearer and will infinitely help children with their language skills. Actions also help develop coordination and dexterity.
Rhythm and Rhymes - chanting, clapping, tapping and rhyming all work on auditory, language, and timing skills. Games are made out of rhythms and rhymes to make them fun. Coordination and confidence, along with the beginnings of a basic sense of mathematical skill are progressed through learning rhythm.
Instruments - at the beginning we use mainly percussive instruments as this stops children becoming too overwhelmed with different notes. The simpler percussive instruments allow children to concentrate on the different sounds each instrument makes, as well as the different ways they are played to make noise. As the children develop, more musical instruments are introduced. Playing an instrument along with the music helps develop a sense of timing and rhythm. Over time, children will go from simply learning to play the basic instrument, to playing along with the beat of the music and learning to stop and start, to playing and recognising slightly more complicated rhythms and notes. Dexterity and fine motor skills are honed by learning to play the basic instruments, giving a fine base for a child to continue learning instruments later on.
Dances - simple steps and movements are what we concentrate on at Little Bee Music. Dancing lets children feel the beat through their bodies by moving, marching, stepping to the rhythm of the music. Pre-walkers or beginner walkers can be held by the parent/guardian and feel the movement through them also. Dancing and moving also gives children the opportunity to feel the different emotions that music can emit and provoke through the use of phrasing, tone, key, timing, and expression that it contains. Confidence, coordination and expression are enhanced through dance.
1) Gordon, E.E (1997). A Music Learning Theory for Newborn and Young Children. Chicago: GIA Publications, Inc.