Nowadays music is an integral part of our daily lives. We listen to music while we are taking a rest, when we exercise or work. What’s more, we listen to it even when we don’t want to do it consciously. Ancient Greeks also found music to be important as well as music education because, as Plato said: ‘’ Isn’t music education all the more powerful because the harmony and rhythm descend into the depths of soul and put the greatest influence onto it by instilling a noble command in it and thus create a noble man?’’ ( Plato, Protagoras )
Being ubiquitous in our surrounding, music has a great influence on creating and strengthening neural bonds with children and forming patterns of behavior of young people. In my work with ARTYSH:LAB I study the results of research done so far and apply them in accordance with my experience and the need for creating various programs. The realization of current projects is based on the proofs that adequate sensory stimulation ( be it auditive or visual ) as well as a stabile, caring and responsible attitude of the adult help us build a healthy architecture of the brain in babies and that gives them a strong base for further quality development of personality.
The brain is made up of millions of neural cells- neurons. Neurons are interconnected by electro-chemical bonds, the so called synapses. First years of life are very important in the process of forming synapse, i.e.- in the first few years of life around 700 synapses are formed every second. Synapses are formed through interaction of genes, baby’s surrounding and experience and especially through the interaction with the people who are important for the baby. To establish synapses is a dynamic process, experiences establish connectivity in the brain and the repetition of that experience amplifies the already established.
Various research has shown that the awareness of music is of crucial importance for the development of the baby ( Deutch , 2010). Also, many authors find the development of auditive and cognitive skills to be important. From my personal experience, and the science has confirmed that, if you sing to your child, and also dance and play with him/her, you will make them remember beautiful childhood moments when they grow up. We all remember the songs we were sung by our mothers and grandmothers, and when we remember those, the feeling is irreplaceable, isn’t it?
For me that was a proof good enough that the music we listen to induces certain emotions, encourages different thoughts, as well as adequate activities. That is why I find it important for us to consciously choose the character and the type of music by means of which we will please ourselves and the activities with which we will influence the upbringing of our children in the process of their growing up.
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