Little children are far more sensitive to the nuances of life and of art than we are. To the little child, art and life are one. We sometimes wonder what fascinates a child so about a flower, or even a box. The young child is able to absorb the subtleties of life and of music in a way that we cannot. Little children tune into tonal and rhythm so intently that it can leave adults wondering what is so interesting—especially when adults have depended on words to songs to relate musically with young children. Little children live close to the art. They perceive life as poets, artists, and musicians.
Young children are musically ready for far more sophisticated rhythms and melodies than most songs for children provide. Traditionally, the difficulty of children’s songs has always been a function of the words. Music learning requires that rhythm and tonal increase in difficulty throughout early childhood and beyond. Once children begin to develop a foundation in rhythm and in tonal, the little musicians bring a whole new level of musical understanding to songs with words. Little children devour Art Songs written for tender ages—songs with words in various tonalities and meters that transport the young child’s musical imagination to new horizons. They absorb words as sound and imagery intertwining with meter and tonality in one artistic whole—just as professional musicians. Art Songs feed the young child’s very being.
