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Clare Elstow, Head of Pre-school, CBBC, discusses the impact of music on a young child's development:
"Music is an integral element of most CBeebies programmes, and an important means of introducing children to both tunes and the rhythm in rhymes and songs, getting them singing and moving - and exposing them to a range of musical styles and instrumentation.
"Pre-school viewers are often encouraged by the programmes' characters and presenters to join in with songs within the programmes, and move along to the actions or perform simple body percussion like clapping or stamping. This gets them on their feet, active, and starting to pick up the basics of rhythm as well as pitch (following the way a tune goes up and down) and dynamics (loud and soft).
"Listening opportunities are also provided, and viewers begin to understand the way music can set a scene or evoke a mood. They also have the opportunity to listen to a range of instrumentation, in different groupings and often drawing on diverse cultural references."
CBeebies utilises the power of music within its programmes and it is evident that both the writers of these programmes and the programme makers understand the depth of influence and meaning of music for children. Programmes such as the Tweenies, Teletubbies and Zingalong are examples of programmes that encourage children to respond to sounds with body movements.
Websites
BBC Children's programming can help develop a child's interest in music and online activities have been designed specifically to provide parents with down-to-earth ideas to aid musical development.
Stephanie Gauld, Editor of CBeebies Online comments that:
"Young children love to listen to music on the Cbeebies website, such as the Tweenies songs, and play musical games like Tweenies Karaoke and Yoho Ahoy Music. But listening for them isn't a passive practice - it's very much an activity where they might sing along, jump up and down or start dancing in front of the computer. That way it really helps to build self-expression, creativity and confidence - and confidence is an essential basis for the learning process."
Online activities
Try the BBC websites, where children are encouraged to join in their favourite songs and experiment with sounds. Simply helping children develop a view of music as something exciting is so valuable. Singing along with a favourite TV character, such as in The Tweenies Karaoke or imagining that you are playing an instrument, for example, with Milo's drum kit can encourage children to experiment with rhythm.
The familiarity of TV characters can provide a boost of confidence to try out musical skills through fun and games where there is a freedom to experiment with sound, and nobody decides whether what you do is right or wrong!
Reciting rhymes can be part of the fun process of learning to read. The nursery rhymes collage maker encourages children to play imaginatively and, at the same time, learn traditional nursery rhymes. Children need to be offered choice and grow in independence, so, offering a range of nursery rhymes from which to choose is important.
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