How to encourage music appreciation in your kiddos
Music appreciation is about understanding music and the history behind it. It starts with actively listening and allowing the music to elicit emotions within each of us. Music appreciation can start with even the littlest of little kiddos!
One of the VERY best things you can do to encourage a love for music in your kids, is to play music from a variety of genres. Put classical music on. Listen to jazz music. Listen to the soundtrack from a favorite movie or Broadway show. Play music from different cultures – from all over the world! Kiddos do not actually just need to hear little kid music. Sure, they will have favorite songs they want to hear over and over, and that’s great too! But, be sure to sprinkle in a huge variety!
One of my favorite ways to help develop music appreciation and critical thinking skills is to put on a piece of classical music and just allow kids to move to the music. This is perfect for all ages! For ages, 3+, you can also talk to them about the emotions of the music and how it feels to you – what the music reminds you of or makes you think of.
For ages 4+, you can take it to the next level – encourage them to let the music start a movie in their mind. Ask open-ended questions such as, What story do you see? Why did the music make you think of…? How does the music feel? (You can still certainly provide suggestions based on how you think the music feels. Is it exciting? Scaring? Peaceful?)
Asking open-ended questions helps encourage deeper thinking, curiosity, communication, imagination and promotes language development. Leading with why…how…describe…tell me more about… are excellenting in promoting these skills as well as modeling how to listen to music with intention and appreciation.
Depending on their age and understanding of music language, you can ask What tempo is the music? What are some of the instruments you hear? You can show them pictures or videos of some of the key instruments that you especially notice.
Another great option is to have the kids draw what they hear too!
A great piece to start this exercise with (especially with the littlest kids) is Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns. Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev is an excellent choice too. The possibilities are endless!
A few more thought-provoking and emotion-producing pieces for the classical music listening experience: Symphony No. 1 in E Minor by Florence Price and Jupiter from The Planets by Gustav Holst. (I love all of The Planets, but the Jupiter movement is the happiest and most kid-friendly. Mars, The Bringer of War is obviously going to be more on the intense side though!). Sinfonia Inno Meiji by Kosaku Yamada is lovely too. These would be best for ages 4+ as some of these pieces do have moments of excitement and drama that may feel scary for some littles!
Sometimes, you just need to put on some music and let them feel it in order to appreciate it. Maybe kids are teaching us how to appreciate music!
Be sure to check my monthly blogs. I will always have a FOR EARS OF ALL AGES section – providing great listening suggestions for the month!
