Making time for music

Ranjeeta Prajapati

I have been in the education industry for 18 years and when I look back on my classroom days as a facilitator, I remember the first thing I used to do before starting my class was play some music or rhymes. I had read somewhere that music is not meant just for entertainment and that it has a wider purpose and so decided to try it in my classroom.

One day I reached school early and sat in class playing some music. As my students arrived one by one, I saw no matter what mood they were in when entering the classroom, as soon as they heard the music, their expressions changed; they were beaming, there was energy throughout the day, they performed well in all the activities. I did this for a few days and observed how the children reacted to lessons the whole day.

Then one day I didn’t start the day with music. I could see the difference in my students. The class seemed devoid of energy. The children seemed to lack enthusiasm in doing the day’s activities. That is when I realized how important music can be.

Babies understand language as if it were music because of the tonal and rhythmic aspects of language. Early childhood is a time of wonder, exploration and growth. This stage has a tremendous and lasting impact on learning, brain development and mental health.

According to researchers, during these formative years the human brain forms a million neural connections every second and these connections become the foundation for learning to take place later. When we are engaged in music, whether it’s listening or playing an instrument, we engage all parts of the brain. The right side of the brain is in charge of creativity, conceptual and spatial reasoning. The left side is responsible for cognitive, mathematical, and motor skills. The connection between the two allows the brain to function at both levels at the same time. And this is extremely important because the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) world the children are growing in requires whole brain thinking.

Music ignites all areas of child development and readies children for school. Exposing children to music during the early developmental stage helps them learn sounds and meanings of words. Music also exposes children to emotions.

Here are the benefits of music in early childhood education.

1. Brain development
   Music leads to overall brain development and creates pathways in the brain that improve a child’s cognitive functioning. Language, reading and mathematical abilities, in particular can be developed through music activities.
2. Language and vocabulary
   Songs and rhymes greatly expand children’s vocabulary as well as their ability to use language correctly. The repetition in popular rhymes and songs helps children memorize new words. They also become familiar with language patterns and how words are placed together.
3. Auditory perception
   Auditory perception is the brain’s ability to make sense of what it hears through the ears. This is one of the most important skills for reading. Teaching children classic songs and rhymes is one of the best ways to develop their auditory perceptual skills.
4. Memory skills
   The repetitive nature of songs and rhymes allows children to work on their memory skills continuously. The tune and rhythm of a song or rhyme makes it easier to memorize.
5. Motor skills
   Fine and gross motor skills can be developed through finger play, action rhymes and also by playing musical instruments.
6. Self-expression
   Music is a wonderful mode of self-expression for children. It develops a sense of creativity in them and they feel free to express.

In this stressful society, music can help relax a child and promote wellbeing which is very important for the growth of the child. It speaks to the development of the whole child and this is why we need to make time for music.

The author is an early childhood educator, author and poet. She can be reached at ranjeetaprajapati.vns@gmail.com.