Music and Play for Mama and Baby

Unlike any other activity, every single area of the brain is stimulated during music making! The first 6 years for a child are the most critical ones for musical growth. Infants are “wired” to receive music and able to discriminate between melodies and frequencies – this stage is also known as the ‘music babble stage.’ This is also the time where a child learns his surroundings through play. By incorporating the music culture into your child’s live, he will be able to experiment playfully with these musical elements. Parents, caregivers, and teachers can do a great deal to provide the necessary stimulation through music experiences to nurture the young child's music abilities, regardless of your own.

At Heartsong Music, you and your child can experience Music Together®, an the award-winning early childhood music program. These classes are geared for children 0-5 yrs and their parents. Their classes are based on the idea that making music with children, in a community of families, enriches their lives as it promotes musical growth and aptitute. And, above all, it is FUN!
Classes include songs, chants, dancing and instrument play. Even though the class follows a structured sequence of activities, they are presented as informal, where kids and parents are free to explore through movement and music.


Heartsong Music was founded in 2004 by Carey Youngblood, a certified Montessori teacher who has been involved in teaching children for over 25 years. According to Carey, this program has become a "true community of diverse families and enthusiastic, loving, and talented teachers bonding through musical experiences." (Photo on the left is courtesy of Katie Jo Dixon with Heart Roots Photography)

I was able to experience a class with my 22 month old son and he LOVED IT! At the beginning of each session, families receive a Music Together illustrated songbook and two CDs (one for home and one for the car). Classes are mixed-aged and typically run for 45 minutes. You will find children and their families singing, dancing, and playing instruments together.

You will find some children sit in the parent’s lap, while others independently explore the room, the instruments, and their own movement in relation to the music – As you can see in the picture to the right, I must say my son was the independent one! In this particular part of the class, children and their parents, dance around the room to the rhythm of the music in a circle waving fun-colored scarves.

At the end of the class children and parents gather in a circle and enjoy the “Goodbye song.” This last section of the class is very neat as the teacher passes by each kid (mentioning the kid’s name in the song) and lets them strum the guitar. I'm not a musical person myself, so I don't think I've touched a guitar more than a handful of times! Knowing that my son is getting this experience from early on will be very valuable for his development and love for music! (Photo on the left is courtesy of Katie Jo Dixon with Heart Roots Photography)

Heartsong music is located on 2700 West Anderson Lane, Ste. 320. They are currently offering FREE sample classes! at 10:15 and 11:15am and 3:15 and 4:15pm September 8th, 9th and 12th. Call 371-9506 or visit their website.

The Fall Session will start September 14th and will run through December 12th.

Boosting your baby's brain development

Research shows that a child’s brain contains over 100 billion neurons at birth, which will continue to grow during his first years. Your baby’s brain neural connections need to be “wired together” to ensure proper cognitive development. For this reason, parents need to provide their children with enriching activities and experiences to boost their baby’s brain power. These are some simple things you can do for your baby during his first year.

Be attentive to your baby. If your baby shows interest in something, make sure you follow your attention to his interest and talk to him about it expressing joy. Let your baby know that his interests are important to you. Responding to his cries by nurturing him will make him feel emotionally secure. Use diaper time to attract your baby’s attention or even give him massages to calm him and bond with him. Being attentive to your baby helps develop trust. Your baby will be more willing to explore and learn if he feels secure with you. Those signals of emotional security are sent directly to the brain, contributing those neural connections to be wired.

Read to your baby. Pick books with colorful illustrations and point at the pictures and make sounds of the animals as you read along. By reading to your baby, you will be enhancing his “receptive language,” the ability to understand spoken words.

Choose appropriate developmental toys. As your baby explores with the world around him, pick toys that will help him enhance cause-effect, math, or other problem solving skills.

Sing songs to your baby. Help your baby incorporate sounds with body movements, specially hands and fingers during the early stages to enhance fine motor skills development. Songs will also help your baby develop rhythm and language acquisition.

Make mealtime enjoyable. As your baby learns to feed soft foods, say out loud the names of the food he’s eating (or playing with). Express joy as he attempts this task, regardless how messy it may get. This will help create positive emotional brain patterns.