Miss Mary's Music Notes

“We are all explorers – fascinated by the new, intrigued by the mysterious and captivated by the challenge of learning and doing.”

 

In our Kindermusik classes we enjoy lots of exploration with egg shakers:  shaking high, shaking low, rolling, tapping, rubbing and so many other ways thought of by our children!  Toddlers, and especially our preschoolers, always seem to discover yet another way to play the shakers! 

An important aspect of exploration of an instrument with your child is that of “scaffolding.”  Scaffolding is a process of interaction during which the adult gently guides and supports the child’s learning by building on what the child is able to do.  This involves varying the level of the activity depending upon the child’s response.  Because each and every child in our class is unique, we often observe many different things going on during Exploration Time.  Scaffolding is a type of exploration we use in all of our classes, including the babies.

This week put on some music and play along with your child.  Remember, you can use tupperware or empty containers as drums; add beans or rice and make it a shaker.  And of course, pot, pans and wooden spoons (and metal spoons) all make great home instruments.  See what ideas you and your child can come up with this week at home?  Explore!!