Music for Babies

What is the best time for my child to start music lessons?

Formal music lessons are only part of a musical education, and a child’s response to music or music lessons is enhanced by positive experiences with it earlier on. Experiencing music is possible even before birth, and in fact, research has demonstrated that pre-natal babies can discriminate between sounds and rhythms, indicating that they are already actively ‘participating’.

Singing to your baby during pregnancy for example, is not only calming and relaxing; it also fine-tunes their developing auditory system (generally considered to be functional by around 25 weeks). Introducing specific lullabies to your pre-natal baby are a special way of preparing aspects of the post-natal environment. Pre-natal babies carry musical memory (sound acquisition) into life as a new-born, and it is now known that they hold a preference for music that was introduced to them as a pre-natal.

Lullabies are wonderful to learn as an expectant Mother or caregiver, as the tempo (speed) is slower and generally doesn’t go any faster than a ‘resting’ heartbeat.  They’re also softer in volume and narrow in pitch, so the the extremes of the voice arent being used (in either volume or range). Brahms famous lullaby Wiegenlied ( Winnie the Pooh’s ‘Lullabee‘) is a beautiful example, and can be simply hummed without need for words.

Mozart’s Sleep Little One below is also very sweet and could be sung without words and in any key.

Pretty Little Horses Traditional Lullaby

The above examples are only a few of many other melodies available, and some of the loveliest and simplest pieces are those passed down through the oral tradition such as the folk or traditional tunes. Whatever is the choice of song or songs, the chosen pieces introduced early in development, will travel with a child as they grow, and can be a source of comfort or a point of reference in an oftentimes overwhelming world.

This studio offers singing and piano lessons for Mothers and all care-givers who want to share music for those, or with those, in their care. During any given lesson, amongst other skills, it is possible to:

• learn how to read music

• learn how to play melodies at the piano

• learn how to sing pieces without any instrument at all (unaccompanied)

It is then possible to create a treasure of music and song, that can:

• form a personal and accessible part of daily care-giving

• provide a special way of bonding and connecting with your baby all the way into their toddler and pre-school years

• become an alternative and creative support during transitioning between activities

Whatever the reason, these lessons are designed to assist you from the very beginning, and no prior musical knowledge is necessary.

For further information, please email me or book a lesson.