Get Into the Groove: Introducing Music to Preschoolers

Studies show that early exposure to music is valuable in providing children with the foundation for a lifelong love of music and is the basis for any future musical training. It is also intellectually stimulating and helps children develop self-expression and social skills.

From the first note my son heard at music class, he was completely captivated by the instruments and songs. As we went to more and more classes, he began to gain more confidence singing and doing the actions. To my surprise, he even learned to recognize songs by a single note.

Through this exposure, I also noticed that he became more interested in music in general. He could sit for long stretches intently listening to street musicians, playing anything from classical to pop and loved having any type of music on in the car.

Whether this ever leads him to take up an instrument is not important. What is important is the impression this early exposure has left on him.

Here are some tips to help surround your children with music:

• Play a variety of music at home.
• Build a music corner and fill it with real and homemade instruments.
• Sing to and with kids.
• Play whistling and humming games. See if your children can identify the songs. 
• Discover beats and rhythms in the world - the beat of a ball bouncing, the rhythm you make while walking or running, etc.
• Introduce kids to instruments and let them just play.
• Don't be afraid to take young children to musical concerts. Even if they can't sit through the whole thing, the exposure is great!
• Register for music classes - not necessarily formal lessons, but rather try song groups and song circles.

By Rochelle Strauss