Minds On Music – The Kindermusik Blog

Shhh! What do you hear? Turn on your listening ears and you will hear many things in a Kindermusik class on any given day: the sound of a dog barking, the rain dripping on a tin roof, or the quiet, low “thump-thump” of your very own heart beat. But why is listening so important for a child?

The infant listens and learns to recognize the sweet sound of his mother’s voice early on. The toddler listens and learns to imitate and speak his language. The preschooler listens, and learns to follow instructions. As they listen, and listen, they learn, and grow, and their world expands.

Active listening differs from simple hearing in that we must choose it as an intentional act. We are surrounded by a cacophony of noise in our world, and we must choose whether or not to listen and process the sounds we hear. Active listening opportunities like those provided in Kindermusik allow children the opportunity to learn to listen intentionally. So turn on your listening ears! You might be surprised what you will hear!

Compiled by Theresa Case, whose Kindermusik program at Piano Central Studios in Greenville, SC, is proudly among the top 1% of Kindermusik programs worldwide.

Play is a natural activity for children. The child a play is self-motivated and actively engaged. Whereas

games are governed by rules, the value of play is that it provides freedom from evaluation and judgment. The freedom of a playful atmosphere fosters intellectual development as well as self-construction and the development of personality.

Tips for parents: There are many things we as parents can do to inspire play. Just making sure your child has lots of time for free play is an important first step. You might also want to look at the play areas – inside and outside – and ensure that they are safe and inviting. Finally, consider adding some very simple toys and props to the playroom – things like wooden blocks, cardboard boxes and tubes, blankets, dress-up clothes, etc. will all help your child make his imagination come alive through his play.

– Contributed by Theresa Case, whose Greenville, SC program, Kindermusik at Piano Central Studios, is proudly among the top 1% of Kindermusik programs worldwide.

Music isn’t just learning notes and playing them. You learn notes to play to the music of your soul. ~Katie Greenwood

Children need feedback on the work they do. But how can we provide feedback most effectively? Conventional wisdom would espouse that constant praise is necessary in our child-rearing… but is it really the most effective way to provide that much-needed feedback?

There is actually new research that would indicate that constantly praising our children is backfiring and even undermining their confidence! Praise, by definition, is an expression of worth, approval, or admiration. It is usually given to a child when a task or deed is well done or completed. In an article entitled "Encouragement or Praise for Children?" written by Elvin Klassen (written as a resource for parents teaching overseas), the author suggests that encouragement , rather than praise, should be our goal as parents and educators.

Encouragement in its best form should be specific, focused on the process rather than the finished product, sincere, focused on the effort made, non-comparative, and enabling the child to develop an appreciation for his own achievements. For example, instead of "Sally, you’re such a nice girl" – encouragement would say "Sally, I noticed you shared with Molly today." Remember, praise gives a value judgment and focuses on the person, while encouragement makes an observation about a behavior. We need to convey through words and gestures that we appreciate our child’s efforts and improvement, not just their accomplishments. Continue reading “Kindermusik and Your Child: Praise or Encouragement?”