How to Raise a Musical Child

“Every child is musical. Learning the fundamentals of music is very similar to how we learn a language,” according to Mark Biesterfeld, co-founder of Petite Musician, Inc. in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Children are decoding sounds from Day One.

Biesterfeld says even newborns can discern between different beat patterns. There have been studies done where a triple-pattern beat (one strong beat and two weaker beats -1-2-3 – like a waltz) is played for the babies.

When the pattern is changed and any of the beats is dropped, the baby’s brain patterns actually reacted – even at just a few days or weeks old.

So just like a child can learn any language from the very beginning, being musical is naturally occurring as well. As children, we learn a language by hearing it, speaking it and eventually reading it. It’s all phonetic – like music – we use our ears to listen.

Unlike older children and adults who learn a language later, a child doesn’t have to translate language into their first tongue. They learn the patterns and the inflections from simply listening.

Biesterfeld also cited another study showing babies are able to decode the subtle inflections in Mandarin Chinese language when spoken “live” by a native speaker.  When shown the same series via video, they could no longer discern the inflections.  Not only does this show how babies can discern very small differences in sound but it also shows that a parent or caregiver’s participation in this process is vital to the ability of the child to learn to discern sounds. 

To help instill music, like a language, in your house, Biesterfeld recommends making music fun and a part of everyday life.

Besides the typical “children’s music” such as Disney or Kids Bop, he recommends exposing children to all kinds of music – waltzes, world music, jazz, classical, country. A wide variety of musical exposure to different types of tonalities and rhythms will help your child to learn a deeper appreciation for music.  Besides the Music Together cds that go along with the program he runs Biesterfeld recommends the Putumayo Kids cds.  This is a line of world music recordings put together specifically for children.  www.putumayokids.com

Besides listening to CDs, which is important, adding fun a cappella music is also important for kids. You don’t have to sit down and sing; when your child is cleaning up toys or making his bed or getting dressed. Make up songs to go along. The sillier, the better!

Biesterfeld teaches music classes for the very young as part of the Music Together curriculum. Music Together is a family experience where parents and children up to age 5 both participate in the class. A wide variety of music is part of each class to expose children (and their parents) to the differences at a young age.

Much of the class is actually about teaching parents how to make music fun, he says, beyond the fun of the Music Together class. Biesterfeld says dance with scarves, bang on pots and pans, whatever you can to make a musical experience at home.

If you do have an instrument, even if it’s from high school and you haven’t touched it since, Biesterfeld says dust it off and get playing again.

Your child doesn’t care if you can’t play a song perfectly. They will be completely fascinated by you simply playing, and will most likely want to play too.  Make up songs while you play!

He also says do not worry if you are not a skilled singer. Your child is not listening for perfect pitch or rhythm.  Keep singing – your voice is your instrument!

“When a parent sings to their child it says so much more – ‘I love you and I care about you.’ It conveys so many emotions that aren’t conveyed by a recording,” he says.

It also teaches them that perfection is not a prerequisite to making music, which is a great life lesson. “You can be imperfect and still make music together,” says Biesterfeld.

About Mark Biesterfeld and Petite Musician

Mark Biesterfeld has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Indiana University and a Master’s in Music from the University of Cincinnati. He has performed with Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera Colorado, Utah Festival Opera, Cincinnati Opera and Sarasota Opera. He has numerous concert credits appearing as a soloist with Kentucky Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Asheville Symphony Orchestra.

Mark and Leah Creek Biesterfeld are the owners of Petite Musician in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. They teach classes based on the Music Together curriculum. From Petite Musician’s website “Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and the adults who love them.” For more information on the Music Together program, click here. The program is widely available throughout the United States.

Petite Musician locations include Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, West Littleton, South Littleton, Highlands Ranch and Centennial, Arvada and Downtown Littleton, Colorado. Petite Musician was recently chosen as the 2010 Family Favorite for music classes by Colorado Parent magazine!  The awards are voted on by parents all over the metro Denver area.