Fostering Early Musical Talent With Toys

By Jennifer McDonald


A child's musical affinity is something that numerous institutions have studied the effect that music has on learning, including the University Of Washington, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California at Irvine. Because of this, it's no surprise that companies that cater to children are offering an increase in musical talent through toys that focus in this area. The findings support that learning toys focusing on music actually benefit children of all ages.

Although the old stereotype of music teachers and tutors reflects a stodgy grown-up teaching elementary school-age children how to play the violin or tickle the ivories, in reality there are many opportunities for high school and college students. Younger children often respond better to people closer to their age. The teen is also closer in time to learning music theory and remembering different tricks and tips on how they learned to play their instrument of choice.

I am not saying that musical geniuses no longer exist. I am certain that they are out there, but I don't see them presented or marketed to mass audiences. Without great gift, how can the music industry hope to revitalize sales and nurture new icons?

For students considering teaching as a career, taking a summer job as a camp counselor is a good start. It gives them a chance to learn how to interact with younger children while spending their summertime playing instruments they love and making new friends. This also gives high school students a chance to spend some independent time away from home before taking the big step of going off to college. It is also a way to help earn some college money. There are many openings as camp counselors in fine arts camps, as well as those specifically designed for marching band, orchestra, ensembles, horns, percussion and just plain music camp.

I know that times have changed because of the internet. Bands are going directly to music listeners with their own websites and pages on MySpace. This is absolutely fantastic because it allows anyone to throw his or her hat in the ring and get noticed. But how noticed do they get?

Musical toys should be a part of every preschool toy chest. Playing with music is fun for kids. In addition, the approach of using learning toys takes much of the pressure off parents during these younger years. There are many interactive toys that feature tone and rhythm, as well as those that actually allow a young child to create their own music combinations.

Nurturing your child's or your own talent in music is a lot like growing a garden. It takes time and patience. As well as attention to the simple things, like coming to lessons each week, attending recitals, developing a practice routine, staying focused on your goals, and believing that one day your dream will come true.

Take a small recording device with you and capture the sounds that get your child's attention. Let them assist you in arranging the noises in a musical way. This same project can be done with rhythm quite easily. Coupling this with relevant toys will optimize her brain for musical expression, fostering early awareness and increasing intelligence and cognitive growth for years to come.




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