Some children are naturally musically inclined. From the time they can sit up, babies will often bounce to a beat. Toddlers learn about the wheels on the bus and which animals on Old McDonald's farm make which noises by singing popular children's songs. TeachingValues.com reports that students perform better on standardized and IQ tests after listening to classical music or taking music lessons. Start early to introduce your child to the different facets of music, including theory and the history of the great composers.
Step 1
Encourage your child to make her own music from an early age. Supply her with wooden spoons, pots and pans, rubber bands stretched over shoe boxes, empty coffee cans with lids and anything else you can think of that may replicate an instrument. Help her bang or strum out rhythms as you sing children's songs or songs you make up about your daily activities.
Step 2
Play all different types of music at home. Let your child choose the CDs he likes from a wide variety of musical selections, including classic rock, opera, country, classical and jazz. Point out the different characteristics of each type of music, and challenge him to pick out which instruments are featured in each selection.
Step 3
Take your child to musical performances. Check to see if there are musical concerts at your local high school or on the town green during the summer. These are often free or very inexpensive. Take her to instrumental concerts at a local college or high school. Buy her tickets to her favorite band's concert for her birthday. Expose her to music and musicians.
Step 4
Allow your child to play a musical instrument. If his school does not offer lessons in his chosen instrument, try to find a private teacher to help him learn the basics. Once he understands how the instrument works and how to read music, see if he can join an orchestra or band at school.
Step 5
Teach your child about the great composers. Borrow CDs from the library from various musicians, and listen to them as you read biographies about men such as Mozart, Beethoven and Vivaldi. See if she can identify the composers when listening to the CDs.
Step 6
Show your child musical websites, such as the San Francisco Symphony's Music Lab. These can teach him about tempo, rhythm, harmony and musical symbols. If you are unfamiliar with these terms, learn along with your child.
Things You'll Need
- Items to make homemade musical instruments
- CDs of various composers
- Real musical instruments
- Books about composers
