Miss Mary's Music Notes

Research shows that music training can be of immense benefit to language development.  Music listening—such as paying attention to pitch variation and timbre—can increase a child’s ability to distinguish specific sounds within words. The awareness that comes from listening to rhythm in music can increase awareness of the rhythmic structure of language, thus helping children learn to read fluently.

In order to make listening meaningful, we must listen with expectation and purpose. Organizing listening into the following three phases can help:

• Engage. Focus your child’s listening by presenting a puzzle or challenge—making listening interesting.

• Describe. Encourage your child to discuss what he hears, sees, thinks, and knows.

• Demonstrate. Provide opportunities for your child to demonstrate what she hears.

 

You can easily incorporate these listening ideas into your daily routine.  While going about your daily routines, ask your child, “What do you hear?”   Then imitate the sounds vocally, like we do in class.

Try rocking with you child while listening to a favorite song.  Although many people “listen” to music throughout the day, listening is often relegated to being a “background” event.  Setting aside a special time for listening provides moments invaluable to the development of both emotional security and music appreciation.