Steady Beat

I've said this before, and I'm sure I'll say it again. Steady Beat is one of the fundamentals of music and life. As a child moves to a steady beat, he develops a sense of timing, which is fundamental to the ability to organize and coordinate movements. It’s easy to see how this might apply to a child’s walking with a steady gait, learn to pedal a bicycle, and eventually, be more coordinated at the piano and on the sports field. This type of coordination even plays into tasks such as writing with a pencil or typing on a keyboard. Music relies upon steady beat as much as or more than any other activity, making it a great way to build these skills.

Ideas for parents: What about playing parade? It’s the perfect way to be active indoors when the weather doesn’t permit you to be outdoors. Simply turn on some marching music – any music with a strong, steady beat will do – and form a parade as you march together around the house. You might pick up some other parade musicians (i.e., other family members) along the way. You could add some simple homemade instruments if you’d like, such as a wooden spoon and bowl, a shaker, or a homemade drum. You can even make a baton for the grand master of your parade.