So what is developmentally appropriate for children?

Infants: hearing language, hearing your voice, touch, sensory stimulation, vibrant colours, gentle sounds of instruments. Bounces, lullabies, tickles, and cuddling while making music for your child. We tap the beat on babies feet or shoulders so that they can begin to internalize beat. Playing peek a boo with a scarf is always a hit!

Toddlers: some are fiercely independent and assertive. Language is developing by leaps and bounds although the word 'NO' often seems to be their go to expression! Ah yes, it’s the terrible twos! In our music class, we build vocabulary of numbers, colours, and greetings in a variety of languages. Activities that invite more choice are important whether it is choosing their favorite animal puppet or colourful egg shaker. Large muscle locomotor movement activities help with coordination. Circle songs invite cooperation while taking turns with instruments instills patience and the need for getting along with others.

Preschoolers: the focus is on learning through play. With the children’s increasing memory and attention span, they have a greater capacity to follow stories and they love to act them out. By age three the children are finding their singing voices. In our music class, singing games provide children with the opportunity to develop their voice in a playful and supportive environment. Children at this stage are much more able to demonstrate their understanding than to articulate it. Responding to music through movement is a wonderful way for children to express their feelings about what they hear.

Kindergarten to Grade 2: as children enter the world of school, teaching and learning become more intentional and structured. Our music class is an outlet from a week of desk learning!  Singing games, action songs, learning songs of many cultures, playing homemade instruments and moving to music of different musical styles make up every music lesson. All the while, children are developing their musical literacy with the introduction of reading rhythm and melody.