How to help your baby, toddler or Elementary school age child to become more musical
Mrs. Rice's Philosophy (based on current research and her own practice) asserts that musical ability is acquired in much the same way that children acquire language and color. The English speaking world is at a musical disadvantage because our language doesn't promote musical development the way a tonal language does (Mandarin, for example). Before I give you the details, let me address one of your concerns. You do not need to have musical training yourself to help your child become musical! So here are some actionable steps you can take that are easy and effective.
Top 6 Tips to make your child a musical being!
Explicitly teach your kids the musical notes like you would teach them colors or numbers. Label the pitches and teach them to memorize the sound of each pitch through songs and games. Use letters and solfa syllables (do re mi) to help them develop perfect or relative pitch. ( yes this can be taught!!)
Teach fixed labels for the pitches. I use the C scale in music class to teach the exact pitch and solfa syllables. I also use hand signs and color coded notes and instruments to reinforce this. The goal is for them to memorize the sound of the notes!
Listening Games: Name that tune is really fun! Sing with them and have them finish the song on their own! Listen for random notes in the C scale. Listen for notes in the C chord.
Call and Response or echo rhythms. Teach kids rhythm by introducing sound first before the symbol. Clap rhythm patterns and have them clap back! Teach them clapping games to reinforce rhythm and coordination. Teach them movement games. Think Wheels on the Bus, Where is Thumbkin?, Pease Porridge Hot, Miss Mary Mack.
Expose your kids to high information music. This can be Classical, World Music, Jazz; any music that is more complex. Think Stravinsky, Berlioz or Charlie Parker. Think of it as eating vegetables instead of pop song junk food. It's ok to have some junk food but their main diet should be high information music. Exposing your children to high information music expands their understanding of what is possible with music and accustoms their ears to more complex musical styles. Also think of exposing kids to music of different cultures which may use a different rhythm and tonal system than our Western culture. Think sitar from Northern India, gamelan from Indonesia, Peking opera from China. Youtube provides many examples of great performers playing great music!
Modeling: Engage with kids by making music with them: Think singalong in the car, GoNoodle, dance parties, listening to high information music in the background during your day, playing an instrument with them or learning an instrument yourself! Kids will learn that it is ok to be a beginner, try something new and have fun learning. Give kids private music lessons if possible so that they can have a great model as they progress.