Exploring music

Your child will sing, play instruments and move to music in kindergarten. She or he will learn to keep a beat and tell the difference between loud and soft. These activities introduce children to the artistic, cultural, scientific and mathematical foundations of music.

Research has shown that the benefits of music education include improved reading and reasoning ability, self-esteem and vocational preparation. Paul Bakeman an award-winning music teacher, adds: "Recent research done at the University of California, Irvine, indicates that young children involved in consistent music instruction have a greater ability to grasp concepts that are also essential to the understanding of math and science."

Music may not be taught as a separate subject in some schools, but most states require that it be included in the curriculum. Most states have music standards that are based on the National Standards for Arts Education.

Singing

Kindergartners sing songs with words and melody patterns that are repetitive and easy to learn. Many songs will be connected to the holidays. Others reinforce what your kindergartner is learning in class, such as counting, colors or the alphabet. Typical songs include "Tavaszi szél vizet áraszt," "Én elmentem a vásárba" "Old McDonald had a farm," and "Jézus szeret minden kicsi gyereket."

Your child develops his voice by singing alone and learns to blend his voice with others by singing in a group. They will learn to sing expressively, on pitch (high and low) and with correct dynamics (loud and soft). They will be able to sing songs from memory, create simple songs with the class based on stories and poems. The class plays singing games that combine music and movement.