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CHILDREN AND MUSIC:

Tue, 31 May 2022 23:27:48 GMT

Parents instinctively use music to calm and soothe children, to express love and joy, and to engage and interact. Parents can build on these natural instincts by learning how music can impact child development, improve social skills, and benefit children of all ages.

MUSIC AND THE BRAIN: THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC

A 2016 study at the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute found that musical experiences in childhood can actually accelerate brain development, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills. According to the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM Foundation), learning to play an instrument can improve mathematical learning and even increase SAT scores.

But academic achievement isn’t the only benefit of music education and exposure. Music ignites all areas of child development and skills for school readiness , including intellectual, social-emotional , motor, language, and overall literacy. It helps the body and the mind work together. Exposing children to music during early development helps them learn the sounds and meanings of words. Dancing to music helps children build motor skills while allowing them to practice self-expression. For children and adults, music helps strengthen memory skills.

In addition to the developmental benefits, music brings us joy. Just think about listening to a good song in the car with the window down on a beautiful day.

MUSIC GAMES FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

Try these activities and games with your children to experience the pleasure and learning that music brings.

Infants and Music: Infants recognize the melody of a song long before they understand the words. Quiet background music can be soothing for infants, especially during sleep time. Sing simple, short songs to infants. Try making up one or two lines about bathing, dressing, or eating to sing to them while you do these activities.

Toddlers and Music: Toddlers love to dance and move to music. The key to toddler music is repetition, which encourages language and memorization. Silly songs make toddlers laugh. Try singing a familiar song and inserting a silly word in place of the correct word, like “Mary had a little spider” instead of lamb. Let children reproduce rhythms by clapping or tapping objects.

Preschoolers and Music: Preschoolers enjoy singing just to be singing. They aren’t self-conscious about their ability, and most are eager to let their voices roar. They like songs that repeat words and melodies, use rhythms with a definite beat, and ask them to do things and follow directions. Preschool children enjoy nursery rhymes and songs about familiar things like toys, animals, play activities, and people. They also like fingerplays and nonsense rhymes with or without musical accompaniment.

School-Age Children and Music: School-age children begin expressing their likes and dislikes of different types of music. They may express an interest in music education, such as music lessons for kids.

There is no downside to bringing children and music together through fun activities. We are able to enjoy the benefits of music from the moment we’re born. From the pure pleasure of listening to soothing sounds and rhythmic harmonies, to gaining new language and social skills, music can enliven and enrich the lives of children and the people who care for them.

The Surprising Benefits of Mixed-Age Classes

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Sun, 01 May 2022 17:00:03 GMT

“Although humans are not usually born in litters, we seem to insist they be educated in them.” – Dr. Lilian Katz

If you’re like many of us, you probably grew up learning in classrooms separated by age: First-graders in one room, second-graders in another, and so on. This is a common way to educate children, but it’s not the only way.

The resulting “family model” of early childhood education means that all members of a family can learn—and play!—together. Recent research on mixed-age classes highlights additional surprising benefits.

Benefit #1: True Empathy . Babies are born with the raw material to develop empathy, which often shows up as a reflex to mirror emotion, like when one baby cries and others cry, too. But in order for this potential to become what researchers call “true empathy,” children have to receive and give caring. This is rare in same-age schooling, but opportunities for nurturing exchanges abound in mixed-age classes.

Benefit #2: Meeting children’s unique needs . As a new parent, you may have joined a Baby Play Group to find support in parenting an infant for the first time. Finding community, comparing experiences, and sharing challenges all help new parents feel supported. (What a lifesaver these groups can be for parent and baby!) If, however, that baby never gets the opportunity to socialize, explore, and learn outside of this same-age group, key developmental needs will go unmet. As children grow, mixed-age settings provide the opportunity to be nurtured and mentored by older children, and to offer caring and leadership to younger children.

Benefit #3: Learning by teaching, leading, and modeling . In mixed-age play, older children learn by teaching, become leaders, and model for younger children. The little ones, in turn, emulate older children’s skills. You probably learned to tie your shoes by watching an older sibling, neighbor, or friend—one who took the time to patiently show you how to make loops, cross over, and pull until you got it right. In mixed-age groupings, younger children naturally turn to older children for guidance, and older children instinctively offer help to the younger ones.

Benefit #4: More creativity, less competition . When children of multiple ages play together, the focus shifts from competing for limited resources (like toys and attention) to having fun! Children have more chances for deep, imaginative play, for exploring new ideas, and for working together in novel ways. Parents, too, in a mixed-age classroom are less likely to compare their child to others. Nagging questions like, “Should my child be clapping, too?” are more likely to move into the background. Instead, they catch a glimpse of what’s ahead for their child and mentor other parents with a little “been there, done that” wisdom.

Luckily, families experience some of the benefits of mixed-age classes: fostering leadership, caring, empathy, and creativity—all of which support early music-learning and foster lifelong success in school and life.

Music Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 17:00:04 GMT

What is Music Therapy?

Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. It is a well established allied health profession that uses music therapeutically to address behavioral, social, psychological, communicative, physical, sensory motor, and/or cognitive functioning. Because music therapy is a powerful and non-threatening medium, unique outcomes are possible.

Music therapy may include the use of behavioral, biomedical, developmental, educational, humanistic, adaptive music instruction, and/or other models. Music therapy enhances one’s quality of life, involving relationships between a qualified music therapist and individual; between one individual and another; between the individual and his/her family; and between the music and the participants. These relationships are structured and adapted through the elements of music to create a positive environment and set the occasion for successful growth.

How Does Music Therapy Make a Difference for Individuals with Diagnoses on the Autism Spectrum?

Music therapy provides a unique variety of music experiences in an intentional and developmentally appropriate manner to effect changes in behavior and facilitate development of skills.

The literature reports that most individuals with ASD respond positively to music. People with ASD often show a heightened interest and response to music, making it an excellent therapeutic tool for working with them.

Music is a very basic human response, spanning all degrees of ability/disability. Music therapists are able to meet clients at their own levels and allow them to grow from there. The malleability of music makes it a medium that can be adapted to meet the needs of each individual. Music is motivating and enjoyable. Music can promote relatedness, relaxation, learning, and self-expression. Music therapy addresses multiple developmental issues simultaneously. Music therapy can provide success- oriented opportunities for achievement and mastery. The structure and sensory input inherent in music help to establish response and role expectations, positive interactions, and organization.

Is there research to support Music Therapy services for ASD?

Through peer-reviewed journals inside the profession such as the Journal of Music Therapy and Music Therapy Perspectives, and extensive articles in journals outside the profession, AMTA has promoted much research exploring the benefits of music therapy with individuals with diagnoses on the autism spectrum. Clinical outcomes studied have focused mainly on the use of music to address:

Communication
Cognition
Behaviors (Problem/Repetitive/Stereotypic)
Social Skills and Interaction
Emotional Regulation

The following statements represent targeted areas and rationale for using music therapy with individuals with ASD that have been the topics of published research, evidence-based practice, and/or clinical observations:

Music holds universal appeal. It provides a bridge in a non-threatening setting between people and/or between individuals and their environment, facilitating relationships, learning, self-expression, and communication. Music captures and helps maintain attention. It is highly motivating and may be used as a natural “reinforcer” for desired responses.

