Family Time: Here, There, & Everywhere Week 4

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING

Audiation: People can “hear” words even when they read silently inside their heads. In music this concept is called audiation, which is basically “thinking” a song inside our heads without singing. A good example of this is the song Bingo where children audiate the first few letters and just sing “N-G-O”. The development of audiation creates an understanding of music that allows a person to consciously predict patterns in unfamiliar music, and this act of predicting exercises active listening skills, creativity, and the imagination.

Singing & Speaking: Singing ability is related to the ability to control speech fluctuations, and speech activities appear to help develop tuneful singing skills. The ability to sing and the ability to converse with expressive speech are closely related. Playing with rhythmic speech (chants, poems, rhymes, etc.) as well as simple tonal melodies help the child develop both singing and speech skills.

The Joy of Music: Music is unique to humans. Music is as basic as language to human development and existence. Through music a child gains insight into herself, into others, and into life itself. Perhaps most important, she is better able to develop and sustain her imagination. Without music, life would be bleak. Because a day does not pass without a child’s hearing or participating in some music, it is to a child’s advantage to understand music as thoroughly as she can. As a result, as she becomes older she will learn to appreciate, listen to, and partake in music that she herself believes to be good. Because of such cultural awareness, her life will have more meaning for her.