Music - A Craft Becoming An Art

Music is often a difficult thing to teach young children. Music is a whole “other” discipline that means a child has to be verbal, memorize and participate all at the same time. It’s difficult for a lot of kids who just want to sit and take in the world. But teaching music successfully is a joy.

Adults need to remember that music is a craft that actually encourages reading, speaking – fluency – communication, a love of poetry which is a window on the heart, and mathematics.

Singing is a contribution to community. Making musical sounds WITH other people becomes a YOU centered activity over a child’s usual ME centered activity. It’s tough on some kids to give over center stage to be just one of the crowd.

Listening and sharing is also difficult at first because what you feel from the sounds of music is a very personal thing. Sharing those feelings is also a craft.

A few weeks ago, I got the following delightful email. It’s what every author wants to receive and it made me think how important music is to the education of children. Nancy’s letter made me think again about music and why music is important.


Dear Judy Lyden,

I write as Administrative Director of The Main Street Singers, a community of children’s voices in grades five through eight. MSS provides the opportunity for children with diverse backgrounds in greater New Britain, CT, to participate in a nonsectarian treble-voice choir that strives to achieve artistic excellence while fostering a life-long love of music and singing.

Your article titled “Encourage children to sing and you open their world” has been part of the new member package for our singers since the first auditions were held in the fall of 2003. I have tried to find it on the internet in order to put a date on the article, to no avail. I was pleased to find many other pieces by you about children and have referred your work to both of my adult daughters, as they specialize in working with young children.

Can you please tell me when “Encourage children to sing” was published and whether you have written any other pieces about the importance of music in children’s lives?

Thank you so very much.

Best wishes,
Nancy Eaton

Nancy Hemstreet Eaton
Administrative Director
The Main Street Singers
90 Main Street
New Britain, CT 06051
860-223-3691, ext. 123

The article follows.