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The Best Music Teacher is you!

Posted July 7, 2009

In 1974 when my first child was two years old, I read about a music class for toddlers.  I was very excited and signed us up the very next day.  My husband and I both enjoy music and we wanted our daughter to have a good introduction by a professional teacher so she could grow up appreciatng music. In fact she already showed a lot of interest in music, dancing along when I played the piano. 

I remember arriving at the class the first day with high hopes.

The teacher had a basket of instruments in the centre of the room and Jenny was interested immediately and headed right over!  The teacher explained to Jenny that we would be able to touch the instruments pretty soon, when the class started.  I had to pull her away forcibly.  As other children and mothers arrived I noticed each new child would spot the basket and head over, only to be told by the parent and teacher "Don't touch."  While I understood the teacher's need for order, I also understood the impulsive curiosity the children were showing.

Soon the class started and the teacher said each child could come up and pick an instrument to start with.  "Mine!" "Mine!" could be heard from the kids and - just as loudly - "Share!"  "Share!" was heard from the mothers.  The class got off to a rough start, with the two kids who got tambourines being quite happy and those left with the rhythm blocks, not so much.  The next two weeks were no better.  Once, I had to hold Jenny for the whole 45 minutes to keep her from taking other kid's instruments.  When everyone danced together to the music she was highly engaged but when the toddlers were supposed to be quiet and listen, most of the children were restless.

I learned something that day.  Two year olds aren't ready for structured, adult-directed learning and that is not the best way for a child to grow to love music.  I started dancing with Jenny every morning after breakfast to music I loved and soon she was begging for "musey time."  It really didn't matter what music i put on, as long as I liked it and was willing to dance and sing all around the room.  The words didn't have to make sense to her.  She loved the rhythm and - here is the most important lesson - she loved doing with me!  I turned out to be the best music teacher in the world - for Jenny!  It goes without saying that YOU will be the best music teacher for your child, too. Save your money and just dance and sing every day with enthusiasm. 

You may have plenty of music at home to inspire you and your child to learn about music together.  I've just run across a new one called Let's Sing a Song and the recording artists are Heather Walter and Eric West.  Eric West wrote most of the 25 songs and they are very singable!  Songs I liked are Creatures at Home in the Sea, macaroni and Cheese and the Bakeapple Song.  There is a lovely, child-friendly environmental overtone to the CD.  You can learn more about these artists and order the CD on their website at http://www.vinlandmusic.ca. 

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