EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF MUSIC ON YOUNG CHILDREN AND SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN-PART 4
I HAD A SPECIAL NEEDS CHRISTMAS PROGRAM FOR PARENTS AND STAFF TO SEE. CATHY, A TALL, THIN SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD LIKED TO HUM “SILENT NIGHT,” A GROUP OF 5-YEAR OLDS WITH A VARIETY OF SPECIAL NEEDS SANG MY LANGUAGE DEVELOPING SONG TITLED THE “LA SONG,” ROBYN PLAYED A SIMPLE SONG ON THE PIANO FROM THE LESSONS, AND THE LIST WENT ON FOR AN HOUR’S PROGRAM. YOU CAN SEE THE CHILDREN HAD NO FEAR ON STAGE BUT RATHER WERE ENCOURAGED WITH SMILES AND JOY AS THEIR PRESENTATIONS CONCLUDED. THE APPLAUSE WAS LOUD AND APPEALING TO THE CHILDREN AS THEY TOOK THEIR BOWS. THE SONGS, DANCES AND PLAYING OF RHYTHM BAND INSTRUMENTS BECAME A GOAL FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM. THIS MUSIC THERAPIST SAW MUCH IMPROVEMENT AND SAW THE CHILDREN UPLIFTED FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC WITH CLAPPING, BODY MOVEMENTS, BEATS, PLAYING AND DANCING!
CHILDREN SHOWS US THE ENERGY LEVEL FROM THE NATURAL LOVE FOR MUSIC! IT’S AMAZING WHAT MUSIC CAN DO FOR ALL OF US. IT IS A POWERFUL STIMULANT WHICH CREATES NEW MEMORIES, EXPERIENCES AND EFFECTS OUR MOODS TO BE FEEL HAPPY. WE NEED MUSIC IN OUR LIVES! MUSIC IS PART OF OUR LIVES AS YOU KNOW IT AS IT STARTS EARLY IN LIFE AND LASTS A LIFETIME!
THE MARKET HAS FLOODED US WITH TOYS, VIDEOS, AND JUST A WIDE RANGE OF WAYS WHICH INVOLVE MUSIC. IT AIDS OUR INTELLIGENCE, EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BUILDS OUR SELF-ESTEEM, CREATIVITY, SELF-CONFIDENCE AND CURIOSITY. IT IS GOOD FOR OUR BRAIN CELLS. MOMENTS AFTER BIRTH, A BABY CAN TURN THEIR HEAD TOWARDS A VOICE OR SOUND. AS THE BABY APPROACHES THIER FIRST BIRTHDAY, BABIES ARE BUSY MOVING THEIR ARMS AND LEGS, BABBLING AND COOLING. (Note: Stimuli received in early childhood are crucial to brain growth and the development of important connections made in nerve cell networks.)
MANY STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT MUSIC CAN BENEFIT COGNITIVE ABILITIES, HIGHER REASONING, BETTER MOTOR SKILLS, INCREASED LANGUAGE AND SHOW AN IMPROVEMENT TO LISTENING SKILLS. (Note: Many researchers believe that the earlier a child is exposed to music, the more the brain responds to different music tones).
THE CHILDREN THAT PERFORMED THE CHRISTMAS SHOW IN THE START OF THIS POST IMITATED THE MUSICAL PHRASES AND SONGS BY REPETITION AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN! THAT SHOW TOOK 9 MONTHS TO PREPARE SO OF THE PERFORMERS WERE ON STAGE JUST FOR 30 SECONDS. THEY EXPRESSED THEIR FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS THROUGH THE MUSIC THEY PERFORMED.
WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS TO PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH MUSIC THAT PROMOTES THEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AS IT BECOMES A KEY ROLE FOR THE CHILDREN. AS A MUSIC THERAPIST AND TEACHER, BE PERSISTENT, PERSEVERE THE TRIALS OF UPS AND DOWNS WITH THE CHILDREN AND WATCH AND SEE THE DEVELOPMENTS THEY SHOW YOU!
PART 5 – USING WHAT CHILDREN ALREADY KNOW INTO MUSIC FORM