Musical Concepts

Music to My Ears: Your Child Unconsciously Understand Basic Principles of Music

Your child has very likely been enjoying music with you since his earliest days. Some of the active listening activities that you've shared include singing, dancing, and moving to the music. Perhaps he's even enjoyed playing simple instruments. With all this music in his environment, he is now beginning to understand some basic music principles, such as tones (i.e. notes), tempo (i.e. the pace of the music), and genre. He can clap or drum to the beat of the music and sing along with many favorite songs. Listening and interacting with music is great for children of all ages, supporting areas of learning that seem completely unrelated. Language and problem-solving skills are enhanced and new connections are made in the brain. Playing an instrument will help to improve fine motor skills and, of course, listening to music just makes people happy. Make music a part of your child's daily experience!

Has your child achieved the following Musical Concepts developmental milestones yet? If yes, check off all of the skill(s) he has already mastered to date.