Why Music Classes in Early Childhood?

Compelling Reasons for Early Childhood Music Classes.

If you think that music and movement classes for little children are just fluff, an article written by Autumn L. Zander in the Aug-Sep 2010 issue ofAmerican Music Teacher will make you think again. According to Ms. Zander, early childhood music classes (like Kindermusik!) will: 1. Expose children to basic music fundamentals that will help them be successful when pursuing private lessons later. 2. Introduce social skills. 3. Ease children into a nurturing learning environment. 4. Promote peer interaction in a setting in which theyshare, listen to others, and support their friends. 5. Help children discover that different learning styles abound. 6. Make music - and music lessons - a routine priority in their schedule, now and in the future. Ms. Zander stresses, "Caregivers play an enormous role in the support and commitment needed for children to succeed in private lessons. The musical foundation that teachers strive to introduce and create is nearly impossible to accomplish without the caregiver's support. From the first day of classes, the joy of creating music in a classroom, as many of my own families share with me, continues on the car ride home, in line at the grocery store, at the park, before bed time ... everywhere. What a wonderful foundation to build upon-one in which music is a vibrant and active part of a family's daily life." Please read Ms. Zander's insightful article in its entirety: Creating a musical foundation: the value of early childhood music class in the transition to private lessons. The article, in a most excellent way, takes apart and defines the first reason listed above, all the ways that these classes contribute to a child absorbing basic music fundamentals. Come to a class and watch how these things happen! Miss Peggy