THE GIFT OF HEARING MUSIC

How music became a “natural” expression:

Since music has been a core expression for over 60 years, I share some practical beliefs and experience: 

Two general things I believe about music are these: 1) Studies point to music’s ability to positively affect the brain, both in development and function.  2) Secondly, early and consistent immersion in hearing music - just the hearing of it - is beneficial for many reasons.  You can research and find valid studies pointing to enhanced intelligence when music is in the atmosphere. Start with “kindermusik.com.”

Having these beliefs confirmed in my own life, I now share my experience that supported any gifting I may have, whether musical or language or mathematics or science or art: 

The one key element during my upbringing that influenced any supposedly “natural” talent in me is this: My parents loved music.

Even though they were untrained in it, they loved listening to it.  Consequently, I heard music a lot, from a very early age; various styles, but…heard it consistently - a lot of it - on radio stations, vinyl records, singing in church, singing at home or out camping.

A musical “ear” began for me very early, without lessons or training. The reason? I absorbed sound because I had a Dad who loved music. He was not trained on instrument or voice, but he constantly listened to radio and vinyl records; in addition, he whistled or sang along with all he heard. Besides a beautiful whistle, he had a strong but untrained bass singing voice. He was often asked to sing solos at our local church.  Yet he was untrained. How does that happen?

My dad being born in 1917 meant that he grew up in the great pre-war and post-war era of Jazz and Swing music as it unfolded in the U.S. during the 1930’s and 1940’s.  He obviously fell in love with it.  The Big Band instrumental music of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller are a few great talents he enjoyed. Those were playing on the radio or vinyl records in my home even after that style had supposedly “gone out of style.” Amazingly, as I grew up throughout the 1950’s, 1960’s, and 1970’s, where rock-and-roll was rolling onto the air waves, these older styles were not lost on us because of my Dad.  

In addition, Dad loved the classical music of Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Brahms, Debussy, to name a few. He would play symphonies and whistle along with them. Yes, I said whistle. He had a beautiful, clear whistle which sounded to me a bit like a violin.  Did I mention he had no formal musical training?

So why does this matter?  The significance is for everyone because your own training in music is not required for developing your child’s brain or their musical “ear.” Hearing all kinds of music is valuable. From infancy to high school graduation, I heard these styles of music: classical, big band, Irish jigs, folk, dance, pop. I couldn’t help it.  It was in my home.  Therefore, the sounds, the beats, the meters, the harmonies, the instruments, the intervals, the melodies - the complex textures in all that music - were absorbed in my mind’s “ear.” I absorbed the tones and qualities of different styles of music.  The expression I found later in life in other areas besides music - be it language, writing, art, math, science, teaching piano, or improvising on my own, was enhanced by the music I heard early in life. Really?

This experience is true and highlights a practical and easy influence to bring into your home. If you have children of any age …Turn on the radio and find various styles of music; find stations on Jango or Spotify that are different than modern day music; play it softly in the background when other activities are going on or make it a main focus for dancing and fun.  Find a classical music station, and/or, download albums of the composers and talents I listed above. Play music that does not carry confusion or negativity, but music that communicates joy and positivity. Dance with the little ones, teach them to move with the beat, teach them to whistle or sing with the music. A great resource for more on this is “kindermusik.com”

“Children’s” versions of classics, in my opinion, are oversimplified, but better than nothing I suppose. My preference is to get recordings of the real thing: Original symphonies, string quartets, piano sonatas, original folk music, or pop, (preferably real instruments and not synthesized) or even music from other cultures.

Immersion and variety are key. Hearing it regularly is key. I have read that a child at any age will absorb the sounds, the beauty and complexity of all the tones. And then? Maybe they’ll be a “brainiac” …or have a natural gifting in music… or other areas may be enhanced “naturally” in them.

However, one caution: This writing is not to encourage parental pressure. Progress in musical expression cannot be the focus. Enjoying music must be the focus. Parents can get overly excited about their kid’s talent, which to the kid is easily be perceived as expectation. They may recoil from that, perceiving it as pressure, or embrace a sense of failure in not meeting the expectation. Rather, I intend to highlight the value of hearing music and enjoying it because it can positively affect brain development, as well as relieve stress, or just be an element of fun. The idea is to simply have music in the home atmosphere.  Thus, a note to parents: No pressure to perform.

Every child is unique. With music in their listening life as they grow, their ears and mind will be cultivated in complex creativity. Just my opinion. From experience. I am blessed that God gave me parents who loved music.