How early can we send children for Music training?
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There are several elements in every song – and the basic ones are rhythm, melody and harmony. Rhythm development for children is important because it is the “heartbeat” of music, and that is why I have always encouraged parents and teachers to take extra care in rhythm development for children right from the start.
©2004 Victor Tan
author@gsus.biz
http://www.gsus.biz
When my daughter was born, I applied my beliefs and findings in music development to her from day one. Each time I carried her, I will pat her with one hand singing to the rhythm of the song or to the music played back from a compact disc. At the third month, I used the other hand patting the first beat of each bar of the music while continuing the original beating of every beat by the other hand. Before turning one, she already showed accurate hand movement following the tempo (speed of music) to any music she was listening to. When we sang familiar children's songs – “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”,
“ London Bridge ”, “Jesus loves me this I know” ..etc., she was able to respond in joining us by singing the end of each phrase. I still remember those days in church when she could also respond by moving her hand rhythmically to worship songs which were new to her. I realized that her basic rhythm sense was developing along the way. At a later stage, she could even beat the rhythm of the worship songs from the beginning of the phrase…this interesting result gave me much encouragement to further promote what we should do with children in music development.
Start even before we send them for Formal Music training
So, learning music or development of music in a child starts at a very young age, maybe even from birth. Some believe we an even start them from the prenatal stage – for this, I am unable to comment; perhaps, you should ask the mothers who have been through that, or have had some experience in that. What I am suggesting is that when a child is ready to learn or perceive a particular action, that shall be the teaching we bring across.
In this situation, a child can make sounds but unable to speak yet, can visualize but not read, can understand by actions but not the language yet. Even though they cannot sit up or walk yet at this tender age, nonetheless they are already moving their hands in many ways. This is actually the kinetic development in a child. The key here is to teach or optimize the child's capability at every growing stage – not only in the rhythm development but in all kinds of things the child can do at that particular stage of growth.
Every child had been exposed to rhythm
In one documentary showed on television many years ago, a new born baby was immediately put into a room with nothing at all in it. Each time the baby cried, a stop watch recorded the time before the baby stopped crying. This was done more than three times and each time in less than 45 seconds the baby stopped crying. What actually happened was that each time the baby cried, a prerecorded heartbeat of the baby's mother was played , hence the baby stopped crying because of the familiar environment - the baby felt the rhythmic pattern of the mother's heartbeat in the womb for 9 months.
This clearly shows that we have already developed the rhythmic sense to some extent before we were born. This also applies to The Theory Of Multiple Intelligences by Dr Howard Gardner, where music and rhythmic intelligence is one of the seven (or nine by now).
Starting music for young children depends also on the parents' awareness in music, as some of the elements in music require the related skill one has in order to bring it across to the child. For example, if a mother has poor rhythmic feel in music, or if she is unable to sing in tune, she may eventually transfer the wrong rhythm feel or the wrong pitch to the child ! In this case, it would be better if the parent relies on recorded music from the compact disc or cassette tape. You can actually start their music learning as soon as possible – you need not wait for the child till she is four or seven years old.
When do we do it?
Whenever we have them with us – in your arms, in the car, while shopping or when we put them to sleep. It is such a blessing to have baby in your arms, so do not loose this birth right by letting your baby to any maid.
How do we do it?
Just pat your baby lightly on her back, with some soothing music from the tape or even with your own singing. A note of caution though : -
Try to select a song with a ‘four-four' or ‘ two four' count.
Avoid any three-four (waltzes) or six-eight time at this stage
Until they are steady in the feel for the ‘four-four' or ‘two-four' counts.
Simple tunes are “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, “Ten Little Indian Boys”, “Jesus Loves Me This I know” , “Are you sleeping” & “Jesus Loves the Little Children” etc…
It may be several more years before we can send them for formal music training. While waiting and carry out the above suggested activities, we are preparing them with good rhythm, pitch hearing, and many others basic music elements. However, it is more important for them to develop a love for music and getting them ready in all other aspects first so that they are more ‘aligned' when they begin formal music lessons. Let them enjoy the beauty of music so that they can come before the Lord with a pure & simple heart, to worship in spirit and in truth!
© 2004 Victor Tan
Email : author@gsus.biz
http://www.gsus.biz
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