You know music is great for your child, but why? And how do you know the class is worth the money? What should you expect?
I’ve been an early childhood music teacher for fifteen years, and I’ve seen many children reveal passion for music from infancy. A child is born a musical creature, but no two children look the same when they join a music class. You might have a child who sits beautifully in the circle and sings along, or like me, you might have one who sits outside the group or maybe even runs around the circle.
While your child appears distracted in class, you are surprised to find he sings songs in the bathtub at night, or perhaps while she is soothing herself to sleep. Children process music each in their own way. Sometimes they look joyful, exuberant, and publicly please everyone in the room. Just as often, the music exists inside privately, with very little evidence that a child is happy or engaged.
What do children learn at music class and how can you tell if your child is benefiting?
Temperament plays a huge role in how children respond to music. A child who in general is slow to warm up to new people, sensitive to sound, hesitates when exploring new materials, will likely appear to hang back at the start of a music class. They need time to warm up to the situation. They may want to sit on a lap, cry, or nurse until they get into a routine. You should respect this process, give them time, and try not to feel disappointed because while they get adjusted they are learning a lot.
Very young children process music actively even when they appear to be involved in something else. They can’t be good audience members as adults might envision. They aren’t aware of the social conventions and can’t physically sit still and listen. Parents should shift expectations and try to recognize the learning even when it is subtle.
Here are some signs that your child is engaged, is learning, and in fact loves music class:
- Each time you go to class she gets closer to the teacher, more daring in her approach.
- He tries to play the teacher’s guitar. If the guitar faces the floor, he’ll try to turn it over and attempt to put hands on the strings.
- The child will use all her physical skills to get closer to the guitar, for example, rolling, crawling, standing upright, bouncing and balancing.
- He shows interest in the mechanics of the guitar, how the pegs work, the vibration of the strings when free and when covered by a hand. He might put a hand inside the guitar hole.
- She vocalizes and babbles, not necessarily singing. Occasionally she will utter some words of songs, particularly if there’s a recognizable sequence involving animals. First comes the cat, then the duck etc.
Children are learning so many things around the song circle. They
- Hear new language
- Manage transitions
- Regulate emotions
- Move appropriately according to mood and volume
- Share instruments
- See how good it feels to be part of a group
Recently, there has been an increased emphasis on the importance of social and emotional learning for very young children, and the impact that soft skills – self-regulation, organization, managing transitions, and respect for various points of view – can have on adult success in the workplace. The importance of learning to listen can’t be underestimated, and that’s what music class is all about, even for an infant.
If you catch some new tunes and sing more at home, that’s even better, as singing is a great way to bond with your baby. The voice of a parent is loved best of all, so bring the class alive in the privacy of the bathtub or nursery – just you, the baby, and a trusted rubber ducky or favorite stuffed friend.
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Renee Bock is a dedicated early childhood educator, who is currently the Educational Director at Explore+Discover, a social learning center in Manhattan that is dedicated to setting the standard for infant and toddler care and education. Renee has more than a decade of experience in the field and holds a Master’s in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College in New York. In her present position, she is helping Explore+Discover open the first of 27 New York City centers focused on children from 3 months to two years old. She can be reached at rbock@explorediscover.net.
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