Raising Musical Kids – What is musical preparation and what does it mean for my child?

Music readiness is a term that music teachers apply to describe a list of behaviors that show tendencies toward readiness to study music. The list varies among teachers and differs due to the teacher’s personal experience with teaching young children. Not all teachers have or want this experience. So what does musical preparation mean for your child?

In traditional private lessons, readiness refers to the ability to concentrate or focus on lesson interactions for a specified period of time, having the physical ability to transition from large to small motor activities, and remembering instruction in a given lesson. week to week. But music education has evolved far beyond the traditional private lesson and includes much more for the very young child who is not ready for traditional private instruction.

Typical music preparation experiences for very young children offer frequently changing activities, repetition of musical ideas, use of large motor skills, limited reading of music using extra-large musical symbols, group activities that teach social interaction, lots of singing and dancing , a lot of rhythm instruments and a lot of fun.

Most preschoolers ages 2-5 will be able to take part in organized group music lessons that focus on singing, movement, a variety of rhythm instruments, and entry-level experiences with an instrument such as the violin or violin. keyboard as focus. There are several excellent methods and philosophies that you can choose from.

Kindermusik, Orff, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kodalyi, and Dalcroze are well-known and respected music education systems that offer beginner music lessons for very young children. Each requires training from specialized instructors, resulting in certification by the organization method.

Suzuki instructors follow the belief that students can and should learn music as easily as they learn their own native language. Students as young as 2 years old learn to play the violin on small-sized instruments, following their violinist leader. They learn their music by ear.

Yamaha also offers group lessons that explore music with very limited keyboard use as a foundation for studying music theory and note reading. Singing and memorizing the Do, Re, Mi system is one way that students participate in this method.

Kodayi is a singing method that uses hand movements to indicate changes in musical pitch, thus training students to internalize musical creation with sight, sound, and movement. This system understands that children learn in different ways and that each learning path must be included in some way.

Orff uses a wide variety of pitched and non-pitched rhythmic instruments and singing to develop musical skills. In larger programs, full Orff orchestras may be used to perform musical works.

Kindermusik uses a planned set of music lessons that engage students in a wide variety of organized musical experiences using rhythm instruments, clapping, and singing.

Dalcoze is a respected method that uses movement, singing, and rhythms.

Some three-year-olds can take private piano lessons. There are excellent method books by educators like Bastien, Noona or Alfred. Keep in mind that these methods use pre-reading lessons that are non-traditional in look or scope, and experienced teachers often offer shorter lessons for students this age to plan for their shorter attention spans. Parents should also help their children to practice.

Once you and your child have experienced making music together in one of these group settings, you’ll have a better idea of ​​how your child learns and what your child likes. You can always choose an instrument and private lessons later.