Loving Early Years Music: How Music Impacts Early Relationships

February is the month of love, so this month, we’re talking about music and relationships. Many songs are written on the topic of love, especially within adult contemporary music. Is it because love, like music, is a universal way of communication? We may never know, but music certainly has a way of evoking memories of time spent with important people in our lives.

Children are no different. Experience has shown and studies have proven that babies can remember songs that they have heard throughout mum’s pregnancy. Some children will even get upset at certain songs that they remember from infanthood, perhaps missing the special time they had as a baby. Music can clearly evoke memories in a subconscious way that we may not even recognise.

In a Finnish study, Ruokonen et al (2021) explored creative experiences in early years settings in Finland. She and her colleagues found that in a study of over 900 toddlers, creative activities helped children to think more creatively, express more emotion and play, as well as develop cultural identity. Music sessions included activities that were spontaneous as well as pre-planned, involving a wide selection of settings, both private and state, within early childhood.

Analysing the sessions, music was found to have a positive influence on social skills in early years and improved emotional development in primary years. This suggested that sessions that focussed on music specifically led to increased self-regulation, needing less adult-based interruption. Music also appeared to be linked to empathy, movement, and the development of complex locomotor skills.

Levels of delivery varied and depended on the interest and skill level/expertise of the teacher/responsible adult. Adults seemed more involved with their children in music-based sessions, developing the children’s emotional listening behaviour

The musical activities used involved volume, duration, tone colour, pitch and form and these worked together in all creative activities. The songs below (available on the Musicaliti You Tube channel) show how these concepts can be used in everyday singing sessions.

Love Somebody

Love somebody, yes I do
Love somebody, yes I do
Love somebody, yes I do
Love somebody, but I won’t say who 

Love somebody, yes I do
Love somebody, yes I do
Love somebody, yes I do
Love somebody, and it’s you, you, you

This song is perfect for exploring volume because of the way the phrases are set out. “Love somebody” could be sung loudly, while the “yes, I do” can be sung softer, as if it’s a bit of a secret. Being able to manage volume in a playful way involves a number of skills: apart from hearing and responding, the way you sing quietly and loudly involves breathing and projecting differently. While the technical control could be challenging and even unpleasant, in a context like this song, it becomes a fun game which happens to also teach valuable vocal control techniques.

Mummy Loves

 Mummy loves and daddy loves
And everybody loves little baby
Grandma loves and grandad loves
And everybody loves little baby

This Russian lullaby is great for exploring duration. All the important people have their titles elongated – the words “mummy”, “daddy”, “grandma” and “grandad” are sung for longer. Use this song while rocking restless ones at nap time, during co-operative games swinging a toy in a blanket, or even modelling care and empathy getting little ones to cuddle dolls or teddies. And personalise if appropriate – perhaps children have uncles and aunts rather than grandparents.