The Importance of Music Education For the Very Young

Why offer music classes for the very young?  Before a baby produces their first audible language sounds, they coo and sing .  When a baby's early communication is encouraged by adult singing and humming a stronger bond is forged between infant and parent and the baby displays greater attentiveness to adults caring for them.  Baby's listening skills become more focused and language development is heightened. 

While some children will naturally have greater musical capacity, all children can develop musical skill.  Tunefulness and beat can be more fully developed during the first five years of life.  Engaging children in singing and playing musical games with the adults in their lives eases stress while providing quality moments of laughter and fun.  Music becomes a means of building stronger family relationships.

Music also develops right brain strengths - activities that school curricula often neglect.  In A Whole New Mind, Daniel H. Pink identifies six essential aptitudes of right brain development that are necessary to function professionally in the Conceptual Age of the 21st Century.  These aptitudes are: design, story, symphony, empathy, play and meaning.  Pink cites the popularity of Apple products as an example of functional tools that synthesize design, meaning and play.  According to Pink, people with higher functioning right brain skills will be the workforce of the future.  Early childhood music programs provide children with experience in all six areas of right brain development.  

        

First Steps In Music is an early childhood music program designed to enrich a child's life through exploration of beat, playing with pitch, and discovering self-expression through music.  Dr. John Fierabend, the creator of First Steps in Music, is one of the leading authorities on music and movement development in early childhood.  First Steps in Music folk songs are carefully selected for their appeal to adults and children, their quality to inspire imagination, and their capacity to remain delicious even after 30 repetitions.  

Children, 3 months to 5 years, participate in weekly classes grouped according to age and development.  Classes are limited to eight children and are organized so age span does not exceed more than one year between participants.  Children experience a wide variety of age appropriate repertoire including songs, rhymes, movement and playing of simple instruments.  Parents attend classes, learn the songs and games, and encourage and support their child in these activities at home.

  

Participation in these classes improves tonal, listening, rhythmic and coordination skills of children.

Other benefits include verbal development, socialization skills, ability to follow directions and focus attention, and learning to share with peers.  First Steps in Music enriches the lives of children for a lifetime.

For class schedules please visit my web site www.HomMusic.com.