Sharing Music with your child

"Where words fail, music speaks." Hans Christian Andersen 

How has music influenced your life? Ask yourself these questions: 

1. What effect does music and singing have on you?
2. How do you use music? For relaxation? To lift your spirits? 

These questions will help you understand how best to share music with your child:

1. How does your child make their own music?
2. What are other ways,without singing, that you can bring music into your child's life?   

From "Getting in Tune, The Powerful Influence of Music on Young Child's Development" put out by Zero to Three. 

This is how the children's staff shares music with children:

Jacki is not a fan of children's music. If you attend one of her programs she will use what is considered adult music in her programs for children. She will use a Beach Boys song like Good Vibrations and has the kids use rhythm sticks to count out the beat.  The Beatles are one of her favorites for programs, the lyrics are clean and the adults most likely know the music; tunes and words.

 Jacki also uses popular music that the kids have heard in the car. Pharrell Williams Happy is a great example of an upbeat song that your kids have probably heard on the radio or at the movies, it was in the soundtrack for Despicable Me 2. “Happy” is driven by its percussive, clapping rhythm, addressed right in the lyric: “Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth.” {Slate online magazine accessed 3/4/14.} What Does the Fox Say ? by Ylvis say is another of her favorites.

Use music you have and enjoy and your child will too. So don't feel bad if you can't relate to traditional children's music.

Jen's favorite music to use in preschool storytimes is the Laurie Berkner Band. We own several of her CD's.  You can check the catalog here. Jen is also a big fan of Jim Gill, (who will do a concert this July here at the library), Hap Palmer and The Bare Naked Ladies CD- Snacktime!  The Popcorn song is a storytime favorite from that album. 

When Cheryl is working with younger children, she uses a lot of Carole Peterson and Hap Palmer music, because the songs tend to be a slower pace, and easier for the kids to pick up and remember. When she needs a song with a great beat and lots of activity, she uses Jim Gill and Laurie Berkner.

Cheryl suggests that a great rainy day music activity is to use a light weight scarf with the music. It's an inexpensive, safe way for kids to practice their eye-hand coordination by throwing and catching the scarf. They can also experiment with musical expression by moving the scarf to music.  

Laura uses Hap Palmer, Carole Petersen, and Greg & Steve CD's because they are very interactive for the younger children to participate. The kids can dance, jump, skip, hop, walk and clap to their songs and have so much fun! She also uses these CD's because many of songs introduce great listening skills. The kids are having so much fun and learning at the same time. For example, many of these CD's have freeze songs and the kids learn that when the music is playing they can dance or do a specific activity, but when the music stops, they need to freeze! 

Cathy