You are your child's best teacher! You do not have to be considered a professional musician to provide your child with the best preparation he or she will need for formal instruction. You are the one that will have the most impact in his or her preparation for formal music training.  The following suggestions are here to help guide you in your musical leadership.

At Home

1. *Provide your child with a rich and varied musical environment.
   

* Sing and chant to your child.

* Singing and chanting should be done primarily without words, on a neutral syllable, and a cappella.

* Model free flowing continuous and pulsating movements.

* Listen carefully to the responses and noises your child makes.

* These noises and sounds provide excellent opportunities for improvisation. Take the sounds you hear and turn it into a game with your child. Imitate and play with their noises.

* Provide a variety of music in different keys, meters, and tonalities.

* Provide music of varying tempos.

* Provide a varied selection of appropriate music for listening pleasure.

1. *Provide music representing different genres and cultures.
   

In Class

* Participate and interact with your child.

* Sing and chant to your child.

* Move with your child. DO NOT force your child to move. 

* Learn the songs, chants, and activities that we do in class so that you can incorporate classroom instruction at home.

* Do not force your child to participate. You will find that sometimes your child will be perfectly content to sit and watch.