if you visit a music class for our Grasshoppers, Ladybirds, Bumblebees or K3 students, you will see children joyfully engaged in making music. Children learn best by playing, and one of the focuses of our music program is exactly that: playing with music!
All children are born with varying levels of musical aptitude. A child’s natural ability and affinity for music can be developed and increased until around age 9 or so. It is a relatively small window of time, but don’t worry; there are many different ways in which aptitude can be increased.
As music specialists, Ms. Camp and Mr. Gribenow see the ECC children 4 times a week for 20 minutes and the K3 children come 3 times a week for 30 minutes. Our goal is to give your child musical experiences that will stay with them in class and at home. We can’t do it alone, though, and in fact you as parents re your child’s most important musical model.
So, what can you do at home to help increase your child’s musical aptitude? Sing with him or her every day! If you think you can’t sing, don’t worry! A caretaker’s ability to sing in tune has NO impact on a child’s ability. The impact comes from the habit and practice of making music. Come to music class at ABIS. Sing lullabies as a part of bedtime. Sing songs from your homeland. Sing songs you hear on the radio. Sing silly song, make up songs together, do finger plays and chants, dance around the room together and live a joyfully musical life together.
Within the next few weeks, Ms. Camp will post a link to a YouTube channel and playlist containing versions of songs or activities we will do in music class. Listen to the songs with your child, sing with the recordings, and ultimately sing without the recordings! The more you make music together, the easier it becomes and the more fun you can have together.
We are looking forward to a wonderfully musical year!