Music plays a huge role in preschool. It fills the hearts of children and inspires them to ‘be’, to open up and express their feelings. They dance to music and soak up the feeling it gives them. While young children are naturally expressive, language and words often come later. They tell us how they feel in other ways; music is often the catalyst to open their door.
“Where words fail, music speaks.”
~Hans Christian Andersen~
Honestly, this is a thread throughout life. Don’t we all remember ‘that song’, the one that makes us truly feel?
The beginning is grounded in early childhood. Children who listen to music – all kinds of music – are better in tune (pun intended) with others. They have a greater depth of empathy and understanding. That’s the core for goodness and becoming a good citizen.
Stay with me…
In March, we prepare for an annual Art Show. Big Deal! It’s displayed for the whole community. At this point in the school year, children love art, and have been exposed to all mediums. What they haven’t been exposed to is ‘real art’, the art of the masters.
I introduce them to impressionism and cubism, Monet and Picasso. I introduce them to ‘Starry Night’. Their favorite is often ‘Large Blue Horses’ by Franz Marc. That always makes me smile, because it’s one of the art pieces that inspired Eric Carle as a teenager in Nazi Germany. His nod to Franz Marc was the blue horse in his book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear.
Large Blue Horses, by Franz Marc
Eric Carle’s Blue Horse
I introduce them to real artist paints in tubes, squeezed onto pallets.
What makes all these elements come alive? Music! Music inspires art. It gives children a wave of joy, and inspires them to create art.
Since children are hands-on learners, I bring in my old record player and record albums. I take a long time, putting the record player on the rug and asking, “What is that?”, then showing them how it works – spinning the turntable and rubbing the needle on the arm to make a sound.
At this point, it’s the coolest new toy, the best technology.
But wait…it makes music! When I put on a record album and play the music, it’s pure magic. Children listen like they’ve never heard music before. I start with Beethoven and Mozart. I play Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Handel’s Water Music
I wish every child could hear this music, played on a record player.
Children need to hear all kinds of music. I play The Beatles and The Supremes. This year The Supremes were a big hit.
The children say I’m the one in the middle.
I introduced them to musicals, Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, played on my record player, of course. We sang and danced. ‘Feel Good’ was the mood of the day.
What did all this music do? It inspired children to create their own art, their ‘masterpiece’. Music and art = win-win.
Stay tuned for the Art Show.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 