Music and movement are inseparable. When young children hear music, they will move spontaneously.
In one family centre, a spacious room had been built with a wooden floor.
The furniture's arrival was delayed, and the children started using the space in its unfurnished state. We found that the children revelled in just having the space to run, jump, dance, roll and wriggle on the floor and exercise their bodies. It made us realise how cramped and confined our indoor spaces often are. We brought in the CD player for some music and movement sessions with small groups of children at a time.
The marching music on this month's suggested CD has a strong, steady beat to it. Listening and co-ordinating movements to a steady beat, with either stepping or doing other regular movements that the children find themselves, is a good first stage in helping children to achieve rhythmic awareness.
Adult involvement here is helpful in directing the children's attention to the pulse of the music and encouraging them to match their movements to the beat. Model moving in time for the music so they can copy you, or hold hands with some. But remember that your body size and way of moving is different to the children's, so make adjustments. With very young or children with some disabilities, carrying them, or sitting them on your bouncing knee will enable them to experience movement through your movement.
If you need to check that you are keeping in time to the music, first clap in time to find the tempo, and then step at the same time as clapping.
Don't worry if you find that your steps feel a bit wooden at first.
* Famous Marches. Naxos, 4.99, catalogue number 8553596.
