Making Music

It's often said that music is a universal language. Communicating through music transcends cultures, barriers and borders. In a world filled with uncertainty, music may provide a shared voice — without relying on translators. The following is our collection of articles, activities and product lists of all things musical. And don't miss all of our Parents' Choice Music Award Winners.

From music sets to music software, this is our collection of award-winning music products. As a music teacher, parents have asked me many times: At what age should my child begin to play a musical instrument? Here's what I've told them. If you are getting ready for your child's first concert, here are some fun things you can do—before and after the concert—to help make it an even more meaningful experience. Listening to classical music makes kids smarter? True or not, lots of parents say that when their kids are introduced to classical music, they enjoy it just as much as other kinds of music. So, here are ten tips for how to make the music of Beethoven, Bach and company not just fun and enjoyable for your kids, but for you too. Classical music is a natural for kids. It isn't something that you have to "introduce" or "expose" your children to, chances are they're already well acquainted with it. Here we offer ways to explore classical music at home and in concert and award-winning classical music products. Creating original music is not only empowering, it can be a wonderful springboard into a world of creativity promoting self-expression, problem solving, good communication skills, teamwork, and an appreciation for the arts. Note by note, this collection of titles will encourage your children to read about music, its composers and performers. A word of caution: reading these books may lead your children to start using pots and pans as drums or bursting into song without warning. You may not realize it, but your kitchen is an orchestra waiting to happen. Pots, pans, eggbeaters, graters, forks and mugs are just a few of the items bursting with symphonic potential. Tap everything. See what rings, pings, and sings! I've often marveled over how one person's noise is another's music — and vice versa. Aren't our ears strange and wonderful accessories? This palooza is quite flexible because it can be done off and on over any period for as long as it seems fun. Drums are at the heart of any musical groove. They're fun and expressive, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They provide a driving beat that can make us want to dance and move. Following are some ideas to make drums from simple household items, and use them to make music, play games and communicate. You've seen a landscape — what about instruments you can hear? Let instruments tell the story of a storm or a summer meadow, going from stillness to sound and back to stillness. Choose a story to tell in sounds. Create your own soundscape with instruments and objects, clapping hands, and weird voices. Music and literacy go hand in hand. In Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer's album, "Scat Like That: A Musical Word Odyssey," the singers use scat and other wordplay techniques including tongue twisters, limericks, yodeling, and Pig Latin, to teach listeners vowels and consonants, homonyms and synonyms, and a host of other language skills.