The “big kids” are all out. Little League and choir practice are overlapping and I’m home alone with a 2-year-old. Since we homeschool and work from home, this is not something that happens often. On one hand, I am running around cleaning up broken crayons and a cereal and apple crisp experiment in the play kitchen. On the other hand, I am enjoying some uninterrupted toddler time.For example, the stirring rendition of “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” complete with piano accompaniment I was treated to for a full 12 minutes today would certainly have been limited to 1.2 minutes were the “big kids” home. This would have been a shame, because I was able to really listen to her musical play and observe some of the developments she has made.
For example, she consistently played on the 1st and 3rd beat of each measure on the piano with an occasional switch to every beat for a little bit. In this I heard her apply the lap taps we use in music class into her accompaniment. She was able to maintain the rhythm of the melody in her singing throughout the process. This means she can not only execute both of these expressions of rhythm, but can combine the two skills successfully.
The piano “chords” she was playing were pretty random, so vocally she had to keep shifting around in an attempt to match the key. This gave me another point of observation. She has moved to a place where she is connecting her receptive and expressive skills. Initially, a child will often express tone and rhythm irrespective of the group, instruments, or CD playing with them. As she develops competence in both reception and expression combined with age-appropriate objectivity, she will be able to easily play, sing and dance with the music.
I was really able to learn a lot by listening to her play, without instruction, interference, judgment or evaluation. This is why we stress the difference between observation and evaluation so much in our teacher training and in our Parent Manual for the Family Edition. Play is work for children. They do not spend time unconstructively. They aren’t lazy. They play to learn and grow. Don’t interrupt. Don’t instruct. Even if it seems “wrong” to you.
Watch.
Listen.
Observe.
Then, enjoy the fruits of the modeling, encouragement, and care you have provided.