Music therapy can stimulate individuals to reduce negative and/or self-stimulatory responses and increase participation in more appropriate and socially acceptable ways.

Music therapy can enable those without verbal language to communicate, participate and express themselves non- verbally. Very often music therapy also assists in the development of verbal communication, speech, and language skills. The interpersonal timing and reciprocity in shared play, turn-taking, listening and responding to another person are augmented in music therapy with children and adults with autism to accommodate and address their styles of communication.

Music therapy helps individuals with ASD identify and appropriately express their emotions.

Because music is processed in both hemispheres of the brain, it can stimulate cognitive functioning and may be used for remediation of some speech/language skills. Recent research notes that music may engage brain regions that overlap the human mirror neuron system (Wan et al., 2010).

Music provides concrete, multi-sensory stimulation (auditory, visual, proprioceptive, vestibular, and tactile).

The rhythmic component of music is very organizing for the sensory systems of individuals diagnosed with autism. As a result, auditory processing and other sensory-motor, perceptual/motor, gross and fine motor skills can be enhanced through music therapy.

Musical elements and structures provide a sense of security and familiarity in the music therapy setting, encouraging individuals with ASD to attempt new tasks in a predictable but malleable framework.

Resource: American Music Therapy Association

Music + Your Baby: Talking or Singing?

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 21:12:06 GMT

Parents are sometimes surprised to hear that they can start music classes with their babies as soon after birth as they’d like. That’s because all children are born music-makers. Yes, your baby’s cries, coos, and squeals are also their first attempts at singing! How do babies go from “aahh!” to “do, re, mi”? Like all early learning, it starts with parent and caregiver support.

Think about how children learn language. Babies are not born with the ability to speak their language; rather, they are born with the potential to learn to speak their language. It’s only through prolonged exposure to language and practice making sounds (babbling) that children acquire language competency. The same is true for music-learning. We’re all born with the potential to learn music—and with lots of exposure to music and chances to practice musical sounds, we can each learn to sing in tune and move with accurate rhythm.

The good news? You can support your child’s music development the same way you do their language development: through reinforcement and play. When a baby first says “da-da,” we typically react with lots of positive feedback and echo back “da-da!” This instinctive response reinforces the baby’s first attempts at speaking, which leads to more babbling with their grownups, and eventually, language fluency. When you reinforce their early singing, too, your baby will also become fluent in music-making!

According to research, Babies can’t say words, so often people think they can’t sing, but they can. They just need to learn to control the respiratory/laryngeal apparatus differently to sing versus to speak. Most parents know that babies learn by imitating the grownups in their lives. If the baby sees YOU singing, they will eventually sing, too. We talk to them so much, and frequently don’t sing, so children may grow up without knowing how to differentiate between their speaking and singing voices.

Consider this: Babies’ sounds are essentially “singing” and “speaking” at the same time. They don’t make the distinction—we do! So, that means we also get to choose what we reinforce. If a baby babbles, “Baaah” on a pitch and we sing that pitch back to them, we are supporting their early “singing.” If we choose to speak, “Bah,” in response, we are supporting early “speaking.”

Just as we are born with this potential to make music, we’re also wired to receive music. Studies have shown that even the youngest babies can respond to changes in tempo, distinguish differences in volume and melody, and sense when a song is about to end. It’s in these instances that we can see with our very own eyes our children’s ability to hear and respond to music—even when they’re just a few days old. Here are a few things to look for:

Smiles, giggles, and coos that increase in intensity when the music stops. This is a signal that your baby may want you to sing some more.
Cooing sounds that begin to match the pitches of the music they’re hearing, particularly at the ends of songs. They’re “singing” with you.
Eyes “brighten” or change focus, or move toward the source of the sound. This tells you your baby is engaged and attentive. Keep singing.
Sucking or moving their tongue in “rhythm.” Even when their little mouths are otherwise occupied, they’re still mimicking the music. So don’t stop singing while you’re feeding your little one.
Feet are kicking, hands are clenched or waving, body is moving rhythmically. Try mirroring back your baby’s movements. This could be your baby’s first attempts at “dancing,” so give them some positive reinforcement.

So, if your baby is cooing, coo back in the same pitch. Then, play with making changes so that your baby can have another opportunity to respond. If they’re tapping on their high chair, tap a steady beat back. Engaging with your baby this way will do more than just create a bonding experience. It will reinforce that making these types of noises are more than just play: There’s serious music-learning happening in all that silliness!

How Music Can Support Social Emotional Development

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 18:00:03 GMT

The simple and enjoyable act of making music with your child naturally fosters important social and emotional skills, such as self-regulation, self-confidence, leadership skills, social skills, and socio-emotional intelligence.

Making music with your child can be so much fun for both of you, whether you’re singing along to the radio in the car, jamming on plastic bowl “drums,” or dancing to songs on your iPod. Plus, music-making helps your child’s development in many important ways. The best part? You don’t have to have a great singing voice or play a musical instrument to have an impact. The simple and enjoyable act of making music with your child naturally fosters important social and emotional skills, such as self-regulation, self-confidence, leadership skills, social skills, and socio-emotional intelligence.

In fact, recent research has found that preschoolers who engaged in participatory group music and movement activities showed greater group cohesion, cooperation, and prosocial behavior when compared to children who did not engage in the same music activities. Singing and dancing together led to increased empathy (the ability to understand and even share in the feelings of others) for the children with whom they were making music. Even in infancy , adult-child music and movement interactions can lead to better communication and increased emotional and social coordination and connection, both rhythmically and emotionally, between the adult and the child. Researchers propose this might support infants’ earliest abilities to engage in positive social interactions with others.

So, you can have fun making music with your whole family and know that you are also supporting your child’s social and emotional growth. Here are some ideas for music activities you can try at home to specifically support several areas of socio-emotional learning.

Self-control and Self-regulation

Singing a song like “A Ram Sam Sam” , where you are challenged to incrementally leave out a phrase in the song, is a fun way for children to practice the crucial skill of impulse control in daily life. You can try this technique with any song you and your children know. As you sing a familiar tune, ask your child to leave out one of the words in the next lyric/phrase. During this game, children exercise self-control and self-regulation and experience what it feels like to resist doing something. It’s the same concept at work in the popular backyard game “Red Light, Green Light!”

Self-confidence and Leadership Skills

Ask your child to lead YOU in a favorite song, maybe one she learned at school or from her music class. Just follow your child’s lead whether she gets the lyrics or melody “right” or not. This simple activity gives her a chance to be the leader—and supports her self-confidence as she experiences that her way of interpreting the song is accepted and embraced by you. Similarly, songs that ask children to come up with their own word or sound also support self-confidence and leadership skills. For example, in “One Little Owl” , children can choose an animal to sing about and imitate its sound in their own way.

