Why should I bring my baby to a music class?
Believe it or not, I asked the same question! After all, my music education began (so I thought) at the age of 6. I honestly didn’t see the value of teaching music to children who couldn’t even talk yet, and wondered how I would go about such a task, anyway.
And then I learned about the research on which the Musikgarten curriculum is based…
Even before birth, babies are attuned to the sounds of the outside world – mostly by means of the mother’s voice. At birth the newborn is plunged into a world full of new experiences to stimulate each of the five senses, and it is the parents’ responsibility to provide the best environment for this early development. Each child has the complex task of becoming a unique individual, and much of this development happens during the first three years of life.
Music classes provide the primary caregiver a repertoire of songs, rhymes, and activities to “play musically” with the child, encouraging the development of motor skills, verbal skills, and aural skills, as well as reinforcing the bond that is so important to a child’s psychological and emotional development.
So I will tell you why I bring my baby to music class.
- It is in music class that I learn how to help her develop the skills she will need to fully realize her potential.
- It is in music class that I have uninterrupted “face time” to bond with her.
- It is in music class that I get to meet and form relationships with other moms, dads, and grandparents who love their babies just as much as I love mine.
- It is fun!
Looking back, I realize that my musical education began long before my first piano lesson. My life was infused with music. My mom and I sang in the car and danced while we did chores. And don’t worry about not knowing much about music – neither does my mom!
Music classes can give you the materials and confidence you need to play musically with your children and give them the best start possible in becoming who they will be. Come join us!