Does music make a difference to children?
Have you noticed that music is becoming less common in schools? Where pianos were once a staple in kindergarten classrooms, they are now rare, and as students progress, music education is increasingly absent from the curriculum. This decline might suggest that music is not essential—but nothing could be further from the truth! Music plays a crucial role in children's social, emotional, and cognitive development while also enhancing their fine and gross motor skills.
Natural music-makers
We're are all born with multiple forms of intelligence, one of which is musical intelligence. When nurtured, this aptitude allows children to grow into well-rounded individuals who can fully engage with and enjoy music, rather than feeling excluded from it. Supporting musical development from an early age makes the process fun, natural, and joyful. However, if left unsupported, this innate intelligence is redirected elsewhere, potentially limiting a child’s connection to music later in life.
The best part is that you, as a parent or caregiver, don’t need to be an expert musician—your enthusiasm and participation are what truly matter! Every child is born with a natural musical aptitude, and when nurtured, this leads to what is known as Basic Musical Competence (BMC)—the ability to sing in tune, keep a steady beat, and move with rhythm.
If you struggle with these skills yourself, it doesn’t mean you aren’t musical; it simply means your musical intelligence wasn’t fully supported at a young age. The best time to foster your child’s musical development is as early as possible. Music is complex, and developing BMC takes time, but the process is both natural and joyful. Your role as a caregiver is essential—your child needs to see you engaging with music to feel encouraged to participate. And don’t worry about accuracy—what matters most is your willingness to join in!
Ideas for music-making
At home, you can easily incorporate music into your child’s daily life with simple, fun activities. Try playing some music and gathering everyday household items—Tupperware, wooden spoons, saucepans, and pots—to let your child explore different sounds. If you have stairs, give them a pencil or spoon to run along the bannister, helping them recognize patterns in sound spacing. Put on your favorite band and dance like no one is watching, or get creative by changing the lyrics to familiar songs. These playful experiences make music a natural and joyful part of their world!
When you're out and about, you can turn everyday moments into musical experiences. At the park, tap sticks on trees to explore different rhythms with your child. Make up songs about what you see and do, turning your surroundings into inspiration for music. Encourage your child to walk, march, or run with a steady pace—this helps them develop a sense of rhythm and feel a steady beat in a fun, natural way.
What else is developing for your child?
One of the best parts of exploring and playing with music is that you’re also supporting a wide range of developmental skills. Tapping on Tupperware strengthens fine motor skills, while moving to a steady beat enhances gross motor coordination. Making up songs or changing lyrics boosts literacy development, and engaging with music nurtures cognitive growth—especially by encouraging crossing the midline of the body. This skill is essential for crawling, walking, talking, reading, writing, and even math! For very young children, music is unique in that it activates both sides of the brain while also promoting midline crossing, making it one of the most powerful tools for early development.
Music also plays a powerful role in emotional regulation. Your child may find comfort in a particular song, experience joy and excitement in another, or naturally bounce and dance to any music you play. This is because they are wired for music—it’s part of their natural musical intelligence!
At Great Lakes Music Together, we embrace this innate musical ability in our early childhood music classes. Each session features carefully curated music from around the world, designed to support your child’s Basic Musical Competence (BMC) while fostering development in emotional, cognitive, and social areas. In every class, families come together to make music, and as your child grows familiar with the group, their social confidence and awareness flourish.
What truly sets Great Lakes Music Together apart is that the music doesn’t stop when class ends. By bringing the songs home, your child has even more opportunities to explore, play, and engage—deepening their connection to music and maximizing the benefits of each session.
We offer a variety of classes and would love for you to join us! More than anything, we encourage you to make music a natural and ongoing part of your child’s life. By engaging with music early and consistently, you help nurture their musical aptitude and strengthen this important intelligence strand—setting the stage for a lifetime of enjoyment and learning.
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