At the ages of three and four, your child’s brain becomes very receptive to sound and language acquisition. Research is starting to show that there is a distinct correlation between children who have been involved in active music learning and their language and reading ability. When you combine the study of music with dance and drama, the benefits multiply.
Outside of all the research and linking of the performing arts to positive school and academic outcomes, the best reasons for participating in preschool performing arts programs are those that point to children becoming better musicians, dancers and actors. Starting at three years of age and continuing lessons throughout the preschool years will help your child in the following ways:
- Engaging, sequential and age appropriate performing arts lessons that provide a positive experience for your child will set them up for future success in performing arts classes as well as success in future instrumental and vocal training.
- Preschoolers who have been exposed to aural training have better pitch discrimination than those who start later. Pitch discrimination is necessary for learning, playing and improvising music by ear. It also aids in helping children to become more musically sensitive when they dance.
- Preschoolers who participate in dance have more control over their fine and gross motor skills. The ability to control core muscles has been linked to a better ability to concentrate in a classroom context. Developing an understanding of their bodies helps children to be able to express themselves more clearly as dancers and actors; it also helps them to develop good posture as musicians.
- Children who are exposed to an environment that requires them to pretend to be something, or someone else, from a young age have more opportunity to develop and practise their empathy skills. These skills are vital for developing good relationships with others, as well as for being able to express ideas in a way that can be clearly heard and understood by others. Having good empathy skills also helps children to develop a good understanding of their characters, as actors, and to help them to connect with their audiences emotionally.
- The younger your child is introduced to a positive and nurturing performing arts environment, the greater their love of music, dance and drama is at a later age. This leads to more sustained dedication to their training and faster progress as they grow.
Would you like to foster your child’s love of the performing arts? Book a complimentary one on one mini lesson for your child to explore how we can help your child reach their creative potential.