Social Skills and Socio-emotional Intelligence

Whether making music with just you or with the whole family, group music-making challenges children to work with others as an “ensemble.” They learn the importance of respecting others’ space and how they express themselves. They also get to practice working together towards a common goal (e.g., when holding hands while dancing). Respect, collaboration, and working as a team are all important social skills for your child to develop.

Empathy Development

Making music in a group also challenges children to watch the people around them for subtle cues to timing, volume, and expressiveness—the same cues that we use for reading expressions and moods on people’s faces. Being able to perceive and understand people’s feelings is a basis for empathy and moral development.

Actively making music with your child is a fun and easy way to support your child’s socio-emotional learning, helping them to develop self-regulation, self-confidence, leadership skills, social skills, and much more! So, the next time you sing with your child, try some of the activities suggested here. And remember, it doesn’t matter whether you consider yourself “musical.” Your joyful participation and enjoyment is what is most important!

10 Funny Songs to Sing For Kids

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 18:15:03 GMT

Looking for funny songs to sing with kids? There’s a whole slew of fun music for kids that can be sung in the classroom or at home. These songs can teach new concepts, or just be sung for the sake of silliness. Whether they’re instructional or not, it will be hard to get these silly songs for kids out of your head once you and your kids start singing along!

Singing along with your kids offers an array of benefits, including stronger friendships, increased confidence, and potentially even better test scores. Let’s take a look at 10 of the best interactive songs to sing with kids, and then learn more about the benefits of music for toddlers. Remember, you can’t take yourself too seriously when it comes to these tunes!

10 Funny Kid Songs to Sing

1. Beethoven’s Wig

A song about – you guessed it – Beethoven’s Wig! (It’s very big.) Sung to the tune of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, kids will be having too much fun to realize they’re getting exposed to the world of classical music. Good luck listening to this symphony ever again without thinking of Beethoven’s hairpiece!

2. The Name Game

You probably drove your parents nuts with this when you were a kid, now it’s time to pass the torch. The Name Game is a great song for boosting language skills in preschool and kindergarten students!

3. Please Don’t Play Your Violin at Night

Want to incorporate some Mozart into your child’s repertoire? Try this playful rendition of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik when you sing Please Don’t Play Your Violin at Night .

4. Purple People Eater

“It’s a one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater.” Of all the fun songs for kids to sing, Purple People Eater is sure to make your kids laugh. But watch out: It’s a bit of a tongue twister!

5. Oh Where is My Hairbrush?

Oh Where is My Hairbrush by the VeggieTales gang can turn any normal activity or passing thought into a reason to break into song and dance. It may even inspire your own renditions, such as “Oh, where are my car keys?” for Mom and Dad, and “Oh, where are my shoes?” for the kids.

6. Witch Doctor

Originally created for and recently remade by America’s favorite singing rodents, the Chipmunks, Witch Doctor is sure to make babies and toddler-aged children giggle.

7. Yakety Yak

Appropriate for older children, you can poke fun at each other with this 1958 classic. Don’t talk back. Just sing it! Your kids will love Yakety Yak !

8. Boom Chicka Boom

The Learning Station offers a wide array of simple silly songs to sing with your children as part of their project to promote “healthy music for a child’s heart, body, and mind.” Boom Chicka Boom uses tongue twisters and wordplay to boost language development.

9. Parts of the Body Song

Music is a great educational tool for learning new things, and you can help your little one learn body parts with this goofy rap song. Once you get through the common body parts, try making up your own more specific verses with your child when singing the Parts of the Body Song .

10. I Didn’t Mean to Burp

Now that you’ve learned the parts of the body, why not move on to the next phase – bodily functions with I Didn’t Mean to Burp . What more could a child ask for in funny kid songs to sing?

Reasons to Sing These Funny Songs for Kids

There are a number of reasons to spend time singing with your kids. Music is a fundamental part of countless cultures around the globe, and every community has its own unique songs. Funny songs for kids can be found anywhere you go, which is a testament to just how important they are.

Music involves the brain at every level, with exposure increasing verbal and spatial skills, aiding emotional development, and improving body movement and coordination. And when you add silliness to the mix, creativity can be heightened as well.

Studies have shown that music and language development are closely intertwined. In fact, musical skills and speech skills have the same root: a baby’s babbling. When children try to imitate their parents and teachers, they do so not just with words but also with inflections and pitch. This means that we were all singers once, even before we learned how to talk!

Spontaneously creating your own funny kid songs to sing is one of the best ways to boost language skills and help a child come out of his or her shell. Not sure where to start? Just take a song that you both know and start changing up the words!

Finally, let’s not forget all the benefits of laughter that come with singing these funny songs for kids. Laughter has the ability to boost your immune system and energy level, diminish pain, protect your heart and body from the effects of stress, and much more. Most importantly, it makes us happy and brings us together.

Fun Music Activities for Little Kids

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 16:00:51 GMT

Want to increase your little one's learning power? It really is as simple as turning on the radio or tapping your toes. When a young child listens to music, plays a musical instrument, or dances, the brain starts to form connections that pave the way for learning opportunities.

Not only are there great developmental benefits to music activities for kids, but also they offer a fun way to engage with your youngster. Try the 10 games in the list below for children to encourage play through music, songs, dance, and sounds.

What Music Activities Teach Kids

There are many learning benefits of music games for young children. Benefits may include increased language skills and math comprehension.

A 2011 study found a significant connection between a child's participation in music programs and preparedness for reading and writing skills. It noted that phonological awareness, which is an awareness of speech sounds (vital to language), can be enhanced through musical interaction. It even states, It seems highly likely that language and music share processing mechanisms.

Music and math are also very intertwined, so it would only make sense for one area to build on another. Music can teach children about rhythm, which relates to the mathematical concept of patterns. Practicing a repetitive nursery rhyme, where the chorus is the duplicating pattern, can easily introduce this idea. Think along the lines of "Mary Had A Little Lamb" and how many times certain lines are recited.

Dance With Me

It doesn't get any easier than this. Clear a large space and crank up the music. Bring out an assortment of fun toys— hula hoops , bean bags, rubber balls , scarves—and start dancing!

The more musical options you have to enjoy, the better. Sample a variety of songs to discover which genre your child likes best: pop, rock, country, folk, jazz, or classical. Share your own favorite tunes, too.

2. Freeze Dance

It doesn't get any easier than this. Clear a large space and crank up the music. Bring out an assortment of fun toys— hula hoops , bean bags, rubber balls , scarves—and start dancing! The more musical options you have to enjoy, the better. Sample a variety of songs to discover which genre your child likes best: pop, rock, country, folk, jazz, or classical. Share your own favorite tunes, too.

3. Strike Up the Band

Gather up all the music-making instruments you can find. Don't have a piano or a drum at the ready? No worries, homemade is always more fun anyway. Pull out pots, pans, bowls, empty milk cartons—whatever you have on hand—and let your little one go to town on them with a wooden or plastic spoon. Fill closed containers like sealable bowls with buttons or pebbles and give them a shake.

