It doesn’t matter whether it’s a silly, simple singalong or the melodious strains of Beethoven or Bach, kids love music. But, before you select something to load up their iPod or pick a station on the car radio, think.
There are a lot of musical choices available to fill practically any listening device for childrens songs by KLS. All parents need to use to make good selections is a little discernment and an article like this one.
Not Just For Listening
Before picking music for your children, remember that music is for much more than just listening. Children love to participate in their music. They love to hear music, but they also enjoy other benefits, such as singing, clapping, dancing, and other activities. Music also serves the cognitive function of audiation, which means that the brain is making meaning of it.
With music, audiation is basically training the brain and improving its comprehension through voicing and dancing, not just by listening. Experts agree that as wonderful as private music devices are, they are resulting in isolation.
When musical selections are made, parents should focus on interaction with their songs like buying or creating simple musical instruments. This helps children make music, not just listen to it.
Building a Child’s Musical Library
Much focus should be paid to creating a music library for a child. This library should include a wide variety—a mixture of musical genres that they will enjoy. Many experts compare the mix of music parents select for their children to foods.
No parent wants their child to eat only mac and cheese. They want them to experience and enjoy a rich mixture of foods, just like their music.
Start with What You Know and Loved
When parents select music for their children, many start with what they loved as a child. Start with simple nursery rhymes set to music and gradually move into folk and classical music by the time their children have reached preschool age.
Several years ago, a group of music experts called The National Association for Music Education created a list of 42 songs all Americans should know as both a standard and community singing repertoire. Created in 1995, the list has since been expanded, but it is an excellent starting point for a child’s musical library.
Are There Musical “No-Nos”?
Many children’s music experts say that there is no such thing as too much music, although they concede that much of what is considered “children’s music” is neither well-chosen nor well produced. This is most often due to the lyrics, not the tune. The best advice to follow when selecting music for a child is that if you think the music is bad and not appropriate, it probably is.
Parental Guidance Suggested
Your child might be an expert when it comes to how your iPhone works, but when it comes to musical selection, you should be close to help make selections. How do you do that? Just sit with them as they go through the choices on iTunes or Pandora.
This is because the best word that can be used to describe some music found on these is “obscene.” This is especially true of hip hop and some rock. And, even if it isn’t obscene, it could still be highly inappropriate.
Just becuase you believe a piece of music isn’t good doesn’t mean that it’s bad. It’s just not your choice for good music, just like your child might not like your choice of Pink Floyd. What matters most of all, however, is that you are teaching the appreciation of music.
