Music Widget

Music education, in some form, goes back as far as education itself. While sometimes struggling for legitimacy, it nonetheless has had its champions. More recently, as technology has flourished within education, technological applications designed specifically for the teaching of music have been developed. While much of this technology is designed primarily for the classroom there are programs designed for the student to utilize in the home, albeit limited to those students with a home computer and internet access.

The teaching of music in the American educational setting dates back 1838 when Lowell Mason introduced singing classes to Boston grammar schools. Instrumental music appeared in fits and starts over the next fifty years but was never included during the school day; rather, it was relegated to the ranks of extracurricular activities. Around the turn of the century, instrumental music began to see some acceptance into the classroom, though often was taught by those untrained in the area of music education. Moreover, little if any standardization of the instrumentation or music literature existed. (Rhodes, 2007)

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Why is Music Important for Kids?

This question has been debated for as long as time has existed. Even the great Greek and Roman philosophers approached the question: is music something that should be taught and does it help the development of children? Plato answered “I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for in the patterns of music and all arts are the keys to learning.” And again “what then is the education to be? Perhaps we could hardly find a better than that which the experience of the past has already discovered, which consists, I believe, in gymnastic, for the body, and music for the mind.”

In all cultures of the world music plays an important role. While these roles may change depending on the culture it is impossible to separate music from the life of an individual. While some may argue the role of music in our lives it is impossible to escape it. Even in the popular culture of Australia it is impossible to go shopping without hearing music. Music provides a means of communication and expression of culture and individual identity.

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Getting children interested in producing and interacting with music from a young age is a great aim, and Leapfrog are helping parents do just that with some of their Learn & Groove range of toys for babies, toddlers and children.

The Learn & Groove Alphabet Drum is aimed at aimed at 6-36 month old babies/toddlers.

Each tap introduces baby to the alphabet in both English and Spanish, which helps promote an understanding of the building blocks of language. Music Play mode lets baby explore and create music, which encourages creative interaction and open-ended play. Engaging music and interactive play modes encourage baby to tap, crawl and dance, which helps develop gross motor skills.

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Getting children interested in producing and interacting with music from a young age is a great aim, and Leapfrog are helping parents do just that with some of their Learn & Groove range of toys for babies, toddlers and children.

The Learn & Groove Counting Maracas are aimed at aimed at 6-36 month old babies/toddlers.

The Music Play mode lets baby explore and create music, encouraging creative interaction and open-ended play. Each shake introduces baby to counting 1-10 in both English and Spanish, which helps promote an understanding of number order. Activities introduce the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple, also in both English and Spanish.

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Getting children interested in producing and interacting with music from a young age is a great aim, and Leapfrog are helping parents do just that with some of their Learn & Groove range of toys for babies, toddlers and children.

The Learn & Groove Musical Table is aimed at 6-36 month old babies/toddlers and helps to keep them entertained with 15 musical activities in both English and Spanish.

Colourful, interactive learning stations introduce early reading, math and language development skills through fun and engaging activities. Flip the centre page to Music mode and your baby will move and groove to more than 40 songs and melodies, including nursery rhymes, real instrument sounds and upbeat dance tunes.

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