Your Musical Journey
Benefits of Early Music Education
We’ve all heard it before: grandmothers telling us to play music for our babies while we are pregnant, arguments that classical music will make our babies smarter, scenes in movies like Mr. Holland’s Opus, where they put headphones around the mother’s stomach so the baby will “know” music. But is there any actual research to prove that playing music for our unborn children benefits them once they are “on the outside”? The answer is, in fact, yes. According to a study in Ireland which used ultrasound observation and measured pulses of sound, it was revealed that babies with normal hearing start moving in reaction to sound as early as 16 weeks gestational age (www.birthpsychology.com). It seems we can begin guiding our children before we ever hold them in our arms.
Before Birth
Many music educators have discussed the benefits of music for a young child, but what many do not focus on is the benefits of music before the child is born. Even fewer lay out a comprehensive plan for continuing this effort once the child is “on the outside.”
One educator, however, understood how important this would be, and implemented a program for children that begins in the womb and continues through adulthood. Dr. Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998), from Nagoya, Japan, is most well known for his Suzuki Method of talent education. He did not set out to create musical prodigies, but rather to guide character and help generate a “beautiful soul” through learning an instrument.
“When we observe how character is formed, we see that it, too, is a talent; it is formed through the adaptation of natural sources of ability to the environment…As long as character denotes something intellectual or spiritual, I understand it as potential ability formed by the stimulation of the environment. Therefore, I think that character, too, is not inborn, but fostered through education. Hence, the most important period of character formation is again early childhood.”
– Suzuki, “On Character Formation.” Talent Education Journal #17, Winter, 1984
Dr. Suzuki found that if a mother listened to one piece of music (usually from the Baroque or Classical period) at the same time every day, in a relaxed, quiet environment, and then played this same piece immediately post-partum, mothers who’d had a baby before reported that they were significantly more relaxed and at ease than those from previous deliveries. After many years of practical research on this and other topics, Dr. Suzuki realized a structured program for parents and children should begin even before birth.
The group program that was created based on Dr. Suzuki’s research, in addition to introducing musical concepts such as steady beat, rhythm, and melody (and many others), also, because of its structure and implementation, instills and nurtures nonmusical concepts such as confidence, cooperation, appreciation of beauty, and contentment (among many others). Additionally, because of the home recording of the repertoire, parents are able to increase their (and their children’s) own learning potential by listening and reinforcing the concepts at home.
Laying the Foundation
The idea of starting music education at an early age can lay the foundation for success in and out of the school environment. Young children are usually ready to enter instrument instruction at a much earlier age (3.5 –to 5 years of age, as opposed to 7 or 8 as in traditional instruction), taking advantage of their massive learning potential. The discipline of learning an instrument can, and normally does, translate into a discipline of learning in school. Many reading and pre-reading skills are learned in early music education, as well as some basic math skills, which grow in complexity as the music progresses.
What to Look For
Did I convince you to begin introducing your child to music as soon as possible? Now you’re probably asking, “What should I look for in a music school?”
Often, the best music schools do not necessarily offer a “conservatory” feel, but rather a family-friendly one. Family-oriented music schools, like K-12 schools and other extracurriculars, foster an environment where the whole family can benefit from a child’s musical journey. This learning environment also creates lasting bonds with other students.
Look for a music school that offers group lessons in addition to traditional private lessons. These lessons are not only an excellent source of extra practice and motivation, but will also teach your child important group skills such as listening, working together, and motivating others.
While you may have an instrument in mind for your child before you give birth, keep in mind that some instruments are better for certain children than others. While all children hold the potential to learn an instrument, some will have better dexterity or interest in an instrument different than the one you have in mind. Some music schools now offer a pre-instrument class, introducing children to each instrument taught at the school thoroughly, so that both you and your child can make a more educated decision.
The Musical Journey
Your musical journey can begin as soon as you know you are pregnant. Begin by finding a music school that can help you begin this journey with your baby as soon as possible, and one that has a plan for you once your baby is born. The joy of making music goes beyond a pretty tune; it can be a fulfilling experience that carries over into all sides of a child’s (and of your) life.