How to enhance your child's musical intelligence
and memory skills
by Deborah Torres Patel
Much has been written about the study of music improving IQ, enhancing memory, and
generally making a smarter child. There are multitudes of arguments about how specific
or measurable the influence of music is on the brain, whether the "Mozart Effect"
holds any weight, and how much music should or should not be included in a school's
curriculum. However, nearly everyone who has ever spoken on the topic of music education
agrees that music has the power to enhance learning.
Research indicates that musical children do better at reading, writing, math, language,
and have a higher level of concentration and spatial reasoning than children not
exposed to music have. Music can also provide a myriad of oral language benefits
from grammar and pronunciation to quickly picking up rhythm and accents in first
or second language study. It can build social and emotional skills, decrease performance
anxiety, assist motor development, and boost creativity. Additionally, solo music
performance has been known to increase self-capacity and self-esteem.
Most experts agree that the best time for developing musical aptitude is between
birth and nine years old. It is generally agreed upon that studying music before
the age of seven can have a long-term effect on a child's overall development.
All children have musical ability. When music is playing, it can easily capture
a young child's attention especially if it is related to an activity that involves
other family members. Parent's can take an active role in fostering the musical
growth of their kids by exposing them to a variety of musical skills. Even if parents
are non-musical they can still make a difference by making music a part of the family's
daily life.
Musical intelligence can be divided into five categories.
Vocal skills - The ability to sing in tune, in harmony, and with a confident voice
can be developed with frequent and consistent practice.
Tips ages 1-3
• Sing with or to your children
• Play games that involve music and movement and act out the words to songs like
"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", "Itsy Bitsy Spider", and "I'm a Little Teapot".
Tips ages 3-6
• Action songs like "The Hokey Pokey"and "If You're Happy and You Know It" are great
to engage kids whole bodies. Have your little ones make up their own actions to
any song. Sign or act out the entire alphabet while singing the ABC's.
• Sing Karaoke (This is especially helpful for children learning to read.)
Rhythmic skills - The pattern of long and short note values in music. Learning rhythmically
is easy for most people. Rhythm and rhyme are found in poetry, children's songs
and in the ever-popular nursery rhyme.
Tips ages 1-3
• Teach kids how to clap their hands and stomp their feet in time to the music by
starting with a slower and steady beat. As they catch on, you can play faster music
and eventually guide them through a variety of musical beats, tempos, and styles.
• In a swimming pool or bath do call and response splashing. For example, one person
hits their hands against the water to make a certain number of splashes and the
other responds with the same number of splashes and in the same rhythm. It is fun
to play with a variety of speeds and tempos. Children adore getting their parents,
and siblings all wet.
Tips ages 3-6
• Language can be musical - Read poetry, books and/or nursery rhymes aloud daily
• Exercise to music and encourage children to make up their own movements and dances.
Expose them to many different types of music using ballroom dance rhythms, classical
instrumentals, popular and ethnic music, etc. March, skip, run, jump, wiggle or
shake in time to the music - Anything goes.
Composing skills - The ability to write songs, melodies or make up rhymes
Tips ages 1-3
• Compose percussion sounds with the body. Keep the beat by clapping hands, stomping
feet, snapping fingers or clicking tongues.
• Encourage kids to sing to their heart's content. Have them sing about what they
like and help them to make a 4-line song that rhymes. (For example, I like sweet
potatoes, I like peas, I like chocolates, May I have some please? Keep the "I like"
part consistent and play around with the underlined areas.)
Tips ages 3-6
• Write poetry together
• Make up raps, rhymes or jingles with a list of things you'd like to remember.
(For example, a shopping list, or items to pack in a school lunch or school bag.)
Instrumental skills - The ability to play a musical instrument
Tips ages 1-3
• Playing toy instruments are an excellent introduction to real musical instruments.
• Encourage kids to make their own instruments. Simple kitchen items are great for
this. (For example, put rice or beans in an empty plastic container and you have
maracas or shakers. Wooden spoons on pots and pans or boxes make great drums.)
From the age of 3 years old, a child's brain circuits are mature enough to begin
music lessons. The piano is usually the best instrument to start with because it
does not require any specific fingering to play.
Tips ages 3-6
• Encourage your child to play a musical instrument. However, it is important not
to push your child to do so.
• Have your kids choose the instruments that they would like to play by picking
the sound they like best. (For example, a violin sound, a flute sound, a piano sound,
etc) They will practice more if they like hearing the sound that the instrument
makes.
Listening skills - Most people like listening to music. It is important to expose
your child to many different types of music to develop well-rounded appreciation.
It is very beneficial to allow your children to listen to music they like as this
encourages their self-expression and often assists older children to release emotions
that they may not readily or openly share.
Tips ages 1-3
• Listen to music from a variety of styles, cultures, and time periods.
• Go to the zoo or park and try to identify animals or birds by their song or sounds
Tips ages 3-6
• Invest one hour a week listening to music that is unfamiliar to you and expands
your horizons (This can be done easily tuning into different radio stations)
• Attend concerts and musical theater
Musical Memory Skills
Most of us can dance to a beat or remember a jingle, poem, or rhyme. By the simple
act of repetitive listening, we often know words to songs even though we made no
conscious effort to memorize them.
Repetition is the simplest and fastest way to teach your child. Practice, practice
and more practice guarantees consistent results over time.
Tips ages 1-3
• Sing songs throughout the day to help children transition or remember a sequence
of daily activities. (For example, mealtimes, playtimes, before going out, while
traveling, bathtime, bedtime etc.)
• Sing songs leaving out a word and have your child fill in the blank. For example,
you could sing "Mary had a little ____" little ____, little ____ and have your child
sing "lamb".
Tips ages 3-6
• Singing and acting out songs along with your kids is an excellent way to help
them remember because they can see, feel and hear the music.
• If you want your child to memorize a song or poem, repeat and/or play it over
and over again. Never reprimand or scold kids for making mistakes. Instead, acknowledge
children for trying and encourage them to try again.
Do not create unnecessary stress for your children. Kids learn best in a relaxed
state. Never force your child to sing, dance, or play an instrument and certainly
don't expect your child to be a musical genius.
If you choose to expose your children to music lessons, you can make it easier by
helping them to practice, attending their performances, and meeting at least quarterly
with their instructors. Simple things like accompanying your children to musical
lessons or activities make them feel loved and supported.
No one can guarantee that music will make a child smarter but it is a vital part
of a well-rounded education. As parents, we want our beloved offspring to be happy,
healthy, love learning, and grow up to be the best that they can be.
© Copyright 2004 Deborah Torres Patel. May not be reprinted without permission.
Email Deborah@ExpressingYOU.com