2015
Growing in Harmony:
MUSIC EDUCATION DURING EARLY
CHILDHOODHEGI, ERICA R
Why is Music Education Important During Early
From what researchers have studied
thus far, music during early childhood
helps develop many areas such as:
Literacy
Music education is a mixture of core
subjects such as history, math, science,
and reading. Literacy is important in order
to become a successful adult and music
education helps with different areas of
literacy such as visual decoding,
vocabulary, articulation, listening, and
communication.
Memory
Using music to teach children a new
concept will help children recall the
information easier. Using movement and
hands-on activities helps the brain process
new information. Emotions have a large
impact on the formation of memories: “the
stronger the emotion connected with the
experience, the stronger the memory of
that experience” (Jensen, 1998, p. 73).
Vocal Development
Having children take part in vocal
exercises such as singing by themselves,
sing call and response, and imitate
different objects in their environment
(clock, a pet, motorcycle) will help them
discover their voices.
Brain Development
If children begin taking music lessons
before the age of seven over time the
structure of the brain and the functions of
the brain can be altered. Brain regions that
are responsible for hearing and self
awareness are usually larger in people who
have had music lessons for a long period
of time. Even the cortex is thicker which
is responsible for process of thought and
action (Bergland, 2013).
Social-Emotional Development
Music can help children’s social skills
blossom. When children express creative
movement, play an instrument, or sing
they will become more confident, which
may help them make friends easier. In
music education children learn how to
work together so their communication
skills will also benefit. Emotionally,
children will learn to connect with lyrics to
songs, learn how to express how a certain
piece makes tem feel, and can even be
calmed down by music when they are
fussy.
Gross and Fine Motor Skills
By encouraging children to express
movement while listening to music,
playing instruments or musical chairs, and
using hand motions to express how the
music feels will help their coordination.
Childhood According to Research?
What Early Childhood Music Programs Are
Available in Wisconsin?
Kindermusik
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Prices range
from $60-$70
per month
Classes for
newborns
through
children 7
years of age
Classes
include
materials for
parents to
continue
music
development
at home
Classes:
Village 0-22
months, Our
Time: 18
months-3.5
years, Imagine
That: 3.5-5
Years, and
Young Child:
5-7 years.
Sign and Sing,
a sign
language
music class.
Music Together
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$112-$194 for
8-12 week
sessions
Classes for
newborns
through
children 7
years of age
Classes
include
materials for
parents to
continue
music
development
at home
Classes:
Mixed Aged,
Big Kids, and
Guitar for
Grownups
Some centers
offer discounts
if enrolling
more than one
child or are a
returning
family. Some
even offer
scholarships.
Musikgarten
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$144-$203 for
12 week
sessions
Classes range
for ages
newborn
through 5
years of age
Classes
include
materials for
parents to
continue
music
development
at home
Classes
include:
Family Music
Ages 0-2.5
years, Music
Makers 1 At
Home in the
World Ages 34 years, and
Music Makers
2 At Home in
the World
Ages 4-5
How Can Parents Support and Enrich Their Child’s
Musical Development?
Be involved in their music experiences from the beginning
Parents do not have to be musically gifted in order to enrich their child’s musical
development. There are many different ways parents can include music in their
home environment such as:
Create a musical play zone
Create an area in which children are able
to explore different instruments and make
their own music. One example is to fill a
basket with non-pitched percussion
instruments such as pots, pans, and
wooden spoons. It is important for parents
to model to their children how to play the
instruments correctly, but it is also
important to give them their space to
explore creative play.
Sing to your children
“Mothers and fathers need to know that
just as the child who is read to regularly is
more likely to become a reader, so too the
child who is sung to will more likely
become a more developmentally advanced
musical child” (Szabo, 1999).
During free time offer the option of
listening to music
Give children the opportunity to listen to a
variety of music. Researchers have suggested
playing music to help calm infants when fussy.
Do movement activities with your
children
Encourage children to create their own
movements while listening to music.
Children are able to express their feelings
through movement and dance.
Parents can also teach their children
dances and songs from their culture and
from other cultures in the world.
Active listening
Encourage movement/dance, discussion,
art work during music listening activity.
Sound exploration
Parents and children can explore sound by
doing body percussion such as clapping,
stomping, or patting a certain patterns and
having the other repeat.
Ask children to make sounds of noises
they may hear in their environment such as
a clock, a pet, or a car. There are many
different ways to explore sounds with your
children so be creative!