The benefits of music making

Even in the earliest stages of life, music plays an important role in a child’s development. Active music making brings families together, stimulates thinking and expressive skills, and enhances creativity in young children. What’s more, music provides an opportunity for children to interact with each other and gain a greater sense of well-being.

In fact, according to the American Music Conference (AMC), the earlier parents start incorporating music into their children’s lives, the better, as babies are able to recognize familiar melodies before they understand words. The goal in active and collaborative music making is to help ignite all areas of development: intellectual, social, emotional, motor, language and literacy.

Furthermore, a recent study by the Youth Music Organization found that music projects for preschool students had a positive impact on the children’s emotional, social, physical, and cultural development. The study, entitled “Turning their ears on, keeping their ears open,” observed the impact on very young children (ages birth through five) taking part in regular, structured, active, and creative music making (rather than passive listening/watching). The study was led by an expert musician with skills in working with this age group. From the findings, Youth Music concluded that regular weekly or bi-weekly contact over a two-year period between a musician and young children does impact several areas of a child’s development including communication, language skills, and mathematical development.

“Music helps the body and mind work together,” says Anne Fennell, a teacher and arts integration specialist with AMC. “Young children naturally respond to musical patterns and structure, demonstrating this in simple ways like clapping at the end of a song or stomping their feet. This helps children learn to count beats in music, thereby gaining an appreciation of the relationship between words, melody, and rhythm.”

A recent study by Noreen Yazejian, Ph.D., and Ellen Peisner-Feinberg, Ph.D., of the FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, found that the communication and rhythm skills of preschoolers receiving music and movement instruction were higher than those children who were not given lessons.

Parents have many options for introducing music to their children. Programs like Kindermusik combine music and movement to enhance the development capabilities of young children. Disney’s Little Einsteins, the interactive preschool franchise, encourages parents and children to listen to music with intent and actively engage in the creative and sensory world that surrounds them. Through the Little Einsteins Musical Missions CD and DVD, three-to-six-year-olds can find new ways to enjoy and learn about making music.

AMC encourages parents to keep in mind the following learning elements when sharing the joy of music with their children:

Responding to music. Research has illustrated the value of teaching toddlers to keep a steady beat. In fact, studies have linked mastering a steady beat to basic reading skills. Beyond its educational value, the steady beat has tremendous appeal for young children who instinctively find it in music and sway to it or pat to it. Also, participating in musical activities increases both fine and gross motor skills and improves hand-eye coordination.

Listening to music. Parents should encourage their children to both listen to and hear the beautiful layers of music that give each song personality and texture. Children will become familiar with expressive musical elements such as dynamics, tempo, and pitch. Children will learn these new words as well as actions associated with them. Furthermore, parents are helping to hone their children’s listening skills as they try to match similar sounds.

Creating music. Young children naturally create and sing new songs all the time. Many children often make up songs to accompany their daily activities. Parents must nurture this innate ability by encouraging them to experience the fun, joy, and confidence of making music and singing. Music also builds memory skills, as a child learns to repeat the words of a song.

Musical collaboration. Everyone can make music regardless of formal training. Music is also a great way for both parents and children to express themselves. It encourages socialization, and sharing and participating in group activities. Music making and music listening activities develop self-discipline, as well as critical and creative thinking skills.

The American Music Conference is a national, nonprofit educational association dedicated to promoting the importance of music, music making, and music education to the general public. For more information, visit Amc-music.org.