Do you remember how you first learned the alphabet? I am quite sure that the majority of us learnt it by singing the ABC Song: 'ABCDEFG-HIJKLMNOP-QRS-TUV-WXY-and-Z...'
There is no doubt that music and songs are one of the best means to teach children new information and knowledge. And over the last 25 years, many researches and studies have been done to find out how music influences our brain and how we can use music to help us learn faster and more effectively. And it has been found that our brain is most open and receptive to incoming information when it is in a special state of relaxation.
That type of relaxation is not to get you into sleep. It's a state of relaxed alertness - what we sometimes call relaxed awareness. For those who learn relaxation techniques such as Yoga, you know it is the state when our brain is at Alpha.
The study of super-memory and the brain started back in the 1950's by a Bulgarian psychiatrist and educator, George Lozanov. After years of research, he concluded that we all have an 'optimum learning state'. This occurs, he said "when heart-beat, breath-rate and brain-waves are smoothly synchronized and the body is relaxed but the mind concentrated and ready to receive new information."
Lozanov put his research into practice and achieved some amazing results, particularly in foreign-language learning. It was reported that Lozanov had helped Bulgarian students learn 1,200 words in a day, using his method.
Today we know that it is fairly easy for people to achieve that ideal learning state. Deep breathing is one of the first keys. Music is the second.
Music played at different beats and tempos influences our moods differently, and in turn it affects how our mind functions (which determines our actions).
Have you ever noticed how departmental stores use music to sway the mood of their customers within their premise and to regulate the flow of human traffic? During off-peak period, they will play soothing music to help shoppers relax so that they will stay longer in the stores and as a result buy more things. During peak hours when the stores are crowded and they need to get the human traffic to move faster so that more people can come in to the stores, they will play fast and loud music.
Likewise, we can use music to our advantage by helping our children in their learning and enhancing their concentration.
If you would like to put your child in the best state of mind when doing something or learning new skills and knowledge, you can try playing soothing music with a 50 to 70 beats per minute pattern.
The most common music to achieve that state comes from the baroque school of composers, in the 17th and early 18th centuries: the Italian Arcangelo Corelli, the Venician Antonio Vivaldi, the French Francois Coupertin and the Germans, Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frederic Handel.
Some of our favourite music pieces that my wife and I play at home for our children, Ethel and Ethan, when they are at play and learn:
- Vivaldi's Four Seasons - one of the best-known pieces of baroque music that helps you to shut out other thoughts and visualise the seasons of the year
- Handel's Water Music - a deeply soothing piece
- Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D - our favourite to relieve tension
If you have yet to introduce music when educating your child, start using it today; it will put your child in a relaxed, receptive state, helping her focus and learn more effectively.
Article by Alvin Poh, founder of Learning Champ, a parenting wesbite that provides information and resources to parents, who want to help their children develop the important skills and mind set for a brighter future -> http://www.alvinkh.per.sg/learningchamp
recurring cleaning service Wilmette ..Here is something that you might want to keep if... Read More
A while ago I received this story from David in... Read More
When my daughter was born, I must admit there was... Read More
Graphology for Child development.:- Graphology is the science of understanding... Read More
Rule #1 Make Every Bite Count!Everything your child eats should... Read More
If your parenting methods include abuse of any kind; physical,... Read More
If you are currently homeschooling or considering homeschooling your child,... Read More
If you ever walk through an orphanage, it will be... Read More
Parents play a critical role in their child's success. These... Read More
Despite the theory that people have kids because they want... Read More
Would you hand a child calculus problems once she was... Read More
One of the most prevalent myths of our modern culture... Read More
Quite simply, an absolute nightmare for parents and babies alike,... Read More
The key to a successful car wash fundraiser event is... Read More
There's a phrase that's become popular over the past few... Read More
Public-school teaching is structured in such a way that it... Read More
A learning disability is defined as a permanent problem that... Read More
I am in pain. I've been in pain all day.... Read More
Researching career education uncovered the following shocking statistic: The average... Read More
It was at that time when our marriage was falling... Read More
I recently heard a story that has literally changed the... Read More
School authorities often complain that classes are too large. They... Read More
When you think about it, probably the one thing that... Read More
The First Reason: For one thing, child development experts are... Read More
Valentine day has always been a special day in my... Read More
reliable maid service Morton Grove ..Like anything else in life, there's a method to the... Read More
What do you mean average? Not good? Just doing good... Read More
Dads, please let me encourage you to change some things... Read More
Chaim Ginott was a schoolteacher whose ideas and observations helped... Read More
When a parent is deployed with the military it can... Read More
One of the questions I ask in parenting presentations is... Read More
Some public schools try to turn children against their parents... Read More
Creating and making special memories with your child is very... Read More
WHEN AN INJURY HAPPENS AT CAMP, HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED... Read More
We begin forming healthy habits at a young age. With... Read More
To the untrained eye, it might look like a piece... Read More
Does the homework battle so typical with your hyperactive or... Read More
As a hypnotherapist, I am acutely aware of the power... Read More
As Mother's Day approaches I would like to give a... Read More
Are men to blame for the divorce problem in this... Read More
Julia Roberts recently gave birth to twins: Hazel and Phinnaeus.... Read More
For several years now, I've told the following story as... Read More
You're trying to catch up on some sleep on a... Read More
Q. When you consult with a family with teens, what... Read More
I have always been aware of my number one weakness:... Read More
Most parents at some stage are driven to distraction by... Read More
In stepfamilies, big holiday expectations can lead to big disappointment--and... Read More
Q. With another school year starting, we are not sure... Read More
What's new and effective in the treatment of Attention problems?... Read More
There are few thoughts as terrifying as the abduction of... Read More
Parenting |