Music Appreciation
For some, music is food for the soul. Young as they are, children can already enjoy and interpret music they encounter any day. Music often makes an emotional connection for young children. For example, if they heard classical music in the womb, they will associate that specific piece of music with a feeling of security and intimacy. Encouraging children to appreciate music from an early age has the following benefits:
- Research shows that children who receive music education have higher scores in math and science.
- Music encourages neural development and the successful integration of tasks by both brain hemispheres.
- Research indicates that children who are involved in music programs are less likely to be called ‘disruptive’ students.
- Children who participate in art programs show a significant increase in self-esteem and thinking skills.
- Music training is more effective in enhancing children’s abstract reasoning skills than computer training.
You cannot afford to not let your kids be educated in music appreciation! After all, they are bound to reap its benefits the academic, social, and neurological levels. Here are some ways to incorporate music education into your kids’ daily life:
- Build a personal library of different music genres. Make sure you have a good collection of classical music and listen to it often.
- Keep a small music player in your child’s room and play Baroque music as your child falls asleep.
- Play pretend orchestra with your child and imagine that you are a conductor while listening to orchestra music.
- Let your hair down and show your child how to do rock and roll moves a la Elvis Presley.
- Invest in a good picture book with photographs of different musical instruments and show your child which instruments are playing on specific musical pieces.
- Teach your child to waltz while listening to classical waltz music, to march to marching music, and to karaoke with your favorite song.
