The benefits of Early Childhood music education

This term at Very Young Voices we have been exploring songs about nature and the seasons. The children have explored bugs and insects, rain and thunder, autumn leaves and more!

Although the classes look like a whole lot of fun and games, it is important to remember the benefits of Music Education in Early Childhood.

Through musical experiences, children aged 0-5 can begin to develop their musicality in the following ways:

• Musical memory and the ability to recognise and imitate sounds
• Pleasurable responses to music
• Aural awareness of tempo (fast/slow), dynamics (loud/soft) and pitch (high/low)
• The desire to experiment and play with sound
• In tune singing
• Beat and rhythm (through movement)

Musical development in this age group is closely linked it is to the overall development of the child. In Music Young Children & You, Doreen Bridges states that musical development can contribute to “their thinking processes, language development, control and co-ordination of body movements, orientation to the space around them, their ability to relate to others, and development of self-control and self-esteem.”

Music Education can also help foster school readiness skills, and strengthen the bond between the child and the caregiver.

So many good reasons to enrol your child in music classes!