EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

All children benefit by musical instruction, from the day they are born. Singing and playing music for your child helps to mold his/her memory and thinking brain. Music is logical and structured so by simply listening to it our minds are improved.

MUSIC AND THE MIND: There is a reason why there are so many children's songs that teach simple lessons and concepts. Every one remembers the Alphabet Song, and probably sings it while filing to remember what letter comes next. Songs are easy to remember because music forms a lasting structure in our memory easier than rote memorization does. The advice that playing Mozart for your babies and children makes them smarter is based on research that proves this very point. Music, above all the arts, helps to mold a logical thinking mind.

MUSIC AND PLAY: Children naturally sing the songs they know as they play. Sometimes the songs are related to their games, sometimes they are not. The songs make them feel good and can simply be an expression of their feelings. Children quickly associate songs and melodies with things they like and know. All children's TV producers realize that before they can produce even the first show, they must first produce a memorable and likeable theme song. The fact that advertisers work hard to create jingles proves this inherent quality of music affects us even as adults.

MUSIC AND WORK: Laborers (and even slaves) have often sung songs to help them pass the time during their work. Almost all work, and especially physical labor, is repetitive and boring so singing songs not only helps you pass the time and even keeps you from slacking or becoming lazy in your job. Doing a task to music can create a rhythm and efficiency that is not possible without the added beat and momentum. The American Negro Spirituals are born of the songs that the African American slaves sang, and they have survived because so many of them carried positive and uplifting messages. The heart and soul of the slave was saved by the songs they sang, when the body was being so cruelly brutalized.

SING TO YOUR CHILD: By singing to and with your child, you help build thinking processes and physical skills that will help him/her so many ways later in life. The words may carry important lessons and messages that form your child's moral foundation. The association of music with feelings can create a safety net against adversity. The understanding of rhythm and sounds increases her/his development in other important areas: spatial relationships, mathematics, physcial motion, and understanding of sensual qualities. The younger the child is when learning these skills, the further and more quickly she/he can develop in these areas once entering school.

PARENTS AND CHILDREN MUSIC CLASSES: At KMI we offer a special program that provides parents of young children some crucial and important musical skills (primarily songs and games) so the parents can then exposure their children to music at a young age. The program is called Music Together, which is taught nation-wide by 100s of independent music teachers. Classes include participation of parents and children (infants up to 5 years old), with emphasis on individual freedom to observe, listen, participate, and create. The instructor guides the participants in structured play, rather than teaching or dictating activities. With each lesson the parents have more tools and activities they can engage with their child at home and the child learns to listen to others, and follow directions. These are clearly very important skills to develop before the child enters the school system. See Music Together for more information.

(See TUTORIAL: Timeline for more information about your child's progress in music through the many years of education.)