Music and Movement By D. Evans

Why Music & Movement  Children naturally love music and moving, which means fit, happy children.  Children who are exposed to music and have pleasurable experiences with it are more likely to participate in music throughout their life  Fun!

Benefits of Music & Movement  Physical Development  Exercise and strengthen muscles means mastering needed skills  Practice manipulating objects increases dexterity  Improves coordination, balance, stamina, and physical fitness  Positive release of energy

Benefits of Music & Movement  Mental Development  Language development—listening to and repeating short rhymes, songs, or fingerplays  Recognizing variations in sounds, pitch, tone, rhythm, and tempo  Matching movements to tempo or beat  Improved listening skills

Benefits of Music & Movement  Social/Emotional Development  Fun, pleasurable experiences that can be shared with others that can be stimulating or relaxing  Communication, forming attachments with caregivers through musical play  Music stimulates the emotions

Benefits of Music and Movement  Social/Emotional Development continued  Provides opportunities to be silly & for expressive movement  Giving and receiving attention

Caregiver’s Role in Guiding Experiences  Provide an environment that is rich in sound  Model enthusiasm and appreciation for a variety of music  Listen to and praise child’s musical attempts  Introduce children to music activities suited to their interest

Choosing Activities  Age Appropriate  Short, simple, catchy tunes and lyrics  Children Love Action Songs  Break from sitting and opportunity to vent emotions  Love Familiar Songs  Make up new words for tunes already known

Ideas for Caregivers  Enjoy dancing and singing with child  Show child how to hop like a rabbit, tiptoe like a mouse, etc.  Encourage child to play with words, make rhymes, identify and imitate sounds  Use prepositions like “in”, “on”, etc.

Ideas for Caregivers  Introduce instruments.  Dance & play with child.  Be Silly! Make up your own movements and words, and let the child do the same.  Match rhythms by tapping a simple rhythmic pattern and letting the child echo. Reverse.

Music & Movement Play  “Hokey Poke”  “I’m a Little Teapot”  “Musical chairs”  “Wheels on the Bus”  “Where is Thumbkin?”  “This is the Way we Wash Our Hands”  Create musical instruments

Music & Movement Play  “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”  “Itsy Bitsy Spider”  Listen to and watch windchimes—let children cause them to chime and move  Listen to “Peter & The Wolf”  Chant  “If You’re Happy & You Know It”  Paint to music with changing tempo