YOUNG CHILDREN'S DIVISION ARTICLES
of the Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Program by Rachel Buchman

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND EDUCATORS

• Why Singing is Important for your young child and you
• Activities You Can Do At Home with your child
• Child Friendly Classical Selections for you at home
• Music Field Trips for you and your child
• Child Friendly Musicals for you to enjoy
• Instrument Families for you to learn
• Music for the Family Around Houston with you and your child
• Bibliography of Song Collections and Folk Dances
• Child Friendly Folk Musicfor you and your child
• Rachel Buchman's Discography

"Bounce your child on your knee, keeping a beat as you recite nursery rhymes or sing songs. Listen to music together. Gently tap the beat on a child's knee, shoulders or back as you listen or sing..."

CLASSICAL MUSIC offers great variety of pitch, dynamics and tempo, as well as emotional depth. It is a challenge and delight to listen to, as is FOLK MUSIC (now often referred to as ethnic music!), JAZZ, BLUES, EARLY ROCK N' ROLL, MUSICAL COMEDY SCORES. All offer vast varieties of expressiveness. However, contemporary commercial popular music IS MONOTONOUS in its musical color, emotional range, tempo (speed) of the beat, and dynamics (volume).

As you listen, clap your hands to the pulse or beat of the music. Move your arms to the beat. Tap your feet. Get out those ol' wooden spoons and a pot or large plastic container and play along. And if you're not in the car - swing your body to the beat. Hold hands and swing with your child. March around the house!