Music as they say is the soul of life.
Albert Einstein had famously said and I quote “If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music”.
Music can play a very vital role in the early childhood education. Music can act not only as a source of enjoyment for the little ones, but it is also a great way to improve communication, boost the self-confidence of the kids as well as acts as a tool to help increase group participation, leading to better team skills.
Music can help children in a variety of ways:
- Helps them enjoy and relax
- Helps develops listening skills and auditory memory
- Helps simulate imagination
- Helps increasing vocabulary and development of speech
- Improves co-ordination and understanding of rhythms
- Allows them to learn to use their body freely
In a preschool, there should be a concerted effort to expose the little ones into music in various forms. One of the most common way is through singing of rhymes. However, there are a few simple rules that needs to be followed by the educator:
- Choose a song with simple and rhythmic words. Most of the classical rhymes have very simple and easy to pronounce words with familiar content.
- Go at a comfortable pace. Most importantly, repetition should be used effectively.
- Use voice modulations as a way to bring more attractiveness to the act of learning rhymes. Hand and body movements, puppets, etc. can also help the children relate to the rhyme.
- Accept the kid at his / her level. Allow the child who is not participating to take his / her time. Do not force them to participate.
- Show appreciation.
- Have a happy ending, like ending the song with clapping of hands or saying a “Hooray”.
The young ones respond to music in a variety of forms and can get enjoyment out of the same. It is noticed that kids enjoy listening to music even when engaged in other activities. Good music in any form provides a valuable experience for the child.
Hence, it should be a joint effort by the educator and the parents to ensure that children are exposed to good music early on to encourage them to not only learn various movements but also appreciate good music.
This article was first published on Yournib.com