Tip 134: Instill love for music and musicians

There have been many parenting literature that advocate parents to expose young children and even babies early to music. It was in 1962 that an article in the Time magazine reported that researchers found that babies speed up their heartbeats as they respond to music while in the womb. As they grow up, this interest towards music continues in a baby to investigate where the music comes from and to develop good mood with certain types of music. Babies in fact may get too used to different tones and sounds that they are nearing a phenomenon I coin as sound overload, being not too different from information overload where the listener need to establish what is valid and good music. There is musical sound from everywhere such as the T.V., radio/CD player, computer, billboard, lift and cell phone that the baby may begin to prefer machine music and loud music than music from other musical instruments. I try to point to Haruka whenever the opportunity arises of the different musical instruments people play and give her some time to observe them playing.

Its interesting that Haruka does have the attention span to stand still sometimes when I let her observe a music being played. At an age when she is adorable and cute, many musicians would find such a sight of an observant infant student to be most welcoming and delightful. They would smile at Haruka and this further creates a good feeling for Haruka to stay longer to observe. Haruka used to dance more when I ask her to in the presence of music, but not so much as she grows older and decides what she likes to do instead. Not sure how all these will take her on her path to music discovery. I reckon that any time spent observing and listening is a good skill to be acquired since most children these days prefer to be attracted to the different colourful toys, electronic gadgets, TV and computers. Some studies suggests that being exposed to music and later to give musical lessons to children may enhance intelligence and academic achievement, build self-esteem and improve discipline. It is certainly too far ahead to have academic goals for Haruka, but I am doing my small bit as a daddy to pause whenever possible to let Haruka observe the different beautiful things around her. Music is certainly one of them. Of course, mummy would wonder the rationale of standing in front of a street musician under a London bridge for 10 minutes. But, I am sure if Haruka is interested, there is more good than harm. Its certainly a more refreshing activity than just learning to press the CD player button to listen to music.

Do you think these days that music from the TV, CD player and computer seem to be heard more frequently than music played live by a musician? Do you think it matters at all to a baby?

(Photos show Haruka being entertained by a friendly group of violinist and flutist playing upbeat classical music at Covent Garden market, London; Haruka at the red carpet premier of the film Australia with a team of jazz musicians, singers and dancers; a smiling Korean harp player at the Rose lounge of Sofitel St James London hotel; Haruka and Tomomi posing beside an Oxford folk musician playing a horn fiddle accompanied by British folk dancers at a fair in Oxford city; and a video of Haruka jiggling to some good music amidst her tight winter clothes receiving the applause of many later).