4. Draw What You Hear

Cue up different types of music. Give your child some paper and different colored markers or crayons. Start the music and ask them to draw what they are hearing. If they are having trouble, demonstrate.

For example, with slower music, you might draw long, loping lines in a dark color. With a faster tune, shorter, sharper angles using a brighter shade. There's no wrong answer here, just create what you feel.

5. Name That Tune

lap or tap out your child's favorite nursery rhyme or song. See if they can figure out what it is. Once they've mastered that game, make it a little more challenging and try to do it in less time or with fewer beats.

6. Music Fast and Slow

Bring out a variety of songs with a variety of tempos. Ask your kid to dance accordingly, encouraging them to speed up if the music is fast and take it easy when the beat slows down.

Join in the fun, setting an example of how your child should follow. For instance, slowly slide on your belly during a ballad or do jumping jacks while a dance song plays. See who can come up with the most interesting move.

7. Make-Your-Own Xylophone

Fill an assortment of glasses or jugs (or both) with varying levels of water. Line them up in order from least to most full. Give your child a mallet (a wooden spoon works well) and have them experiment with different sounds by gently tapping on the rims of the glasses.

8.Follow the Musical Leader

Take turns being the leader and creating dance steps or arm movements to go along with the music you hear.

Some songs that incorporate movement: "The Hokey Pokey," "Itsy Bitsy Spider," "If You’re Happy and You Know It," and "The Wheels on the Bus."

9.Singing in the Shower

At bath time, encourage your little one to experiment with the acoustics in the bathroom. What happens when you open or close the shower curtain or door? Can they sing louder than the running water?

10. Animal Dance

Did you know the animal kingdom is full of its own fancy trots? Challenge your youngster to dance like an animal. Ask them to be creative and demo how a cat dances. What about an elephant? A kangaroo?

The Effects of Music on Childhood Development

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 17:00:05 GMT

Since nearly the beginning of human history, music has been used as a force for healing. Aristotle taught that “When we hear (music and poetry) our very soul is altered.” From Hippocrates to Native American medicine men, people have long used singing and playing instruments to cure.

In modern times, scholars and doctors have researched the mysterious power of music. Some of this research has yielded truly incredible insights. Doctors have found that babies express preference for the same kind of music they heard while in the womb. Many studies have shown that exposing infants and babies in the womb to music helps build neural bridges used to process thought and information. Music can stimulate the brain’s alpha waves, which creates a sense of calmness in the listener. Other studies indicate that early music exposure and instruction have benefits on the development of perceptual skills, which affects language and literary abilities; spatial reasoning, which is related to skills used to do math; and fine motor coordination.

Unlike language, music activates every subsystem of the brain, including the structures involved in motivation and emotion. This makes it especially effective in creating bonds between individuals and in a group and can contribute to well-being throughout one’s lifespan.

Making music with others gives children a wonderful feeling of belonging to the group. Children who might have difficulty joining activities with others because they are shy, have limited English ability or special needs, can freely participate when it comes to music activity.

Modern music therapy developed in the aftermath of World Wars I and II, with musicians traveling to hospitals to play music for soldiers suffering from emotional and physical trauma. Today, it involves the clinical use of music interventions such as singing, playing, listening, and moving to music to address individual areas of need. It has been proven beneficial in areas of child development; mood disorders; stroke recovery; heart disease; and treatment of neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, amnesia and depression.

While clinical treatment is not necessary for every child, parents can use techniques of music therapy to enhance their child’s development of cognitive, emotional, and physical abilities at any age. Here are some ways you can incorporate music and rhythm into your child’s life:

Provide instruments such as egg shakers, maracas, and bells.
Help young children move their bodies when listening to music.
Make associations between songs and activities, such as “Clean Up.”
Use well-known songs to work on vocabulary and memory by singing, for example, “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” and “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”
Use songs and sing-song voices to tell stories and to ease transitions into new activities, such as nap-time and snack-time.

Here are a few simple activities outlined in an article by Merry Gordon that use music to improve children’s social skills:

Have your child take turns with a partner playing and imitating patterns on an instrument.
Have two children ask each other questions, using instruments to respond either “yes” or “no.”
Have a small group of children sit in a circle and assign each one an instrument or a sound. Each child gets a turn being the leader and leads the rest of the group in playing together with a certain speed, volume, or rhythm.

Perhaps the most important aspect of using music to enhance development is that it provides children with sustained, focused attention from adults. Parents should not leave their child playing alone with music in the background and assume that this will automatically stimulate development. Interaction is crucial. Engagement with music can better a child’s self-perception only if it provides a positive, rewarding learning experience. Research has shown that the effects of these experiences can last a lifetime. It’s worth the investment.

WHAT IS THE BEST AGE TO LEARN TO PLAY GUITAR?

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 16:30:04 GMT

While anytime is a good time to learn an instrument, there are many advantages to learning when you’re younger. Research shows that learning an instrument helps students with reading and math skills and helps them develop self-esteem and confidence.

Plus, learning how to play an instrument such as the guitar can provide a lifetime of fun and enjoyment!

WHAT IS THE BEST AGE TO PLAY GUITAR?

For most students, the best age to learn guitar is around age 7. But it’s important to note that all students are different, so there really isn’t a best age to start guitar lessons. Realistically, students can start guitar lessons as soon as they can comfortably hold a small-scale guitar and press down the strings.

As a parent, you’ll have to consider other factors as well when determining if your child is ready to start guitar, like the maturity of your kid and their interest level in learning to play an instrument.

IS YOUR CHILD READY TO START PLAYING GUITAR?

So you want to see if your child is ready to start jamming? That’s great! The guitar is a great instrument for all skill levels and ages, but it’s best to start with guitars made for beginners, especially for kids with smaller frames.

To see if your child is ready to start playing, start by looking at how your child holds the guitar. While seated, your kid should be able to comfortably reach the low notes with their fretting hand without having to completely straighten their arm. Their elbow should be slightly bent. If they’re having a difficult time, you may need to look at smaller guitar sizes .

5 SIGNS YOUR CHILD IS READY TO START GUITAR LESSONS

There are a handful of signals that can tell you when your child is ready to play the guitar. Before beginning lessons, your kid should show the following signs:

Your child shows a strong interest in playing the guitar. You’ll know it if your child wants to be a rock star, even from a young age. Learning the guitar is much easier if your child shows a strong interest. That desire will motivate them to learn.
Your child can focus for at least 30 minutes. When looking at what age to start guitar lessons, it’s important to look at how long your child can focus. While playing the guitar is fun, students must be able to focus for at least 30 minutes to start seeing results.
Your child is motivated to practice guitar. Regular practice is important for students to get over the initial learning curve. At first, parents may need to help their children manage their practice time throughout the week, especially if they’re new to the guitar.
Your child has basic finger dexterity. Playing the guitar doesn’t require significant finger strength, but having basic finger dexterity will make it far easier for beginners to learn songs and build confidence.
Your child is mature enough to start guitar lessons. Age doesn’t have to be the only factor deciding whether your child is ready for lessons. In order to learn the guitar, kids need to have enough maturity to listen to their teachers and take their direction.

