Get The Most out of Music Class--some tips!

You are your child’s most important teacher. Give yourself permission to be a musical role model by participating fully in class— enjoy singing with gusto, moving freely and listening attentively. You will convey to your child that music is a valuable activity, not to mention fun!

Do not worry about the quality of your singing voice. Instilling a joy for making music is far more important than “getting the notes right.” Language can sometimes get in the way of tonal development so feel free to be playful with sounds like “bah”, “bum” and “dah”. You may find that your child will join in song with you more easily.

Repetition is vital to your child’s learning process. You will surely become tired of listening to your child’s CD, but it is through repetition that the music gets inside your child and greater learning (nuance) takes place.

Keep chatting with friends in class to a minimum. Your focus and attention will rub off on your child and will signal to him/her that what you are doing in class is important and special.

Observe and enjoy quiet time in class and in the music (e.g. listening time, rocking, story-telling, some imaginative play). Quiet times encourage the child to practice self-control, serve as calming moments for the class, and allow for (musical) processing i.e. audiation.

Have fun with vocal exploration—sirens, wind, train whistles, animal sounds are all ideal ways for children to begin to master the high and low ranges of their voices which will improve their ability to match pitch as they develop.

Learning styles are different and that’s okay. Your child may exhibit one or more of the following learning traits. The visual learner likes to observe in class and then try it out at home. This child appreciates lots of good modeling in class. The auditory learner enjoys aural learning experiences and often matches pitch well. This child likes to sing parts of songs or engage in sound play. The kinesthetic learner prefers to learn by doing and enjoys dancing, creative movement and playing instruments.

ENJOY! Music is a gift that lasts a lifetime. By week 5 or 6, you and your child will begin to form a music class “community” that we hope will strengthen and last for years to come.