The secret to a successful childhood education program lies in the school’s ability to keep and include music in the curriculum. Most schools are budget capped and as result, music programs are overlooked and first to be cut. Studies have shown that children who become enrolled in programs such as music, average higher scores, compared to students who are not enrolled, on reading and math tests. Which raises the question, why do education facilities remove music programs from the school’s curriculum?
Music has been known as the world’s international language, but what is more remarkable is the effect music can have on your young child’s personality. Children are exposed to a rhythm before birth in the mother’s womb. This instills a musical recognition that children implement in their daily routines, and music can teach build your child’s social skills that cannot be taught in traditional class settings.
Self Esteem
Some children may be reluctant to join in with other students. This could be from a lack of connectivity with other children, but music can provide a connection between children. For the shy child, music is an excellent opportunity to develop their voice. The exercise of working as a team, learning and practicing together creates social skills that could prove to be difficult if it were being taught in different settings. Music allows for the projection of one’s voice, which builds confidence in a group setting or public speaking, and is an excellent skill for any individual to learn early in life.
Recognition Skills
When performing in a school play, a child is practicing their verbal and listening skills through learning lyrics and adjusting to proper tones. The recognition skill required for understanding the rhythm, tempo, and volume of the music will benefit the child in future situations.
Learning Language
Why do you think we are taught the alphabet in a song version? Early education development recognizes that young minds can comprehend information in the form of music more easily than other methods. Think about television programs for young children, aren’t they focused on teaching the viewer through songs?
Music and Moods
When you have an off-day or are feeling frustrated, what do you do to calm yourself? Do you put headphones on and turn the music up? What you don’t realize is, music has the same effect on children. Studies have shown that music can lower blood pressure, reduce metabolism and respiration rates. For children who need time to recollect and refocus, different genres can change moods, depending on the child’s personality.
When in the classroom, some children can feel confined, thus preventing the shyer student from expressing their personality. Teachers should include music when children are participating in outdoor activities. Being outdoors may allow shy children to open up because they are outside the formal classroom setting.
Having fun with Music
Music is a form of the arts. Anytime young children can learn from different cultures, it is viewed as an exciting subject from the perspective of the child. Music is viewed as a fun subject, because it provides different learning methods from traditional subjects such as math and writing. When the subject is viewed as fun, the learning is easier.
When a school program allows children to participate in a play, the sound of the ending applause instills a sense of confidence and accomplishment in the child. The sound quality does not matter, nor the ability to remember every line. What does matter is the fun aspect of it all, because that is the ultimate goal of the program.
At HAFHA every program includes adaptations of the arts, in forms as music or drama. The purpose of identifying instruments, musical concepts, beats, rhythms, keys and pitches is for children to learn social skills which enhance their lifelong musical appreciation. Home Away From Home Academy is a private preschool located in Aberdeen, New Jersey. To learn more or to schedule a tour, give us a call.