Jul. 6, 2007 - Cool Music Links

Cool Music Links

I found these three great music links that are now being added to my theme schedule in the music week.  I am sure you will like them, even if you aren't doing the theme schedule.  The first two are my favorites.

San Fransisco Orchestra for Kids (very interactive)

Classics For Kids  (Kind've like Classical radio for kids  --   really cool, lots of interactives.)

Carnegie Hall  (click on learning adventures.)

Jun. 28, 2007 - About Young Children Singing

As I have a Music Performance degree in Voice, and teach voice lessons; I hear this question from parent's of young children frequently:

"My little girl loves to sing and sings really well -- what can I do to encourage her until she is old enough for lessons?"

Here is my answer:

As the mother of a little opera singer (and a Vocal Performance degree holder, and voice/choral teacher) I can tell you what I recommend.   The very best three things you can do with a child who loves music and loves to sing at a young age:

Piano lessons!  I haven’t heard of technics, so I cannot comment on that.  In general, six is a great age to start.

Choir experience  Church or local youth choir, but low pressure...you don’t want burnout.

Exposure  Listening to great music, great singers, great choirs, etc.  --Classical Kids CD’s are great, but so are Renee Fleming CD’s for instance.  Attending concerts.

Now I will tell you why.  You cannot really predict how well a child will sing until after puberty.  Many children can’t carry a tune in a bucket until after puberty, and then they have talent that knocks the socks off of their peers. Early singers often have terrific ears — maybe even perfect pitch. You cannot start training a young voice.  You overwork the voice, and potentially do irrevocable damage.  Vocal training is not recommended until at least age 14.

Piano lessons are invaluable.  Vocalists who can play piano well will be five steps ahead of vocalists who cannot play.  Your child will be able to read music well, hear intervals in her head from piano training, be able to teach herself songs for auditions and choral work, accompany herself etc.  If she does music in college, she will already have a solid grounding in theory as well.

Choral experience is invaluable.  Choral experience trains the ear, fosters a love for music, teaches discipline and so many other musical necessities.

Exposure to great music helps keep those ears open — children learn what quality sounds like, what kinds of variety exist, and hopefully learn to enjoy a wide variety, etc.