Toddlers learn through music

Published Wednesday, February 27, 2008
by Lesley Martin

Kennedy Library started its first Reading Music Reading Words class
Wednesday.

The library gave toddlers tambourines, drumsticks and bells to go along
with story time. They encourage creative chaos during story time to help
them develop reading skills.

Studies have shown incorporating music, rhythms and instruments with
reading help children develop language skills.

"The whole patterns, counting, and pacing through music help children to
pace through reading," Jody DelaGardelle, Assistant Librarian said. "I
think a lot of times with a story, a child just listens, but when they
have to pay attention, when they make noise, or when they have to
participate they are learning something."

The class consisted of 14 children ranging from ages three to four, all
having fun but learning at the same time.

The parents who bring their children to Reading Music Reading Words have
seen an improvement in educational skills and will continue to bring
their children each week.

"Music is a great teacher. Children pick up music so young," Anne
Gaydos, a parent whose two sons attend the class, said. "My babies love
listening to music and singing and dancing. I think you accompany that
with words and I think that the learning sinks in even more."

The class was created by a Ball State music professor a couple of years
ago, and Dela Gardelle has been in charge of the class for the last six
years.

Toddler's Music (age 1 to 3)

When i mention to friends or people i meet that i teach music to toddler's, most give me this "what in the world?" look.

Music is a natural part of life for toddlers. They might sing to their stuffed animals, tap their feet to the rhythm of nursery rhymes, sing in their car seat(that's what my son does) and enjoy the sound of their parents singing to them.

So, you ask..what do you teach in a class?

Loads....

This is how a typical class will go.

Kids just love to be acknowledge. We start of on the right footing by welcoming each of them. We play bouncy games to set their pulse for music. As we go along, we do games to develop fine motor skills coupled with loads of tickles. (They just love this.) We have free dances for them to work those gross motor skills as well, it is during this time that musical form is established without them knowing it. We pass along some percussive instruments for them to play along with the music and move around. Where they start to build social skills by either helping to put them away or take them for friends. We go through vocalization to help them find their singing voice. All this is done with good cheer and great fun. No pressure at all.

If you are interested to experience one of my classes, do feel free to drop by at my SS2 center. We have classes ever Sat at 10 am. Its by appointment though, so you can either give Lara's Place a call to book a slot or you can email me direct.

Lara's Place : 03-79568768

Have a good day.

How music education can benefit children

Twelve Benefits of Music Education


1. Early musical training helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning. It is thought that brain development continues for many years after birth. Recent studies have clearly indicated that musical training physically develops the part of the left side of the brain known to be involved with processing language, and can actually wire the brain's circuits in specific ways. Linking familiar songs to new information can also help imprint information on young minds.

2. There is also a causal link between music and spatial intelligence (the ability to perceive the world accurately and to form mental pictures of things). This kind of intelligence, by which one can visualize various elements that should go together, is critical to the sort of thinking necessary for everything from solving advanced mathematics problems to being able to pack a book-bag with everything that will be needed for the day.

3. Students of the arts learn to think creatively and to solve problems by imagining various solutions, rejecting outdated rules and assumptions. Questions about the arts do not have only one right answer.

4. Recent studies show that students who study the arts are more successful on standardized tests such as the SAT. They also achieve higher grades in high school.

5. A study of the arts provides children with an internal glimpse of other cultures and teaches them to be empathetic towards the people of these cultures. This development of compassion and empathy, as opposed to development of greed and a "me first" attitude, provides a bridge across cultural chasms that leads to respect of other races at an early age.

6. Students of music learn craftsmanship as they study how details are put together painstakingly and what constitutes good, as opposed to mediocre, work. These standards, when applied to a student's own work, demand a new level of excellence and require students to stretch their inner resources.

7. In music, a mistake is a mistake; the instrument is in tune or not, the notes are well played or not, the entrance is made or not. It is only by much hard work that a successful performance is possible. Through music study, students learn the value of sustained effort to achieve excellence and the concrete rewards of hard work.

8. Music study enhances teamwork skills and discipline. In order for an orchestra to sound good, all players must work together harmoniously towards a single goal, the performance, and must commit to learning music, attending rehearsals, and practicing.

9. Music provides children with a means of self-expression. Now that there is relative security in the basics of existence, the challenge is to make life meaningful and to reach for a higher stage of development. Everyone needs to be in touch at some time in his life with his core, with what he is and what he feels. Self-esteem is a by-product of this self-expression.

10. Music study develops skills that are necessary in the workplace. It focuses on "doing," as opposed to observing, and teaches students how to perform, literally, anywhere in the world. Employers are looking for multi-dimensional workers with the sort of flexible and supple intellects that music education helps to create as described above. In the music classroom, students can also learn to better communicate and cooperate with one another.

11. Music performance teaches young people to conquer fear and to take risks. A little anxiety is a good thing, and something that will occur often in life. Dealing with it early and often makes it less of a problem later. Risk-taking is essential if a child is to fully develop his or her potential.

12. An arts education exposes children to the incomparable.



Carolyn Phillips is the author of the Twelve Benefits of Music Education. She is the Former Executive Director of the Norwalk Youth Symphony, CT.