Moments of Happiness (Flowers of Japan)

Pianist - 5years old girl plays Bach Minuet

Arthur Rubinstein - Grieg Piano Concerto 1st mov (1)

Grieg Concerto Movement 2 and 3 (3 of 3)

Riverdancing Violinist

Chopin Nocturne Op.9 No.2 (Arthur Rubinstein)

Sviatoslav Richter:Beethoven Sonata Pathetique 1st mov.

Every child is unique and develops at their own pace. This is a rough guide to your child’s likely musical development.

Before Birth

* A baby in the womb can hear sounds from 20 weeks after conception

0 - 18 Months

* From conception to eighteen months your baby is developing rapidly and its response to musical activity will not only be rewarding but highly beneficial to his or her general development
* At birth babies can hear high-pitched noises, may be calmed by lower sounds and can locate sound in front of them. They will be startled by a loud or sudden sound.
* By four weeks they prefer high-pitched sounds and start to respond to the sound of your voice. They will recognise whether sound is coming from behind or in front.
* From three months they may respond actively to music by, for example, swaying and turning towards the sound and vocalising vowel sounds like “Aaah”, “Eee” and “Ooo”
* At 20 weeks they begin to recognise familiar voices and respond differently to the sound of strange voices
* By six months they start imitating sounds e.g. Boo! La!
* At 28 weeks they will look towards sounds from above and below and tell tunes apart
* By nine months they respond to familiar songs
* Their singing may follow a familiar melodic pattern
* From one year they will begin to lose the capacity to hear high-pitched sounds but start to discover musical pulse, and create sounds by banging everyday objects
* Some babies say their first words as early as eight months. Many begin to talk around eighteen months and some take a little longer. Singing with your baby could speed up this process.

18 months - 3 years

* By eighteen months your baby may start to respond to music in a coordinated way
* Language skills can develop further through singing and imitation
* Moving and responding to music can help develop memory and hand/eye coordination
* They will learn to distinguish between loud and quiet, fast and slow
* They begin to be aware of a beat in the music and recognise different rhythms
* They will learn the words to simple songs and develop the coordination needed to play simple instruments i.e. simple drums or bells
* This is when they begin to find out how to cooperate with other children

3 - 5 years

* Your child may begin to become more aware of pitch and rhythm
* They will learn to sing more complex songs as language skills grow and their vocal chords develop
* They can cope with more sophisticated movement to music
* They will take pleasure in playing and exploring new sounds and instruments

5 - 7 years

* Your child will acquire new vocal strengths and increase their range
* They will develop a better memory of music though repetition of songs and patterns and an understanding of simple musical concepts
* They will be able to play simple percussion instruments and, given the opportunity, will be able to pick out tunes on instruments such as keyboards or xylophones
* Some may develop a passion for pop music now, though some start earlier
* This is a crucial age for encouragement as many children especially boys stop singing naturally and are often reluctant to persevere with playing a musical instrument.

7 - 11 years

* Your child will perform and compose with greater confidence
* They may want to learn an instrument
* They will become more computer literate and discover music technology
* Their taste in music will develop
* They will learn to improvise
* They will start to discuss and evaluate music

11 - 14 years

* Your child will experience the physical changes of puberty and adolescence
* From as early as 11 a boy’s voice may start to change and a girl’s voice will deepen. This varies for each child and can happen much later.
* They may take up a musical instrument, or even a second one
* They will decide whether or not to take Music GCSE or Standard in Scotland
* They will develop vocal technique and vocal expression
* They may learn to think more critically and analytically about music
* They will have a more advanced knowledge of computers and ICT
* They might begin thinking about a career in music
* They will develop their own musical identity
* They may develop a passion for challenging music

14 - 16 years

* Your child may consider taking music beyond GCSE or Standard at school
* They may consider a career in music - be it a DJ or a classical conductor
* If it has not already, a boy’s voice may start to change and a girl’s voice will deepen. This varies from child to child.
* They will learn to articulate their views on music and justify their passions
* They may decide to learn an instrument, or even a second one

16+ years

* Your child may plan further study at a University or college
* They may take the first steps towards a ca

My thirteen year-old says all his friends buy them and why shouldn’t be he be allowed to, when I still have my Sex Pistols records?
Luke Davis, Parent
As a parent you may be concerned about what your child is listening to and what influence it may have on them. The Parental Advisory system is a voluntary code devised by the record industry to warn of sexually explicit or violent language, so that parents can make their own decisions.

The British Parental Advisory labels date from 1995 following the lead taken by America a decade earlier, in response to a campaign by parents, the religious lobby and politicians. They were originally called ‘Tipper stickers’ after one prominent campaigner, Tipper Gore, wife of former presidential candidate, Al Gore.
Parental Advisory label is designed to give the appropriate warning without acting as a magnet to young people.
British Phonographic Industry guidance
The British industry group, the B.P.I. stresses that Parental Advisory labels should: “Give the appropriate warning without acting as a magnet to young people.” However there is a concern that they may prove a come-on, rather than a deterrent. ” My thirteen year-old son has a collection of CDs by American rappers I’ve never heard of,” says parent Gary McEwen, ” many with Parental Advisory stickers. He wants to know why he shouldn’t be allowed to have them, when I still have my Sex Pistols records?”

A new CD from Eminem or Marilyn Manson can expect to be stickered, but outrage over the extremes of popular music is nothing new. In 1956 Florida officials warned a young Elvis Presley he would be arrested on obscenity charges if he moved at all during his stage act; and when he appeared on the Ed Sullivan TV show, he was shown from the waist up only.

Rock and roll continues to court controversy. The Rolling Stones, Ozzy Osbourne, Ice T, Prince, Judas Priest, George Michael and the 2 Live Crew, are a few of the performers who have fallen foul of public notions of taste and decency, and sometimes the law. In this country records have been banned by BBC and other radio stations. Today the practice tends to be ‘bleep’ rather than ban.

Sexually explicit lyrics and suggestive movements are not the only causes for concern. Pop music has been variously blamed for corrupting innocent youth by encouraging illegal drug-taking, crime, violence, satanic rites, homophobia, murder and suicide. While politicians, psychologists, and pundits are divided over the effects of exposure to popular music, the controversy continues.

The dilemma is a common one. One of the signs that your child has entered early adolescence can be an obsession with sounds that you may have difficulty recognising as music, and lyrics you may not find easy listening. But there again, that may be the point. Remember that all music can be challenging, not just popular styles. In the 19th Century opera fans formed factions, known as ‘claques’ who sometimes came to blows. Today the music of Boulez, Birtwhistle and Philip Glass has been known to cause controversy too.

Rapper Eminem attacks the Parental Advisory code on his album The Eminem Show on the track My Dad’s Gone Crazy, but also pays an ironic acknowledgement to the dilemma, with a reference to his daughter, toddler Hailie: “I don’t blame you, I wouldn’t let Hailie listen to me neither”.
TOP TIPS

* Parental Advisory stickers warn of explicit content, but the decision is yours
* You need to judge how mature your child is, and know when to say yes, or no
* If you can’t stand your teenage child’s taste in music, that may just be why they like it