Some of the useful things I remember DD1 doing, which bode well for music-making later in life are things like:
- learning to watch a 'conductor' figure, and to play and then stop playing
- learning about dynamics and singing quietly and loudly
- re-inforcing the rhythm of music through songs and actions
- learning the best way to get a sound from an instrument
- steps towards reading music using ideas like 'cherries' (for crotchets and quavers) and 'cat' / 'kitten' 'dog / 'puppy' (again for crotchets and quavers
Of course, you can do a lot of this at home, but I know that I for one am not disciplined enough to sit down and do this on a regular basis, so we do music class once a week, and then lots of singing at home.
One thing I love doing at home is building a tower of 8 blocks to sing out an octave. We use the tune (don't laugh!) "I know a little pussy", going up one note for each line and each block:
I know a little pussy
Her coat is silver grey
She lives down in the meadow
Not very far away
Although she is a pussy
She'll never be a cat
Because she's a pussy willow
Now what d'you think of that?
Now you should have a tower of 8 blocks / cups, if you've put one in place as you've sung each line. Then count back down them, going down one note each time, singing miaou, miaou, miaou, miaou, miaou, miaou, miaou, miaou
Then say "scat pussycat" and get your DD/DS to knock the tower over!!