Being Savvy:Teaching Children Music: At Home and Away

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Teaching Children Music: At Home and Away

by Amy Davis

Mon
14
2008

Today I'm super-pleased to bring you a guest post from children's music writer Stefan Shepherd.  Stefan writes Zooglobble, a blog about kids and family music, and is a co-creator of the Fids and Kamily Music Awards.


When I write about kids music, I usually focus on recorded music for kids.  But I'm a firm believer that it's important to spend time making music with your family.  I'm not talking about the Dan Zanes "hey-my-neighbor-Sheryl-Crow-just-stopped-by-to-sing-a-song" expectation, which is impossible for anybody except, well, Dan Zanes to meet.  I'm talking about singing to your kids when you first see them in the morning, making up your own silly good morning song.  Or having a basket of cheap rhythm instruments and shaking them while dancing to music.

I took music lessons on a variety of instruments all the way through high school, so I don't feel self-conscious about singing or dancing or rockin' the egg shaker like nobody's business.  But lots of people grow up and pass into adulthood thinking that they have no musical talent whatsoever and, as a result, feel like they have no business doing anything that remotely resembles music.  That's a shame, because they're wrong.  No matter how good you think you are, making music with your kids can be therapeutic, good for their minds, and, best of all, just plain fun.

One of the best ways to learn (or re-learn) how to "play" with music is to take a music class with your kid(s).  The basic concept is that once a week, you and your child will meet with other parents and kids (could be just 6 sets of parents and kids, could be 12).  The teacher or class leader, usually someone with some early childhood and/or music education training, leads the class in singing, dancing, instrument playing, and goofing around for 30 to 60 minutes, sometimes with no accompaniment and sometimes to recorded music (which you often get a copy of, along with a songbook, to keep at home and/or in the car).  If you're self-conscious about your musical abilities, it may take you awhile to forget that you think you don't have any talent.  But soon enough you'll be focused on interacting with your child, and playing with them, musically.

There are many different entities out there that provide these classes.  Our family has been very happy taking classes through Music Together -- the teachers have been enthusiastic and I think the recorded music is top-notch.  But Music Together is by no means the only option out there (they were the ones we found first, and we've stuck with them).  Kindermusik, Gymboree, The Music Class, to name just three, are nationally-franchised groups just like Music Together.  Then you have some more localized programs, like David Weinstone's Music for Aardvarks program in New York City (though MFA has some locations elsewhere), and Enzo Garcia's LMNO Music and Charity Kahn's Jamboodas in San Francisco.

Not sure if a class is for you?  Almost any music program worth its salt will offer sample classes or a free first class.  You might find you love the music but aren't sure about the teacher (or vice versa).  But with all the options available (especially in major cities), you won't be at loss for finding something that fits your family's budget, schedule, and interests.  And even though you might not get to sing "All Around the Kitchen" with Loudon Wainwright III like Dan Zanes did, you'll have fun doing it in your very own kitchen.

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Thank you for writing about the value of a music class and music making with your child. I signed up for our first Kindermusik class when my daughter was 4 months old. Now at nearly 3 years old, she has a great appreciation for music making and I have a much better understanding of how music can positively impact my child's life. So whether we are actively listening to recorded music or making our own, we are having fun doing it! I found that in Kindermusik I am introduced to new developmentally appropriate music games and activities...most of which I wasn't exposed to at her age.



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