Types of Pianos

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 16:30:03 GMT

There are several common types of pianos. These include:

These are just a few of the most common types of pianos that people play today.

Appreciating the History of the Piano

In order to truly appreciate the glory and splendor of the piano, it is interesting to know the history of the instrume nt. Once we understand the amount of design, material and workmanship that goes into producing a piano, it helps us appreciate the value of this fabulous instrument that brings joy, creativity and the admiration of millions of people throughout the world, every day.

The History of the Ukulele

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 17:15:02 GMT

The History of the Ukulele

The ukulele is a member of the guitar family of instruments; it generally employs four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings. The word 'ukulele' comes from Hawaiian, 'uku' (“flea”) + 'lele' (“jump, jumping”).

Developed in the 1880s, the ukulele is based on several small guitar-like instruments of Portuguese origin, the machete, the Cavaquinho and the Rajao, introduced to the Hawaiian Islands by Portuguese immigrants from Madeira and Cape Verde. Three immigrants in particular, Madeiran cabinet makers Manuel Nunes, José do Espírito Santo, and Augusto Dias, are generally credited as the first ukulele makers. Two weeks after they disembarked from the SS Ravenscrag in late August 1879, the Hawaiian Gazette reported that "Madeira Islanders recently arrived here, have been delighting the people with nightly street concerts."

One of the most important factors in establishing the ukulele in Hawaiian music and culture was the ardent support and promotion of the instrument by King Kalakaua. A patron of the arts, he incorporated it into performances at royal gatherings.

After the 1960s, the ukulele declined in popularity until the late 1990s, when interest in the instrument reappeared. During the 1990s, new manufacturers began producing ukuleles and a new generation of musicians took up the instrument. Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwo'ole helped re-popularise the instrument, in particular with his 1993 medley of "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World," used in films, television programs, and commercials. The song reached #12 on Billboard's Hot Digital Tracks chart the week of January 31, 2004.

Construction

Ukuleles are generally made of wood, though variants have been composed partially or entirely of plastic or other materials. Cheaper ukuleles are generally made from ply or laminate woods, in some cases with a soundboard of an acoustically superior wood such as spruce. Such instruments typically cost from $50 to $100. More expensive ukuleles are made of solid hardwoods such as mahogany. Some of the most expensive ukuleles, which may cost thousands of dollars, are made from koa (Acacia koa), a Hawaiian wood.

The tone and volume of the instrument varies with size and construction. Ukuleles commonly come in four sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone.

Typically ukuleles have a figure-eight body shape similar to that of a small acoustic guitar. They are also often seen in non-standard shapes, such as cutaway shape and an oval, usually called a "pineapple" ukulele, or a boat-paddle shape, and occasionally a square shape, often made out of an old wooden cigar box.

These instruments may have just four strings; or some strings may be paired in courses, giving the instrument a total of six or eight strings. The strings themselves were originally made of catgut. Modern ukuleles use nylon polymer strings, with many variations in the material. Some of the lower strings, particularly on the larger sizes, are wound with aluminum.

Instruments with six or eight strings in four courses are often called taropatches, or taropatch ukuleles. They were once common in a concert size, but now the tenor size is more common for six-string taropatch ukuleles. The six string, four course version, has two single and two double courses, and is sometimes called a Lili'u, though this name also applies to the eight-string version.

A Brief History of Drums: On the Origin of Percussion Written by MasterClass

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 16:30:02 GMT

Drums and percussion instruments play a rhythmic role in nearly every genre of music, spanning centuries and continents. From early drums made from gourds to the electronic drums of today, the history of drums involves a wide array of musical styles.

When Were Drums Invented?

Artifacts from China suggest that percussionists played drums made from alligator skins as far back as 5500 B.C, and iconography from ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures show the use of drums in religious ceremonies and cultural gatherings. Evidence suggests that both hand drums and drums played with beaters evolved simultaneously.

Who Invented the Drum?

Music historians generally do not credit individuals with the invention of specific drums. Like most musical instruments, different drums slowly evolved over centuries of innovation. The same is true of drum beaters, such as drumsticks and felted mallets.

A Brief History of Drums Around the World

Examples of ancient drums trace back millennia throughout Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Drums and cymbals— the basis of the modern drum set —are visible in bas-reliefs of ancient Greece and Syria, in relief sculpture from ancient Mesopotamian and Sumerian society, and in artifacts of neolithic China. All throughout the globe, humans found ways to fashion drum heads from animal skins.

Origins of percussion instruments : Among the earliest known examples of percussion instruments are idiophones made from mammoth bones found in present-day Belgium. These instruments are thought to date from 70,000 B.C. and are idiophones, which means they produce sound via the vibration of the entire instrument.

Origins of the frame drum : The kinds of drums used by today's drummers have precursors in the musical instruments of ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. These cultures used frame drums—drum heads stretched over a shallow wooden frame—that were the forebears of twentieth century snare drums and tom-toms . Once those drums were built, idiomatic drumming techniques and drum sounds emerged within each culture.

Origins of classical drums : The drum history of Europe traces its roots to early Middle Eastern traditions. The kettle drums (timpani) of European classical music likely came from Egyptian and Turkish cultures. The classical bass drum also has its roots in the Ottoman empire.

Origins of the drum kit : The five-piece drum kit that helped shape American jazz and rock music contains drums adapted from European classical instruments. The kick drums and double bass drums of today's popular music come from classical bass drums. The snare drums used by rock, pop, and jazz drummers alike come from the side drums of marching bands.

Origins of the modern five-piece drum kit : The modern drum kit as we know it likely traces to early twentieth century New Orleans, where jazz drummers like Warren "Baby" Dodds assembled a drum set using classical instruments. Some of these instruments had to be modified, such as the bass drum: In classical music the drummer plays it with handheld mallets, but in popular music the drum rests on the floor and the drummer plays it with a bass drum pedal. The foot pedal as we know it is credited to a single inventor—William F. Ludwig of the Ludwig Drums company.

Newborn Bonding: How Infant Music Classes Connect Parent and Baby

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Sat, 01 May 2021 17:45:02 GMT

From the benefits of skin-to-skin to rocking to massage, there is so much conversation around newborn bonding. And that’s a good thing!

Here’s one idea you may not have heard of… infant music classes.

First, let’s look at the why, when, and how of this critical part of early development.

Why is newborn bonding important and when does it happen?

Bonding is a biological necessity for infants, so they are ready and willing to get started from the moment they take their first breaths!

In fact, sometimes it’s easier to focus on those vital connections when you’re in the hospital or during those first few weeks at home.

However, it’s important to note that lasting bonds are not just formed during the rush of love and relief that happens at birth, but built upon and made stronger over a long period of time.

How do babies bond?

Through touch, rocking, eye contact, feeding, attention, and verbal communication.

