Little children engage in “playing music,” just as professional musicians. “Playing music” with young children can be incredibly creative, musical, and pure fun, while propelling music learning. However, the process of music learning requires that a rhythm or tonal narrative dominate the music activity in order for accompanying toys, props, or musical instruments to enhance music learning.
To the young child whose musical imagination is engaged with meter, a toddler hammer becomes a musical instrument to interact with meter. To the child whose musical imagination is not caught up in meter, the toddler hammer is simply a pounding toy.
Unleash your own creativity in “playing music” with the children. Any toys or props can become “musical instruments” for young children, as long as they are used with a rhythm or tonal narrative in the foreground—with the musical mind in command. Use common toys or household objects to stimulate continued musical behavior at home. A toddler who has engaged musically in class with a hammer will likely pick up his little hammer at home and start chanting while pounding, “practicing music” at home.
