Even Harvard tells us that music can help improve health, mood and stress. Right now, these are all of great importance to improve and maintain.
For many of us, listening to music is the easiest way to access music. But a great way to introduce music to kids is to help them see that they too can make music.
Online Classes
If you have a keyboard or piano at home already, the Hoffman academy has a range of free piano lessons as well as subscription/paid options.
New classes made specifically for kids at home during isolation are emerging, such as the one below from UK pop singer Mylene Class.
Musical instruments
There are lots of instruments to be found around the house, many of which can be found in the kitchen. Make some drums with some pans and cooking spoons. Help your children explore the different noises which can be achieved with different spoons, different pans, different surfaces. Shakers can be made from some plastic jars and various dried foods, eg cereal in a jar or bottle can make some great noises. Of course please be aware of your child’s age and risk of choking, don’t give babies or young kids access to items they might choke on like nuts, even if you are reasonably sure the items are secure in the jar. Older kids can spend a long time experimenting with the noises they can create running a finger around the rim of a glass. Give them a selection with a range of water levels so they can create tunes. For more inspiration, try this selection of instruments you can make yourself, including harmonicas and banjos!
If you want to buy some instruments, we love this music set for kids, with 19 different items for kids to create all kinds of noise! For the younger group, Halilit make some great toddler music sets for tiny toddlers to grab and shake. We’ve had them since our oldest was 6 months old and they still get shaken and rattled regularly.
