Why Early Childhood Music Education?

What does singing, dancing, creative movement and finger plays have to do with higher learning?

The brain loves rhythm.  It is hard wired to rhyme, rhythm, movement, and emotion.  Our bodies already have natural internal rhythms such as heartbeat, breathing, and walking.  When we hear an external rhythm, our brains attend to that rhythm and try to match it naturally.

The ability to hear the beat and then copy the beat eventually develops into an internal dialog or inner voice.  It is that inner voice that creates the reading and counting skills necessary for learning.

When children do not have opportunities to develop beat awareness during their early years, there are huge gaps in the foundation for learning. Rocking our babies, singing to them, and talking to them all contribute to their ability to mimic the flow of language rhythms.

Many songs engage children holistically.  Beat, rhythm, manipulatives, and hand and foot patterns all strengthen the inner voice. In music we hear the rhythm of a steady beat and express it with our voices and with a variety of instruments. In movement, play, and dance, we feel and express the beat with our bodies.

Children who master steady beat at an early age will have a head start in motor skills, academic skills and music skills.

Finally, IT IS FUN!!  It is a great way to spend time actively engaged with your children.  Life has a soundtrack. Just think about any important time in your life and you can surely come up with music that you were listening to during that time.  You are creating a lifelong love of music, and starting that soundtrack for them… a precious gift you can give to your child.