So, how does an in-person or virtual music class help?

When you think of “ infant music class ,” you might just picture a bunch of lullabies and swaying.

While those elements are part of what goes into a baby music class, there’s so much more!

Infant massage, toe and finger games, and plenty of rocking time are just the beginning of helping parents connect with their tiny humans.

What kinds of activities should an infant music class include?

Simple bounces, exploration of sounds, listening activities, and dances help babies communicate, stimulate their eye-tracking skills, and learn to move and coordinate their new muscles.

More importantly, new parents can begin to learn what their babies are trying to tell them (communication!) through these basic activities.

For example, during an “instrument exploration,” mom, dad, or another caregiver will move the instrument back and forth across baby’s field of vision to encourage eye-tracking and depth perception.

They might play the instrument gently and close to baby so she can hear, and then move it farther away or hide it, encouraging her to turn her head and find the sound.

All of this cognitive, physical, and musical development that’s happening is happening while you’re together, which leads to better communication and better connection.

A study out of McMaster University in Canada found that babies who participated in music classes with their caregivers “showed better early communication skills, like pointing at objects that are out of reach or waving goodbye.

Socially, these babies also smiled more, were easier to soothe, and showed less distress when things were unfamiliar or didn’t go their way.”

For babies, those social-emotional milestones stem directly from successful parent/caregiver bonding.

The pressure to achieve them is real, which is why music classes are a perfect stress-free option that lends guidance, support, and encouragement.

Will I gain confidence as a parent?

Glad you asked. Absolutely! Parent/caregiver confidence is a marker of positive newborn bonding.

Perhaps you’ve had this experience: You look down at your baby with a healthy amount of love and adoration, but also complete bewilderment and insecurity. “What do I do with her now that she’s here?” S & K Music

can help with that!

The music, activities, and clear developmental benefits shared in each class will give you ideas on what to do during baby’s waking hours, how to help her fall asleep, smoothing over “uncomfortable” times (like changing diapers or tummy time), and recognizing what your baby is trying to tell you. Plus, you’ll form a community of caregivers who are experiencing the same roadblocks, all while forming an unbreakable bond with your little one.

7 Benefits of Music for Children While Growing Up

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 17:00:02 GMT

As a parent, you want the best for your kids. This can be in the form of their mental, physical and intellectual well-being. This is especially true as they are growing up. You want your kids to have the best so they will be prepared for the one day when they will be on their own. What better way to prepare them and ensure that they get the best than using music. The truth is that while growing up, your children are going to be exposed to music and songs which will play an important aspect in their culture. Here are 7 benefits of music for children can positively benefit your kids as they grow up.

1. It Helps to Improve Their Brainpower

It has been scientifically proven that music has advantages and health benefits for children. One of these benefits is that it helps to improve their brainpower and memory functions. According to this research here, it was discovered that the brain of a musician works differently than that of a non-musician. It was also shown that students who were exposed to music while growing up excelled better in academics than those who were not. Music helps in stimulating the part of the brain that is responsible for reading, math, and emotional development. This alone should be enough motivation to get your kids involved in music and related activities.

2. It Helps them Develop Social Skills

While growing up, many kids will face challenges of adapting socially. The best way to help them overcome this is by encouraging them to learn how to play a musical instrument or be part of a singing group. This helps them develop social skills, such as how to relate with people, how to work in a team, leadership, and discipline, and how to appreciate rewards and achievement.

3. It Helps them Build Their Confidence

If you notice that your child is having problems with confidence, then learning how to play a musical instrument may help a lot. When he or she realizes that they can develop a skill on their own, it gives them that self-belief and confidence boost that they require. As time goes by, they will become better, and become even more confident in their abilities.

4. It Inspires Creativity

You will definitely agree with me that musicians are some of the most creative people today. Whether it is writing the lyrics to a song or practicing a new way to play the guitar, your kids are going to tap into their inner creative spirits. This gives them that entrepreneurial edge over their friends and gives them an edge later in life.

5. It Teaches them Patience

If you have ever observed a choral band playing, then the one thing you notice is how patient each member is. Band members must always wait for the signal from the person in charge before they play, or else there will be no harmony in the song they are playing. This is the same way it is when your kids are playing with others in a group; they learn the virtues of patience and how it affects others. They also learn how to work together with others while making something as beautiful as music.

6. It is A Great Form of Expression

What better way for your kids to express themselves than through music. Skills such as songwriting, singing and stage performance will help your children develop social skills which will, in turn, helps them express themselves.

7. It Teaches them Discipline

Learning how to play a musical instrument or become a better singer requires discipline and patience. Your children will need a lot of practice. When your kids pick up this habit, it teaches them the importance of discipline and following through. They know that in order to get better, they need to put in the time. This helps them become better disciplined and pursue their goals.

Fun Ways to Add Music to your Everyday Activities

Now you know the benefits of music for children as they grow up. Here are some simple and fun ways to make it part of your routine:

Sing bedtime stories to them before they sleep
Get at-home karaoke equipment and sing some classic tunes with your kids
Teach them some songs to add to their routines such as when they brush their teeth or songs to help them remember the names of the planets.
Take them on a music tour around your neighborhood
Going on a long-distance drive? Add some car karaoke to entertain them
Plan a musical outing such as visiting a symphony or opera house.

All in all, music is an essential and important part of a child’s life. You want to make sure that it affects them in a positive way. With the tips mentioned in this article, there is no reason to hold back. Whip out that karaoke machine and have some fun belting to your favorite tunes with your kids.

What’s the Right Age to Begin Music Lessons?

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 19:08:06 GMT

We’ve all heard the stories of famed musical prodigies, from Mozart writing his first symphony at the age of eight to Stevie Wonder signing with Motown at 11.

Even if your child isn’t performing with the New York Philharmonic or the Chicago Symphony by age 11 your family is undoubtedly exposed to talented children in the neighborhood. Whether it’s the church preschool choir or an elementary school band concert, it seems as if parents must immerse their children in music lessons from birth if they want them to succeed, and in a way, they’re right.

That being said, parents often hear complaints from other parents that influence them to postpone music lessons until their child is older, such as “My parents forced me to play an instrument when I was young. … I hated it then and still hate it now.” In order to avoid this negative attitude, parents opt to delay music lessons until their child is older and can choose their own instrument or make the decision that they even want to play an instrument. They too are right.

These statements may seem contradictory. In reality, the issue is how you define music lessons. To better understand this, it’s important to look at the underlying reasons a parent might want their child to take music lessons.

There is a growing (and convincing) body of research that indicates a “ window of opportunity ” from birth to age nine for developing a musical sensibility within children. During this time, the mental structures and mechanisms associated with processing and understanding music are in the prime stages of development, making it of utmost importance to expose children in this age range to music.The important question then is not when to start lessons, but what is the goal of music lessons for young children? For instance, very young children are not exposed to instruments in order to master them, but to gain experience and learn to develop meaningful relationships with music at a young age. If this is your goal, then the “lessons” can and should start soon after birth and certainly within the child’s first year.

