Listening is a skill that is fundamental to learning. It is necessary to develop listening before speaking, writing and reading skills can be introduced, so this is especially important in the preschool years. The ability to listen covers a variety of skills beyond hearing, including the ability to pay attention and understand. These skills all work together when taking in information in order to react with a suitable response. Music often involves a wide variety of listening aspects. Music from pop to classical pieces combine different musical instruments and multiple voices that come in at different times. Musicians must be able to not only hear but also respond appropriately to musical cues. The ability to follow different voices or timbres of musical instruments helps musicians to follow printed music, and studies have shown that musicians are often able to hold successfully conversations in the busiest, most distracting situations.
In a study published last year, Hashim et al (2020) used the Fuzzy Delphi Technique with experienced teachers and lecturers to identify the most important skills needed in order to successfully develop listening skills in preschoolers. Fifteen expert teachers were asked to assess a number of skills involved in the delivery of teaching listening in the early years. Using a questionnaire and Likert scale (rating level of agreement to statements from 1-5), the scores given indicated the sequence of importance of factors involved in listening.
The most important skill was identified as the clarity and volume of the adult’s voice. The clearer the adult’s voice, the more effectively children were able to engage their attention and listen to the adult. The next was making the activities fun and exciting. By doing this, children were more likely to take part, take risks and retain information more successfully. The third element involved using actions and expressions through body language, as children are naturally adept at reading body cues. Finally, the use of age-appropriate language allowed children to more easily understand their adult.
The following traditional children’s songs and rhymes reference listening:
A Wise Old Owl
A wise old owl sat in an oak
The more he heard the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard
Why can’t we all be like that bird?
This lovely rhyming poem is a traditional children’s verse with a clear message: listening can be more useful than talking for the sake of talking. Learning verse by rote has benefits including remembering story sequences using rhyme as cues, getting to know the rhythm and pace of different words, as well as the ebb and flow of sentence formation.
Three Little Kittens
Three little kittens they lost their mittens, and they began to cry,
“Oh mother dear, we sadly fear that we have lost our mittens.”
“What! Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens!
Then you shall have no pie.”
“Meeow, meeow, now you shall have no pie.”
“Meeow, meeow, now we shall have no pie.”
The three little kittens they found their mittens, and they began to cry,
“Oh mother dear, see here, see here for we have found our mittens.”
“Put on your mittens, you silly kittens, and you shall have some pie”
“Meeow, meeow, and you shall have some pie.”
“Meeow, meeow, now let us have some pie.”
The three little kittens put on their mittens and soon ate up the pie,
“Oh mother dear, we greatly fear that we have soiled our mittens.”
“What! Soiled your mittens, you naughty kittens!” then they began to cry,
“Meeow, meeow,” then they began to sigh.
“Meeow, meeow,” then they began to sigh.
The three little kittens they washed their mittens and hung them out to dry,
“Oh mother dear, do you not hear that we have washed our mittens.”
“What! Washed your mittens, you are good kittens, I smell a rat close by,”
“Meeow, meow, I smell a rat close by.”
“Meeow, meow, we smell a rat close by.”
This little ditty is another traditional song with a moral, and mentions listening in the context of the story. This could be used to introduce listening to animal sounds, and what animal behaviours may mean.
http://nurseryrhymesforbabies.com/the-history-of-three-little-kittens/
Little Bo Peep
Little Bo peep has lost her sheep
And doesn’t know where to find them.
Leave them alone and they’ll come home,
Bringing their tails behind them.
Little Bo peep fell fast asleep
And dreamt she heard them bleating,
But when she awoke, she found it a joke,
For they were all still fleeting.
Then up she took her little crook
Determined for to find them.
She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed,
For they left their tails behind them.
It happened one day, as Bo peep did stray
Into a meadow hard by,
There she espied their tails side by side
All hung on a tree to dry.
She heaved a sigh, and wiped her eye,
And over the hillocks went rambling,
And tried what she could,
As a shepherdess should,
To tack again each to its lambkin.
This traditional song appears to have originated in the 18th century about a short shepherdess who lost her sheep, hoped they’d return, and then went to find them. One reference to the verse links it to wool smugglers in Chelsfield, Kent – another to the stocks where criminals were said to be “playing bo-peep through a pillory”. However, there are references in Shakespeare to a 16th century children’s game called Bo Peep: saying Bo and placing a blanket over baby’s head, and then saying Peep when lifting the corner. In fact, in the north west of England, many parents still play “Peep-Bo”, more commonly known as Peek-a-boo.
References:
http://www.dover-kent.com/2014-project-b/White-Hart-Chelsfield.html
http://nurseryrhymesforbabies.com/history-little-bo-peep-2/
Listening attentively is a personal skill that, like many others, develop best within the home environment. Being aware of ways that can allow us to create an appropriate environment to encourage listening gives adults an ongoing opportunity to allow children to succeed.
Musicaliti - Music for Life
At Musicaliti, we believe that music is a vital part of human development. Our goal is to help children develop their listening, attention, and understanding skills through musical activities that are both fun and engaging. Our resources reflect our passion about using music as a tool for learning and developing children to their natural potential. Music sessions are designed to get children involved in a range of musical activities including singing, dancing, and playing instruments.
Using our activities, children can learn new songs, make new friends, and develop essential skills that are necessary for their future success. Studies have shown that children who participate in musical activities at an early age develop better cognitive and language skills, have better memory retention, and perform better academically.
Choose Musicaliti for your child, and give them a lifelong appreciation for music!
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Our music program uses music as a tool for learning and developing children's potential.
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Our materials are designed to get children involved in a range of musical activities including singing, dancing, and playing instruments.
