Following are a few suggestions. The idea that children must be jump started at an early age is a product of commercial mythology. Three year old Mozart was not shuttled in a minivan to a music activity class. His latent abilities were nurtured by a home rich in fine music. The home is the foundation of a child s experience.
Parents can encourage musical interest by the degree of importance given it in home life.
Playing age appropriate selections from the works of the great composers at home can create an environment conducive to imagination and reflection. When parents place value on this, it is perceived by children as something worthy of attention and pursuit. Local music stores and mail order catalogues have a variety of tapes, compact discs and videos of classical music for children. Remember, parents make the qualitative choices and that it is not necessary to have a rock back beat or a goofy character singing Bach to be appealing. For example, children s interest is peaked by tapes such as Beethoven Lives Upstairs , Mr. Bach Comes to Call or Mozart s Magic Fantasy .