S turned two at the end of April. She has been singing songs and reciting whole nursery rhymes for a little while. Lately, she has also been sitting down at her keyboard or her xylaphone and she just starts "playing" them while she sings along.
She can also pick out a tune she knows even when just the music or hears the refrain. For instance, we were driving in the car and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" was on the radio as background music for a commercial and she pointed it out to me.
Now, I should say that I appreciate music but am not "musical" per se. I played the trumpet in grade school/junior high but I picked it purely because I love jazz and I figured how hard could something with three keys be?
Anyway, I'm not saying that she is a musical prodigy or anything but I think she is definitely showing interest in this area. I want to foster it and encourage her. Has anyone taken a music class with their kids or done some stuff at home with their kids? Ideas? Suggestions?
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There are places that offer
There are places that offer toddler music classes that can be kind of fun but also rather expensive, depending on where you go. If you can steer away from the Gymboree and go for more of a mom-and-pop type of place you will probably get better prices. You can check your local YMCA or community rec center--they sometimes offer kids' classes of various types and may have music classes.
Aside from that, I haven't done anything with my own child, but when I was little I had an early interest in music and started taking piano lessons at around age 5. I think that's generally a good starting point--before that I don't think kids have the attention span to really focus on an individual kind of lesson like that, but it also depends on the kid and their desire/focus/etc. Follow her lead, make instruments and music available to her when possible, and she'll eventually let you know what she wants/is ready for.
wow cool
I have to admit I have been lax with my own little budding prodigy. Z won't let me give S a piano lesson without him wanting to bang on the keys, and if he's asleep, well, the piano wakes him up.
I waied until S was 5 before teaching him piano formally, but before that I let him do a lot of unstructured play with instruments, and talked to him about music, and played all sorts of music with him.
Sunflower the unflower
Sunflower the unflower
Mom's Tinfoil Hat
Foodie loves Picky
she sounds like so much fun.
she sounds like so much fun. i keep thinking ness will be a dancer because she is constantly dancing to any kind of music anywhere. she stops and holds poses with her arms held high above her and bows down and even does pirouettes and she isn't quite 2 yet. I keep thinkning the same is she extra special or am i just her boastin mama. anyhoo I maybe buy her some musical instruments, the kid type and just get different kinds and let her explore. I'd call the YMCA/YWCA even if they don't have music classes or whatever they may have some suggestions. also your doctor can surprise you with how much community info they can have as well.good luck have fun!!!
Jessica
There's someone in my head, but it's not me........Pink Floyd
Jessica
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind~~Dr.Seuss
wow, i'd say she's talented
wow, i'd say she's talented for sure!
you could try looking for a kindermusik group in your area, which is a mommy & me kind of activity that focuses on music. (kindermusik.org)
or if you want to go a more "serious" route (for lack of a better term), you could get her started on piano lessons. you don't have to be hardcore about it, but if she's already tapping out melodies, her brain would probably soak it up.
my friend's daughter started showing signs like this at about age two and she got her into piano lessons shortly after and now, 18years later, she's an opera singer! just make sure the teacher knows how to teach toddlers (the suzuki method is a good place to start) because it really does make a difference.
my grandma does a "joy of music" camp
every summer with my little cousins. They learn songs and do arts and crafts and stuff like that. Maybe you could orginize something with a group? She doesn't really spend too much money to do it. Also when I was a kid I would make a lot of "instruments" out of scraps from my parents shop. I would experiment with lots of different ways to produce sound but I never liked taking my piano lessons.
I passionately hate the idea of being with it, I think an artist has always to be out of step with his time.
-Orson Welles