music skills

Early musical experiences involving active participation allow for enhanced musical experiences later in life.

Children receiving music experiences involving multiple senses grasp musical concepts better. The senses are visual (seeing visual aids with the music), auditory (singing and listening), kinesthetic (moving to music).

Research has shown that infants do possess the capabilities of perceiving and mentally organizing music. It found infants 8-11 months of age do perceive and remember melodic contour and 7 -9 months of age also recognize melodies independent of tempo.

A most important element is continuity, not just a few random experiences now and then. Musical growth is a very gradual process and will naturally seem at times to be static.

Some parents may feel that it is more beneficial for their children to listen to recorded music than to be subjected to their poor singing and the effect is to curtail an important learning strategy. Recorded music can not replace live interaction.

Movement experiences help to develop the sense of rythym. Without movement, children’s understanding of rhythm may not fully develop or become secure.

Papousek (1994) suggests that parents stop singing with infants and toddlers at too early a stage.