Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do when my child is
not participating the way I would like him/her to in our music class?
Children are unique and have varying styles of learning. While attending
music classes, parents may find themselves comparing their child’s
performance with others in the class because he or she is not doing
exactly what the teacher or other children do. Please be assured
that each child is absorbing what is going on in the classroom,
and she or he is learning - whether the child is an observer or
an active participant! Children will eventually become accustomed
to the structure of the class and participate in a way they are
comfortable with. Usually children will imitate class activities
at home before they will participate in class.
Above all, it cannot be stressed enough that our program is experienced-based rather than performance-based. We, as parents and caregivers, can
help most by not letting our doubts about ourselves interfere with
our child’s enjoyment and experience of music. Let’s
relax and appreciate the unique individual who is our child.
How should I use the family materials?
Music in the family is vital to the development of your child. The
time to start is in early childhood; the place is in the family.
Home is the first and most important school for a child. Involved
parents are the most effective teachers for children.
Music provides an excellent springboard for interaction with your
child at home. Included in all family kits is a CD of classroom
songs and activities. We encourage you to play these often, to sing
and move along to the music, and make music making a part of your
family life. The collection of songs and rhymes is designed for
musical play. This “musical playtime” might be a scheduled
time - perhaps before a nap or after breakfast - or some other spontaneous
times during the day. You can find ideas in the booklet included
with the CD or the teacher will model how to use the materials.
We encourage you to designate a specific place for your music materials
at home. Teach your child how to take care of his or her materials,
and they will stay intact for years to come.
Once children reach the Music Makers series - Home, World, and Keyboard
- there should be a more dedicated time devoted to using the family
materials. These classes are designed sequentially, so that later
skills are built on those learned earlier in the year. Your child
will be much more successful if she or he is engaging in practice
at home.
Why are patterns part of each class?
We use rhythm and tonal patterns throughout the curriculum, starting
with the babies. These patterns are the building blocks of music
and help your child develop a steady beat and an accurate sense
of pitch. In addition to these areas, the repetition of patterns
builds listening and memory skills. This repetition of patterns
will help children identify phrases in music, create their own songs,
and move toward reading and writing music in a more natural manner.
What should I do if my child is being
disruptive?
We expect age-appropriate behavior from our children. This means
that babies will cry, toddlers will wander, and sometimes children
will not want to participate. These behaviors are only inappropriate
if they are distracting to other children or threaten the safety
of your child or others. If your child is disrupting class, we ask
that you attend to her or his behavior. You may wish to step outside
of the class for a few minutes, but please come back and join the
class when your child is ready.
Why do we repeat songs throughout
the curriculum?
Repetition is essential to your child’s learning. You will
notice much repetition during a class, over the semester, and within
the total curriculum. The curriculum is intentionally repetitive
because this is a means by which your child:
- Stores songs in his or her long-term memory,
- Strengthens the muscular system so actions become more smooth
and controlled over time,
- Develops a mastery of skills.
A young child learning to walk will practice the mechanics of walking
until he or she has mastered the skill. Then the child takes that
skill to the next level and practices some more. The same applies
in music. We introduce children to the fundamentals of music in
the earlier classes (babies and toddlers) so that later in the program
they can use that fundamental information and apply it to more cognitive
activities such as reading and writing music.
My child has been sick. Is it okay
for me to bring her or him to class?
The Children’s Hospital parent advice line offers the following
guidelines on typical childhood viruses. We hop this information
helps parents take into consideration all of the families we affect
at Early Childhood Music at Trinity, especially when utilizing the
nursery.
- Keep your child home if he/she has a fever >100º F, cough,
or nasal drainage that may contaminate sticks, scarves, etc. The
child should be fever-free for 24 hours prior to attending class.
- The child should be virus-free (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) for
24 hours before bringing her or him to class. If your child is on
an antibiotic, he or she should be kept home until 24 hours after
the antibiotics are begun.
If you are in doubt, make your judgment based on how your child
is feeling. Your child should feel happy and ready to participate
in class.
Children’s Hospital offers a parenting and
child health information line available 24 hours a day to accommodate
questions parents might have. The number is 303-861-6543. The access code for information regarding keeping
kids home and when to send them back is 8474 and 8475 respectively. You can also read more at the
Children’s Hospital website: www.thechildrenshospital.org
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