Music for
Entertainment:
In this addition to my blog, I’d like to cover how music is
not only enjoyable for our kids, but also a truly important addition to their
curriculum (not only in school, but at home).
Music is such a broad topic, and I can only discuss what I have personal
experience with, so forgive me if there’s anything you feel I have missed. We are a community, so if there is anything
you would like to add, please do so in the comments section below.
I have a personal fondness for show tunes, and I am often guilty
of bursting into song as soon as someone accidentally (and regretfully for
them) reminds me of lyrics in the middle of an average conversation. My husband will tell you that once I get
started, it’s probably best to just let me finish my little ditty.
I simply can’t even put on a fedora without lifting it into
the air from the top of my head, and singing, “One” from A Chorus Line, while
kicking one leg at a time. My kids
always find this hysterical, but I’m doing more than just letting my inner Debbie Reynolds come out to play. Through fun,
silliness, and a little crazy thrown in for good measure, I am purposefully
trying to expose my kids to a world that I was lucky enough to enjoy as a kid. My parents were big theatre buffs, and as New
Yorkers, always made it a habit to see as many shows as possible. Even before I was born, they were actively
collecting one Playbill after another. I
was always rifling through their impressive vinyl collection that included Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, Oh! Calcutta!,
Evita, A Chorus Line, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, amongst
many others. I really believe Broadway
had a renaissance in the 70’s. I was a
rare kid who knew every word to “Don’t Cry for me, Argentina,” and “What’s theBuzz (Tell Me What’s A-Happenin’).”
I want my kids to figure out what makes their spirits soar,
and the only way to accomplish that is by exposing them to as much as
possible. Occasionally, they will ask me
how I know a song, and I will run right over to my laptop, do a search on
YouTube, and there is the scene from the play, right there in my own home! My daughter was particularly impressed with
the “One” choreography in A Chorus Line. Imagine a two-year-old having an appreciation
for a play from decades past. Either she’s an old soul, or I am doing
something right. Either way, thank you,
YouTube!
Whether my kids go into Finance or the Arts, I want them to
find their calling. But to have an
appreciation for an art form is such a gift.
It makes you feel, connect to the world and those around you, and see
different perspectives.
Music for
Concentration:
I also make a point to play classical music in the
background of my home. I have been in
homes with the TV blaring on Nick Jr. all day long. Don’t get me wrong, we are big Nick Jr. fans,
and we also love the Sprout network.
However, TV is for watching. When it’s time to sit down and relax our
bodies, we watch a show, and actually watch the show. When we are eating dinner, doing a craft,
playing with play-doh, doing a group kitchen activity like baking cupcakes, or
any other activity that requires some level of concentration, I turn on the
classical channel on my TV. Besides the
kids benefitting from the exposure, it even helps me keep calm and breathe a
little deeper amidst the chaos.
Have you ever been in a store with a TV blaring, or loud and
fast music? How does it make you feel
and think while you’re trying to make shopping decisions? Have you ever been in a store with classical
music playing? Suddenly, not only can
you think clearer and your blood pressure slows down, but there’s something
dignified and civilized about shopping under those different auditory
conditions. My daughter goes to school a
few blocks from a Dean and Deluca, and I swear, I will always find the time to
pop in and grab my coffee because the classical music they play really does
have a calming effect on my morning.
I have noticed my son, who is 6, occasionally humming some
really famous classical songs while he is either coloring, stirring a pot while
we cook, or doing anything else that requires concentration. I love that this music, which is believed to improve
brain function (according to the highly debated “Mozart Effect”), has filtered
its way into his subconscious. It makes
me believe that he is building the tools he needs to control his level of
concentration and calm.
Creating Music:
From an early age, kids are exposed to a variety of
instruments, whether it’s shaky eggs and jingling bells in baby music class, or
a Fischer Price baby piano right in your living room. Children are learning the cause and effect of
making a sound from touching or manipulating something. This is teaching them a valuable lesson that
will help them down the road. Although
the “Mozart Effect” is still debated, it has been proven that learning to play
a musical instrument can improve cognitive functions in the brain. My son’s
first music class, Musicology, was taught by a wonderful lady while we were living in Hoboken, who is also a member of the energetic kid’s band The Fuzzy Lemons. Miss Dana single handedly got my
son interested in singing, dancing, and musical instruments. Another all-star in my experience was Mr. Michael, of Preschool of Rock. You want
energy? He’s got it! He is a rare breed of people who REALLY love
what they do, and that energy is evident by getting every kid engaged in the
class, no matter what type of learner they are.
Yes, music really is the universal language!
I highly recommend a child learning an instrument (or
several) from as early an age as possible.
Music lessons can be expensive, however there are ways to cut the
cost.
o
Coordinate a group music lesson with a few other
moms. Although your child will not
receive the one-on-one attention of an individual lesson, s/he will gain enough
to at least get the basics of the instrument, and then decide how “in love”
they are with it.
o
Contact local music schools. Again, living in The Big Apple has been
beneficial for us, because I was able to find a great violin teacher for my son,
who is a student at the Juilliard School.
I was willing to work around her school schedule, but the cost was much
more palatable than a professional instructor.
o
Have a musical family member or close friend?
Barter a lesson or two on behalf of your little dear, in exchange for something
you can provide. Do their taxes. Organize their closet. Make them a lasagna. Or just offer them “beer money,” which in my
world means, “I can’t pay you market rate, but everyone can always use some
extra cash.”
o
Scour your neighborhood for free demo classes. Often a guitar store will offer a class as a
promotion, and in good faith, I have always given them a great rating on Yelp,
as well as recommended them to everyone I know.
And you never know… It might be such a great fit that you’d be willing
to invest in more classes. The most
important thing is that your little dear gets the exposure at least once.
Music for Speaking:
My son was language delayed, and therefore, in addition to Shelby
Camhi, our fabulous Speech Pathologist and owner of Talk 2 Me, he gained the ability
to truly connect to language by going to Music Therapy. I absolutely cannot speak highly enough about
the talents of Jennifer Goodman, owner of Jammin Jenn.
Studies have shown that music uses a different part of the
brain. This has been proven through stroke victims who can no longer produce
the word to simple, every day objects, however can sing “Happy Birthday” from
beginning to end without a problem. This
is also the reason that many preschool teachers have a song for many
transitions, such as circle time or clean up time. The song gives the child’s brain a signal
before a spoken sentence can. Have you
ever been really tired while trying to alphabetize something, and just give up
and sing your “ABC’s” in your head? You
will never forget the words to that song as long as you live, but if I quickly
asked you what comes after ‘T’, you might have to stop and think about it.
However you celebrate music in your home, make it a group activity. Your little dears will show an interest in what interests you, so tell them what kind of music you like, and sing it together!
However you celebrate music in your home, make it a group activity. Your little dears will show an interest in what interests you, so tell them what kind of music you like, and sing it together!
Copyright © 2014 Mary Ghicas, The Finer Things for Kids
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