Teaching music to children is essential for their cognitive development, since musical learning brings a variety of physical and mental areas into operation. Therefore, on International Music Day, we cannot pass up the opportunity to remember the importance of music in the lives of children. But it is also essential to use an appropriate method, even for the youngest children.
Children begin to show interest in music since they are babies. In fact, the songs that mothers instinctively use to calm, sleeping and entertaining their babies, become a way of creating contact between mother and child. That is, the baby learns to connect with his mother through the sounds that this emits, recognizes the voice of his mother in the songs and even gets emotional with them.
How to start teaching music to children
Music teaching is part of the educational curriculum in schools in Spain, even from early childhood education schools. Using your own body as a percussion instrument, learning to clap your hands, make noise with your feet and legs, or your own voice. However, learning to play an instrument requires using skills that are generally not acquired until the age of 5 or 6.
This is the ideal age to start playing different instruments, since at this age children already have certain skills such as coordination between the eyes and the extremities. They are even capable of memorizing enough to be able to play small melodies and simple notes. The most important thing is to respect the interests of the child, but offering him different options so that he can feel motivated to learn music.
To start teaching music to children, you need to use simple methods that encourage them to learn. Through songs that you already know, using one's own body as an instrument and memorizing the lyrics of songs that they like the most. Little by little the children will show interest in different instruments, but the most fun and appropriate for young children are percussion instruments, such as drums or bongos.
Music is an art, a means of expression
Clearly music is one of the most recognized forms of artistic expression and followed worldwide. For this reason, it is essential that music education is part of the education of children from an early age. Especially for those who have the most difficulty communicating or expressing their emotions. Not surprisingly, music is used in various therapies in children with difficulties such as Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Ultimately, teaching music to children is a matter of love, patience and share emotions with the little ones. Letting them express what the music makes them feel, either through body language and dance. Singing and using his own voice to live the music and learn it in turn. Even a very fun and simple way to learn music at home is combining this art with painting.
It is a perfect activity to share with the family, even with the youngest children. Prepare a large old sheet, poster board, or a large paper canvas. Cover a paintable wall, the ground, or a wall in your garden, if you have one. The activity consists of expressing with painting what music makes you feelTo do this, you can use songs with a lot of rhythm and change to more relaxing ones.
You will be surprised how much fun children have playing with music and a lot the more you will be surprised by what they are capable of learning. But without a doubt, you will be the one who takes the most important lesson, because you will see how your children speak through music, because emotions are innate. It only takes something that provokes a feeling or an emotion, and for children, there is nothing that expresses more than music.