The Importance Of Music For Children

Why were lullabies invented? They soothe children and calm their reactions to stress. This in turn reduces the stress in the entire family. Over time, children memorize lullabies and start to sing them. Music is often a huge part of childhood. A toy piano, drums, xylophones and guitars are favorite toys for children. Parents and grandparents should encourage children to experience music. A great way to do this is to provide toy instruments to the children. These don't have to be expensive.

Children can play and enjoy their own music. While they may not develop professional talent, they will gain an understanding of music that will help them relax in the future. As they get older, consider music lessons. Qualified instructors can teach children how to play the piano, a skill that they can use for life. Your child's school may have a music or band program. Check out all of the available options that will give a musical education to children. There may be an old instrument in the family somewhere. Ask around. Do you have musicians as friends? They may have an unused instrument that they are will to part with. If you are creative, you'll find an appropriate instrument for you child. With it, they can truly expand their musical abilities. If they are lucky, their school may still have a vibrant musical program that they can join.

It's a sad fact that in these days of budget pressures for schools, early funding victims are often music programs. This is usually due to the lack of perceived direct benefit from music. This is unfortunate because while music students don't earn sponsorship dollars from their activities, they bring calmness and civility to the school. This is a direct, positive influence on the music students and to those students exposed to the sounds. With the reality of budgets, it is more important than ever that parents advocate for music funding in schools, that they provide musical avenues to their children themselves and that they encourage and support more live performance music where ever it is available in their communities.

Musical appreciation comes best through the playing of an instrument to a degree that far surpasses mere listening to iTunes. To give children a chance to calm down, it is important to instill musical appreciation from a young age. Your child doesn't have to be a musical prodigy, they just have to enjoy music for their own pleasure. Children who love music will often surprise you with their ability. Give them a chance to show what they can do. Keep emphasizing that music is fun.

Obviously parents and grandparents support music for children. This lens has been liked over 200 times. It has also received dozens of fabulous comments in the sections below. This is great news. Make sure that you follow through with your support by getting the children involved in music. Talk to them about your passion for music. Find a nice instrument that they want to play. Encourage them to sing. Volunteer to help school music programs.

As mentioned, schools often cut funding to music and other arts programs first. The impact of this loss of funding is often severe on the programs and devastating to children. Dedicated parents push on and give their children musical opportunities. This can be relatively inexpensive at first but usually requires more of the family finances in time.

Do you support the funding of musical programs in schools?

Many children find that they can translate their love of music into a career. This is obviously a difficult, and rare, undertaking. The book "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladstone says that 10,000 hours of practice are required to become an expert at something. The Beatles did it back in 1964. The "Fab 4" became rich with their music. Talent is required, but so is dedication. Without encouragement, however, your child is not likely going to work in the music industry. That and luck. If they want to try, beware of the difficulties, but help them.

The Internet has completely changed the music industry, although the big publishing companies don't like to admit it. New artists can publish and promote their own work and be incredibly successful. There are funding opportunities for albums or concert tours. Publishing to the web offers various revenue streams. An incredible demand for new material always exists. Budding performers can get a piece of the action if they have the talent, drive and luck. Justin Bieber did it. There will be more young superstars discovered in the future.

They don't need a baby grand piano

Children of almost any age can be taught to play any musical instrument. They will have a lot of fun making music with anything before they have any training. It is natural for children, babies even, to bang things together. If you watch them, they aren't always just smashing things together: they often will use blocks or sticks in a controlled, drumming fashion. This can be enhanced if you provide an actual toy drum to them. It doesn't have to be loud, either. Toy xylophones and even pianos are fun for children and can be bought for good prices.

Lots of these toys are available in great condition in the used market. While space can be an issue for some bedrooms, small musical instruments can help solve this. Roll-up piano mats are available that are a lot of fun for children and they don't take up much space. The key is to provide a musical instrument to the child quite early. In time, you can upgrade the instrument to something more substantial as the desire and talent of the child increases. Part of the learning experience with and instrument is the care of it. Make a point of telling the child that it is a toy that should be treated with a little respect. Children will usually respond well to limits that are established. It will help them learn to appreciate and preserve the instrument. WIth care, the instrument will even last long enough to be passed to another child.

Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn:

Learn and Move Music Station

While musical appreciation and talent can be self-taught at an early age, formal training can really advance both in a child. There is a huge industry that has been active for hundreds of years teaching children how to play music. There are some cases where exceptional talent has come naturally but most musicians have had instruction. As a parent, you can really improve the chance that your child will develop musical talent if you can enroll your child in some formal musical instruction. It doesn't have to be expensive, either.

Check out whether your child's school has a band or orchestra. You can rent or buy a student level instrument for them to play in the school band. There are lots of trumpets, flutes, clarinets, etc, available on eBay at great prices. The school may have instruments to loan. If this is not an option for your child, check out local private music instructors. Perhaps you even have a friend or family member who instructs music. Someone in your family may have an instrument that isn't used anymore. There are lots of possibilities. A basic introduction can be learned with most any instrument, even one in poor condition. As the child gains talent, and express real desire to continue, then more advanced training and a better instrument may be appropriate. Parents should actively try to find a way to provide some formal musical instruction for their children. Even a little can pay huge dividends in your child's future. Make sure that they have fun with their instruction, however.

They know the importance of music

This lens has indeed been fortunate to have been blessed by many Squid Angels. Each of these people has directly supported the boosting of music in the lives of children. While their Squid Angel blessings have been greatly appreciated, the angels have also seen fit to contribute more to this lens. Many of the excellent comments have been given by Squid Angels. Many have squid liked the lens, liked it on Facebook and even lensrolled it to their similar lenses. All of these activities have been wonderful and I sincerely thank the Squid Angels for their interest.

We have recently been informed that the Squid Angel program has been terminated. It was a feature that would allow certain people to "bless" a lens, similar to someone liking it. "The Importance of Music For Children" was blessed by quite a number of people when the program was in place. They understand that teaching music to children is very important. They realize that children are the future of music. Thank-you.

This lens has won a prestigious Squidoo Purple Star award. It was nominated by Littlelu. I appreciate the confirmation from the awards committee. This lens is important to me because of the profound influence that music has had on my life and on my children. I see the beginnings of musical appreciation in my granddaughter who 2 years old. I have ideas on how to bring this topic to the attention of more parents so that they boost access to music for their children. This Purple Star award, with the attention it brings, will help to highlight music to parents. I am very appreciative of the award!

During the spring and fall, many schools host concerts highlighting their band, choir and solo performers. Why don't you check your local schools to see what they are playing? You can also check out band camp for summer music programs. These offer young music students intensive training on their instrument. It's a great way to advance talent to the next level.

Band camps have been established in most areas and they offer students the chance to receive intensive instruction on their musical instrument. Accomplished music teachers work full time with students for a week or two, practicing increasingly difficult pieces that are appropriate for the young musicians' skills. There is usually a performance or two at the end of the band camp. These can be fantastic concerts. If you can, see if you can enrol your child in a band camp and then make sure you attend the wrap up concert.

Another great way to foster musical appreciation in children is to take them to live musical performances. iTunes, TV and radio are great, but there is a greater impact to everyone who experiences live music. Large orchestras are best, but small bands or solo acts can work too. Check out the local schools to see when they hold their concerts. These are great opportunities to expose your children to live music performed by other children.

School band programs need all the help they can get so your attendance will be very appreciated. Make it an extended family event. It is a fact that children put in a lot of effort in their musical performances and will improve their talent enormously in a surprisingly short period of time. If you attend two performances months apart by the same school band, you will notice this improvement yourself. If you bring your child to performances of local college or university students, you will be amazed at the quality of music offered. Some of these students will go on to professional careers. Some offer their own compositions, often performed in public for the first time. These students appreciate and deserve our support as well. With the quality of music performed at the college level, and the inexpensive ticket cost, it is a wonder that their performances aren't sold out months in advance.

Usually people just check out a lens and enter a simple "Nice lens", or similar comment. This lens has received a number of excellent comments that speak of the joy that people received from music. Parents, grandparents, musicians and others have left fabulous words of advice, encouragement and support for the advancement of music for children. These words are very appreciated and represent the huge amount of support that exists for music in schools. If you have a few moments, be sure to review some of the comments yourself. There are some amazing ones in the list.

Note that this lens has been liked by over 300 people. Thank-you all!