These “lessons” do not have to be—in fact, at first probably shouldn’t be—very formal. A parent can serve as guide by immersing the child in a musical environment. You should help your child focus on the music with simple movement activities such as musical games, swaying or dancing while holding the baby, or singing or playing an instrument for the child.

Once the child is around age three , it may be time for more formalized “lessons.” Again, the goal is not to learn to play an instrument but to further develop skills like identifying a beat in music, identifying melody, or identifying instruments. These parent-child lessons might be any number of preschool classes run by private individuals, universities, or community centers. To decide whether or not a class is suitable for your child, make sure your goals and expectations coincide with the teacher’s.

By age five , most children have built a foundation that has prepared them for formalized music lessons. Even now, the goal of the lessons is not to become a great performer on the instrument but to further the understanding of music. Piano and violin are the two most common instruments played at this age, but others have tried the recorder, guitar, or ukulele with success.

By age 10 , the child will have a variety of skills associated with their instrument of choice. They’ll also have the physical strength to try a different, bigger instrument, such as a brass or large string instrument that requires a higher level of strength and stamina. Around this time, the goal of lessons appropriately transitions from gaining experience with music to improving performance ability.

In summary, there are three answers to the question, “What age should children begin music lessons?”

I nformal activities with music should start soon after birth, followed by more systematic classes around age three, and lessons with the goal of learning the instrument should start between six and nine. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines; exceptions will undoubtedly occur based on the child and/or teacher. Musical experience at an early age is extremely important in a child’s developmental process. Like riding a bike or learning a language, these skills can be learned later in life, but they will never be “natural” in the way that is so important for fluid musical performance.

The Importance Of Music In The Development Of Toddlers

Danica@econcept.biz (Danica A) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 23:18:04 GMT

Very early in their life, children will start to identify rhythm and even move to the beats of music. After all, music is meant to touch our souls! Besides that, music provides cognitive benefits that support children’s early development. In this article, we talk about the benefits of getting musical around your toddlers.

Here are our top five reasons why music can be beneficial to the development of your child.

1. Music increases toddler’s sensory development

Just as taste, textures and colors aid a child’s sensory development, so does music. Exposing your child to different types of music can help create more pathways between the cells in their brains. This effect increases even more when you link music to different activities such as dancing.

2. Music can improve literacy and numeracy

From an early age, babies can hear the difference between different types of sounds. After just a few weeks, a baby is able to identify their mother’s voice from other people’s. Exposure to music enhances a child’s natural ability to decode sounds and words.

By singing nursery rhymes to your child, you can help them to identify sound patterns and learn through repetition. In addition to that, music also helps children anticipate what is coming next in a poem or a song and they know how to put these patterns in a sequence. By mastering these skills, children build the base of literacy and numeracy.

3. Music is a mood lifter

A lot of parents tuck their children in with a lullaby or calm them down with a song. Just as music can soothe a child, it can also lift their spirit.

Tip: You can use music to indicate play time, sleep time or different moments in your child’s daily schedule.

4. Music helps toddlers build coordination

Even if your child doesn’t understand the lyrics of a song yet, they can definitely move to the rhythm of the music. You may have already noticed your child dancing to certain songs or liking certain pieces of music more than others.

Music encourages children’s inclination to move, developing their fine motor skills and gross motor skills. Plus, if the rhythm is very entertaining, you may even notice your toddler starting to jump up and down, which helps with their muscle development, strength and balance.

Tip: When you see your child dancing, give them a toy drum or other homemade musical instruments and dance with them. They will try to mimic your moves, which can help them with their hand-eye coordination and exercise their clutch grip.

5. Music can help toddlers develop their vocabulary

E ven though at first your child may not understand the words in a song or in a nursery rhyme, they do develop their understanding by identifying the storytelling in a song. Take as an example the ABC song, where many children think that the sequence “l-m-n-o-p” is a word, “elemenopee”. As they grow, they will start to realize that it’s not a word, but a sequence of sounds, each sound being a separate entity.

Tip: To help children learn more words and identify the story in a song, try singing their favorite nursery rhymes and inserting their name into the song. You can also encourage your child to change words in a song to keep them engaged and learning .

10 Fun Activities To Introduce Your Children To Music

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 20:42:42 GMT

Music is a wonderful way to connect with your children, whether they are still babies or a little older. Your baby has been introduced to the world of sound and rhythm in your womb, and by the time he or she is born they will have learned to recognize your voice!

There is plenty of research that supports the idea that children develop musical ability up until the age of around 9-11. After this point, it seems that the window for developing certain abilities has passed, so it’s important that parents allow children to explore music from an early age.

Here are ten ideas for fun ways you can introduce your child to music, rhythm, and sound while they’re still little.

Make musical instruments with your children

You can start to teach things such as rhythm and musical concepts to your children using everyday objects, and even turn it into a fun craft project together.

For example, an empty tissue box with rubber bands of various sizes stretched over it makes a great DIY guitar, or an empty container filled with rice or beans can be a shaker. Use your imagination and you can probably come up with all sorts of great homemade instruments.

Sing to them

You may not be the best singer in the world, but singing with your children is a great way to introduce them to music and can be done from the moment they’re in your arms!

Singing is a great way to soothe your baby to sleep, and rocking them, either in your arms or in a cot, will also help to soothe them and introduce them to rhythm.

Of course you can continue singing to them, singing around the home, and even singing together for as long as they’re around, and this will always be lots of fun.

Teach them to whistle

Children find the ability to whistle fascinating, so teaching them to make musical sounds this way is a great activity to help them become more involved in music. Once you’ve taught them the basic positioning of the lips and practiced with them a little, they’ll be whistling tunes they know in no time!

Play musical games

From songs that have movements you can do together as you sing along, to games such as musical chairs and clapping games, you should aim to play musical games with your children.

Play music in the background

Whether it’s in the car on a family road trip, or just in the kitchen while you’re cooking, having music playing as a soundtrack to your life is a great way to help your children associate happy memories with music.

Even years down the line, memories of even simple tasks you’ve done together can be recalled when they hear a certain song, and this will definitely help to cultivate their love for music.

Let them play with instruments

Consider having a music box in your home, filled with instruments that your child can enjoy. It doesn’t have to be filled with the most expensive instruments, even things such as egg shakers and recorders make a great start.

If you know you’re going to want some peace from your little ones practicing, you could make sure this box can be put away and brought out as you choose.

And, of course, once your children get a little older and start to show an interest in a particular instrument, paying for musical lessons is something they may really love.

Give them musical coloring in

You can get your children used to what instruments and music notes look like by giving them coloring in activities that revolve around music. Taking the time to color in things such as guitars and trumpets will give them a chance to really pay attention to what they look like.

Get them used to musical terms

You could also consider giving them things such as word searches with musical terms, depending on their age.

Soundtrack nap time

Rather than having the television on in the background while you’re relaxing or napping together, why not play music instead?

Relaxing music will really help your little ones to drift off, and will also help to associate music with feeling calm and safe.

