| Music and Child Development | | | | experience should be initiated before the age of 5. |
| Educators, scientist, researchers and doctors are | | | | The "window of opportunity", to increase and |
| confirming that musical training can significantly | | | | strengthen neural bridges, stays open until about |
| enhance child development. | | | | the age of 10. The first 6 years however are the |
| Several studies indicate that exposure to music | | | | most important, offering an ideal opportunity to |
| (listening, learning and playing) does have beneficial | | | | facilitate a child's intellectual growth. |
| effects for preschoolers. Active musical training | | | | The purpose of the Montessori program is to |
| can improve their problem-solving skills, physical | | | | develop the children's verbal affective |
| coordination, poise, concentration, memory, visual, | | | | communication and increase their understanding |
| aural and language skills, self discipline. It fosters | | | | and enjoyment of music within our culture. It |
| self confidence and improves the ability to learn. | | | | enhances the ability to express themselves |
| Playing music not only provides children with a | | | | through music. |
| creative outlet for self-expression, it can help to | | | | The curriculum is designed |
| relieve stress and anxiety. It also shows that | | | | - to encourage the child's self-development |
| children that are taught music, increases their | | | | - and nourish his or her curiosity, imagination |
| personal and social awareness leading them to be | | | | - develop intellect |
| more easily socialized. | | | | - construct a foundation for music through |
| Problem Solving Skills | | | | ear-training |
| Musical training helps to develop and exercise a | | | | Creative Journey |
| child's abstract reasoning skills as it stimulates the | | | | The development of good listening skills is the |
| creation of neural bridges in the area of the brain | | | | hallmark of a solid education. By learning to listen |
| that is responsible for particular types of | | | | to music, the child will begin the journey of |
| mathematical computation. | | | | creative self-expression. |
| Studies have shown that music lessons enhance | | | | The child will recognize, then absorb and |
| the kind of intelligence utilized for math and | | | | understand the composition. This will inspire the |
| science. Spacial temporal reasoning is what helps | | | | child to originate his or her own modes of |
| us from mental images of physical objects and to | | | | personal expression, as well as providing a |
| recognize patterns embedded in space and over | | | | necessary foundation for the mastering of other |
| time. An example where this is used would be | | | | important skills. |
| playing chess, where a person is trying to | | | | If interested in offering a music program, one |
| determine the outcome of several moves ahead. | | | | should consider such personal variables as cost, |
| Window Of Opportunity | | | | instruments required, open space, storage space, |
| For a maximum benefit, the musical training | | | | musical ability. |