Today is the longest day of the year! To mark this in a musical way, Theresa Case brings us a post about keeping music in our lives from the very beginning so we might enjoy its benefits for as long as possible! – Dr. B “What if there was one activity that could improve our cognitive function, help our memory systems to work, help us to learn language, help us to moderate our emotions, help us to solve complex problems, and help our brains to be healthier later in life?”

This is the question famously posed by Anita Collins in her TEDTalk given in October of 2014. Her answer? Music.

There’s no disputing the power of music. The research findings are powerfully conclusive and the evidence is overwhelmingly affirmative. Music is THE one activity that improves and enriches every area of a child’s development and indeed, every area of a child’s life – for now and for later. And the earlier and more consistently a child is involved in the experience and process of learning music, the better. With Kindermusik, the musical journey actually begins with infants – and grown-ups get to sing, dance, and play along, too – no prior musical skill required, by the way! As your child’s first and best teacher, cheerleader, and most enthusiastic supporter, you play an active and very vital role in your child’s musical development right from the very beginning.

Some of our favorite benefits of consistent group music instruction in the early years include:

• Fostering a love of music before a young child can even speak or sing
• Instilling a love of learning that will later increase academic performance and success
• Layering a consistent foundation of musical concepts upon which later formal music instruction will build
• Focusing on every area of a child’s development
• Contributing to the development of character traits such as patience, perseverance, empathy, cooperation, independence, commitment, and self-control
• Improving the brain’s ability to process sound and identify patterns
• Increasing self-confidence, social skills, imagination, and creative thinking
• Enhancing the executive function skills that are so necessary for success in school, in work, and in life
• Deepening the enjoyment all humans are pre-wired to experience only through music

The early years are the most formative; on that we can all agree. There is also increasing consensus that choosing to make music a part of those early years (and beyond) can help put your child on a path toward being a happier, well-rounded, and successful adult.

By the way, have we mentioned how much you’ll enjoy and benefit from being a part of these music classes with your child? We hear from parents that Kindermusik classes are one of best parts of THEIR week – try it and you’ll see what we’re talking about! Contributed by Theresa Case whose award-winning Kindermusik program at Piano Central Studios in upstate South Carolina has been making a difference for children and families for over 20 years.