The Benefits of Exploring Music
Every song and activity in Exploring Music is designed to develop children in at least one, but usually two or three, areas. For example, in the Volume 1 DVD, Rhythm Counting & Musical Contrasts, the song All Around the Kitchen, develops children physically in their fine motor skills as they learn to manipulate and use a castanet, every song develops them musically. The song Roll and Rock develops children socially by exposing them to a song from another culture.
Fine Motor Skills
Songs that teach finger plays, or use instruments, help to develop children physically in their fine motor skills
Gross Motor Skills
Songs that use dance moves that involve the whole body like stepping and jumping develop children physically in their gross motor skills.
Social and Emotional
Songs that require partners, or holding hand circles help to grow children both socially and emotionally. This helps them function better in group settings and develop friendships easier.
Imagination
Songs that require children to pretend, or imagine, grow them cognitively and emotionally.
Counting
Songs that involve counting, and or counting backwards grow children cognitively and foster a positive association with mathematics and numbers.
Speech and Language Skills
Songs that use many rhyming sounds grow children linguistically and mentally
Cultural Diversity
Songs from other cultures grow children socially, and culturally. Songs from different genres grow children cognitively as they respond to different beats.
Rhythm and Coordination
Coordinating hand and body movements is an important skill for every child.
Exposure to Instruments
No basic music education is complete without being shown examples of instruments. Since we can’t send a full set of instruments to everyone’s home, we settled for teaching them to pretend to play them so your student will have at least a basic understanding of how they work.
Listening
Active listening is something your child will use for the rest of their life, so why not incorporate it into music lessons? Students will be taught to listen to the music for cues and other fun lessons – they won’t even know they are working on listening!
Vocal Skills and Speech
Singing and vocal skills are an important part of your child’s development. Although not every student will be talented in the area of singing, practice at a young age improves technique and saying lots of new words in time with the music will help their overall speaking ability.
Waiting and Self-Control
One of the best features that moms love about our curriculum is that Lisa encourages their children to be patient and take turns, then wait for the appropriate time to participate. A skill every child needs, and this is a great positive way to reinforce good habits!