Lynne O'Malley
Lynne O’Malley who runs Rhythm Time classes locally tells us about the benefits of introducing your baby to music early.
Did you know that the ear is the first organ to develop in your unborn baby?
Babies are innately musical. They can absorb sounds from the moment their ear develops. It has been proven that music engages all areas of the brain, and therefore can benefit babies in ways such as:
- Memory, concentration and recall
- Speech and language development
- Internalising rhythm and pattern
- Personal response to music
- Social interaction
- Balance and coordination
The deep benefits of music were highlighted in a study entitled “The Mozart Effect” by Don Campbell. He concluded that:
“The most important benefit is the proven positive effects music has on brain development….and is most crucial during the first 6 years, when the most important brain development takes place.”
Rhythm Time baby classes start from birth, where Mum/Dad and baby are engaged in the multi-sensory activities together, promoting a bonding experience through music. At this stage of their lives babies’ brains and bodies are changing all the time. The first few months of a child’s life are when they learn the most.
The babies’ eye muscles are developed through eye-tracking sensory materials such as scarves, feathers, pompoms, balls, bubbles, puppets, while their sense of pulse is nurtured through bouncing rhymes and songs, and dancing with mum to music with a strong beat.
Babies love to look at themselves and other babies, and to copy what they see and hear. We do this in a fun, musical way involving mirrors and circle dances, as well as action rhymes with partners. We also develop their sense of self and body through lots of body-part songs and rhymes, using repetitive language to connect the visual with the aural, and the kinaesthetic, eg. following a sound going up and down with the movement of up and down.
They are encouraged to learn about the world around them by using tactile experiences as well as sight and sound. We therefore use lots of different textures in the class for the babies to explore.
Unaccompanied singing is an important part of the class, since this will help your baby to recognise your voice and understand the emotions behind what you are singing.
Hand-eye coordination is developed through babies learning to grasp instruments and use a different hand to tap, eg. using a beater to bang a drum, while speech is enhanced through singing and music. We use a lot of repetition together with fun, catchy songs.
Zoltan Kodaly (1882-1967) led the way for music teaching through a holistic approach, and believed that daily singing with your child, particularly unaccompanied singing, is the key to helping a child to internalise songs, rhymes, patterns and rhythms which in turn will help develop their speech and language skills.
Rhythm Time classes are based on the Kodaly method of teaching, in that a climate is created where these skills can be learned and developed.
Find out more!
Please feel free to go along yourself to a Rhythm Time class and see what they do! You get 2 free classes if you mention MoorMums.
Call Lynne O’Malley on 07789 895894, or book online at www.rhythmtime.net