Children’s TV programs

There are some children’s TV programs that are rather educational, many of which will feature songs that your little one can become familiar with, and it’s worth spending some time finding a few that you like so that you have something ready to put on when you need to.

We hope this has helped to inspire you when it comes to activities you and your child can do together to help introduce them to the world of music.

Be sure to keep an eye on our blog here at Play Like Mum for more posts on imaginative play and child development. Why not take a look at our exclusive dolls prams & pushchairs , and begin imaginative play with your little ones?

Your Brain with No Music Vs. Your Brain with Music

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 02:29:14 GMT

What is the Musicology way of teaching?

Musicology is the analysis and research of Music Science. Part of Musicology is to understand through scientific experiments and observations how Music affects the Brain. S. & K. Music Lessons prides itself by applying the experimental results of musicology research into our teaching methods. Through our program we apply Musicology and educate our students and their guardians on how music can help them through other aspects of their lives such as mentally, emotionally, academically, vocally, and health. S. & K. Music Lessons does not conform to the classic practices of teaching music. We have paved a new balanced way of educating which will encourage fun, passion, success, and happiness for all of our students. Below are just 6 different examples of how we have reimagined music learning for you.

6 Reasons S. & K. is The Best For You

1). Musical Games:

Well Developed Musical Games that makes music interesting and not boring. We learn through playing best instead of strenuous studying. Therefore, we have created Music Games that will definitely keep students of any age to feel excited and winning with Music.

2). Fun and Color:

In South Korea they have developed a lamp which lights up different colors depending on the academic subject you are learning. Color has proven to activate the brain and help in learning. Therefore, we encourage pops of colors in our facility and our students’ musical materials such as sheet music and books. We color our black and white notes and music with beautiful colors that will certainly encourage joyous and optimized learning.

3). Music is Sharing and Community:

Every Year our school launches 2 especially themed public concert events that encourage students to share their talents and music to their community. We encourage all of our students to volunteer performing in public to not just feel a sense of community but also to build their confidence to be resilient and proud of their art. Performing has been proven to not only build character but also build a goal setter and achiever attitude. Which is why S. & K. Music Lessons make all of our events open to our community.

4). Sticker Reward System “Sticky Wall”:

Every room in our school is equipped with what we call the “Sticky Wall”. Each Sticky Wall is equipped with hundreds to thousands of stickers that students get to pick from as a reward for doing their homework or playing their songs the best. This is a reward system that helps students not just be able to see the fruits of their works but also encourages confidence. Students who are properly rewarded and complimented for their hard work have been proven to be happier and successful in life. That is why we also have an elaborate Reward System for our public concerts and each time a Student performs in public through our concerts they are awarded with a certificate on their name which builds up to a Trophy called the “Virtuoso Award”.

5. Small Classes for Focused Attention:

In S. & K. Music Lessons we understand that every individual has their own unique attributes and this especially shows through learning styles. So, we have put a maximum of only 4 students in all of our classes to make sure that each student is getting the focused attention they deserve.

6. Parent/Guardian Guidance:

Parents/Guardians are their child’s first teacher and students learn more and consistently if parents/guardians are involved. Now we understand that music can be intimidating for some parents and guardians. Therefore, in every lesson we provide a 3-5 minute briefing of musical concepts and ways to help their child or children play their music at home. It is so important to us that parents and guardians are involved that we even encourage parents/guardians to sit quietly in every room every lesson to learn with their child and learn from our teachers how to properly encourage their children to be successful and happy musicians.

Your Health in Music

info@econcept.biz (Robert Shipman) — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 02:49:53 GMT

Health Benefits of Music!

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It’s heart healthy. Research has shown that blood flows more easily when music is played. It can also reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, decrease cortisol (stress hormone) levels and increase serotonin and endorphin levels in the blood.

It elevates mood. Music can boost the brain’s production of the hormone dopamine. This increased dopamine production helps relieve feelings of anxiety and depression. Music is processed directly by the amygdala, which is the part of the brain involved in mood and emotions.

It reduces stress. Research has found that listening to music can relieve stress by triggering biochemical stress reducers.

It relieves symptoms of depression. When you’re feeling down in the dumps, music can help pick you up - much like exercise.

It stimulates memories. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia but music therapy has been shown to relieve some of its symptoms. Music therapy can relax an agitated patient, improve the mood and open communication in patients.

It manages pain . By reducing stress levels and providing a strong competing stimulus to the pain signals that enter the brain, music therapy can assist in pain management.

It eases pain. Music can meaningfully reduce the perceived intensity of pain, especially in geriatric care, intensive care or palliative medicine.

It helps people eat less. Playing soft music in the background (and dimming the lights) during a meal can help people slow down while eating and ultimately consume less food in one sitting.

It increases workout endurance. Listening to those top workout tracks can boost physical performance and increase endurance during a tough exercise session.

How do you use music to improve your well-being or the well-being of a loved one?

Music Games!

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 02:56:11 GMT

Dino Notes!

Finding notes are not as hard as it may seem. Learning about music with S & K Music.

Why to Start your Baby with music from their infancy?

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 02:33:35 GMT

Your Voice is Music to My Ears!

Talking and singing to your baby or young child strengthens the bond between parent and child and connects your lives as well as expands their brains. For babies without sight this sound connection is even more important.

Even if you weren’t actually singing to your baby before birth, your voice was still a large part of his first memories of being alive and aware. Talking and singing to your baby or young child strengthens the bond between parent and child and connects your lives as well as expands their brains. For babies without sight this sound connection is even more important.

If you like to sing and enjoy your voice, that’s great! Your baby will love to hear anything that you have to sing! Don’t discount even the simplest songs or soothing talk as important in communicating with your little one. If you don’t feel you have a glorious voice—don’t worry!—there will always be something special and unique in a loved one’s voice that reaches the deepest places in your child’s heart.

Try to sing, sing-speak, or even pick out music you like and sing along with it. Your child will respond to the care and attention, so feel comfortable experimenting with your baby as your own private audience. Just relax and have fun with it. You might be surprised at how good you sound!

FEEL THE BEAT

So now your baby is getting a regular dose of sound. Spoken words, musical tones, and sounds like dogs barking, birds singing, and cell phones ringing are awakening their ears and being catalogued in their young brains. At the same time, they have already developed a sense of rhythm.

Studies of young babies show that they can tell right away when a beat is missed in a pattern so they are keenly aware of the ebb and flow of sound around them. Remember, during the first nine months, the pattern of the human heartbeat served as deeply comforting music that became the soundtrack to their first months of life.

With that in mind, don’t discount the time you spend simply snuggling with your little one or comforting them by holding them close to your heart as a way to help them connect with the inner rhythms of their own being—not to mention relaxing them for naps or bedtime.

If you prefer something a little more elaborate, you may also want to play relaxing music from world music traditions as many of them are patterned after mom’s heartbeat. Along with adding some new musical flavors to your life, beautiful music can also serve to restore and renew moms, caregivers, and young infants giving everyone a much-needed rest.

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