“What can a baby possibly learn at that age?” is something teachers hear a lot when we mention that Music Together® has no minimum enrollment age, just children age 0-5 (and the grownups who love them!). What may be second to nature to grownups however, is a teachable skill to an infant! Valuable abilities like recognizing patterns, learning language, and inhibitory control (waiting your turn) are all important aspects of a life well-lived. How exactly does a baby learn these things in a music class?
Let’s dive in…
Pattern Recognition
“Clap-clap-snap, clap-clap-stomp, clap-clap-snap, clap-clap…” You likely filled in that blank on your own with a mental “stomp.” When patterns are everywhere and recognizing trends and cues is a key life skill, it’s never too early to start practicing patterns with your baby. The best way to do this? Music, of course! Patterns are a natural part of songs and in Music Together class, we don’t just sing them– we dance, drum, shake, and move in predictable ways that build strong neural pathways in babies’ brains as they learn to remember (and predict!) what comes next.
Language Skills
Children aren’t born speaking their language, but they are born with the potential to do so. That gap is bridged through plenty of practice, not just with words but with sounds. In every Music Together song collection, there are a few SWOW’s or “Songs WithOut Words.” These ditties use one or two repeating syllables throughout the song, leading to plenty of exposure and practice forming single syllables. Furthermore, the caregiver has an opportunity to reinforce their child’s speaking and singing skills!
When a baby coos “baaa” on a pitch and we sing “baaa” back to them, we reinforce singing. If we choose to speak “ba” back, we reinforce speaking. At home, caregivers can respond to all kinds of baby behaviors in musical ways and reinforce those responses!
Inhibitory Control Through Call and Response
“Oh John the rabbit…” Yes, ma’am! “… has a mighty habit…” Yes, ma’am! (“John the Rabbit” Family Favorites collection) is a common call-and-response song that gets families laughing, moving, and singing back with confidence. And while half of the song requires singing alone from the families, the other half of their task is just as important – the waiting.
While the teacher sings the “call,” (“Oh, John the rabbit…”) families must wait their turn to sing the response (“Yes, ma’am!”) This exercises an important life skill that shows up again and again! How often have you reminded a child to wait their turn? When the stakes are high and a child must wait for something they really want, it’s tough to practice in the moment. But when the stakes are low, and even silly, children have the chance to flex their waiting skills while they listen to, and help to tell, the musical story of John the Rabbit.
Babies Really Learn All That?
Yes! And even more. It’s clear that music can be quite complex, but even seemingly simple songs contain a wealth of information for babies to absorb and play with that benefits them far beyond the classroom. In every Music Together collection, families receive their own playlist of songs that were written specifically for the class. Each collection unlocks a whole universe of life skills and musical richness that families can enjoy for years to come.
Ready to receive your key to unlocking the wide world of music with your baby?
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