- Pass on your love of Music: If you love Music, chances are your child will too. If your child enjoys Music, he or she will have a desire for Music that is a foundation for lifelong learning.
- Make Music with your child: while listening to Music is great, it is important that your child grow up in a family that makes Music. Talent is not required – enthusiasm and enjoyment are! Hum or sing along with the radio, or improvise instruments such as drums and shakers from items around the home.
- Play is a Child’s Work: If it is not fun, your child will lose interest. A child’s first experience of Music ‘lessons’ – whether in a class or at home, should be full of delight and achievement. Focus on a musical child, rather that a child musician.
- Music Everyday: If some musical play is built into your child’s daily life, they will grow up never having known a time without Music. Being unable to imagine a life without Music would be a never-ending gift for your child!
- The Voice is our First Instrument: It is also versatile and portable! The willingness to sing, and the ability to sing (stay in tune) is one of the best things you can give your child. Enjoyable in itself, it is also beneficial when learning any instrument.
- Choose Toy Instruments Carefully: Not all toy instruments are pitched, eg. They make noise, but not necessarily the notes a’, b’ and c’. If you do not like the sound a toy makes, chances are it will not be helping your child’s musical ear to develop.
- Offer a Variety of Musical Styles: Very young children are completely open to different musical styles. Now is the time to introduce your child to classical music, pop music, jazz, blues, folk music, instrumental music, country & western music, choral music and even opera! Groups such as The Wiggles and Hi Five are great, but they are not the only music your child will enjoy.
“The fact that children can make wonderful music is not as important as the fact that music can make wonderful children” ~ Anonymous
