The Elbert County tribune., 1919-02-21
kindergarten
Helps for Parents
. Arhcies Tssscd By fhc Department
ofhss Interior. bureau Of Efucaiioz,
and ft1s
N0Ho1oikisdersorssn.Assorianos
HOW MUSIC HELPS
BY MRS. JEAN N. BARRETT.

theories.
| A little girl who was very miserable
and managed to make mother or nurse
most unhappy all through the process
of hnirdressing and getting into both
ersome clothes would submit most
graclously IL mother sang
Ny mothsr bids me bind my hair
With knot OF fairest hue;
Tie up my sleeves with ribbon rare.
And lace my bodice blue:
| For why. she says. sit stili and weep
While others are at play?
an adaptation of Haydn's beautiful
air.
Another mother learned to help her
little boy work OFF some of his stormy
fits of temper by going to the piano
| aud playing some stormy. impetuous
bit like Schumann's "Wild Rider"
The boy did not know why this was
| done. but he felt the mood of the mu-
sic. because 1t exactly fitted his own,
and he would career around the
room like verltable Wild pony. until
his emotion. which might have worked
harm TO himself-and others. had spent
itself In this harmless way.
My sister remembers that even MS
n child she recognized this power OF
music to bring sweetness out of tenn
per. She was, very angry one day
with sense of some injustice done
her, and in thfs mood started to play
her beloved piano. AS she did this
she realized that II She played she
would soon cease to be angry. and not
being ready to give up her resentful
mood she rejected the gentle ministry
of music and Went to her hoom TO
nurse her unhappiness.
AS an incitement to bravery music
has often beer used in the home. A
little boy much afraid of the dark
would go upstairs to dark room for
mother when she played strong
march for him as he went,
If mothers could realize how many
times II bit of music would be of
greater service than even the kind
est remonstrance they would have
crashing chords ready for the angry
boy, nonsense song to drive scowls
from the face of little daughter. and
Jolly jig to set tagging feet and droop-
ing spirits dancing: while gay little
tune improvlsed or adapted for the
occasion would often bring cheerful
obedience in response to the request
to pick up playthings or perform some
other unwecome task. where stern
command would start an unhappy
time for all concerned.
Sing Before Work.
one of my childhood memories Is of
| in, ~
mother would often get up from the
breakfast table and say. "Come let us
sing "A little before we do the work"
Bad housekeeping, perhaps. but good
homemaking. for l have since learned
that this method was always resorted
To when the morning atmosphere of
] the home threatened to- he gloomy or
quarrelsome; and the singing never
failed TO drive away the clouds. OF
eours9 this use of music is most eff
fective with n child who Is either
endowed by nature with the ability to
respond 10 musical influence or has
been trained in ear and heart {, feel
iis effects.
a child who has always heard good
music aud has early learned 10 love
and produce II luls great advantage
over one TO whom 1t comes MS later
and more foreign achievement re
| sponsiveness 10 the atmosphere Of
music is not. however. dependent upon
the ability 70 create II. although of
course made stronger by II. A lifth
tour-ycar-old child who had no nntu-
raj ability for either singing or play
/ tta.r haf In, hot ri. 4, IL.
sense and sense vf pitch. nevertheless
was so sensitive To- musicni impress
sions that she described the tunes
which We're played to her us being
pink and red and blue Ike the sky.
and one which hud strong chords with
Il staccnto melody above them rs the
green tune with red berries. These
interpretations OF music in terms of
color We're lpter explained by the de-
i yelapnent of nm unusual degree Of
talent with pencil and brush.
kHother memory of my childhood
Is of visit to dear aunfIe. who. on
Sunday afternoons. took her little Wis
tor to the west pasture. and amid The
spiendor of the sinking red sun read
from a volume OF sacred poems. The
cndence OF her sweet. low voice will
always echo through NY memory.
Charm OF Picasinc Voice.
1t is truly part of muSics minis
try to speak through the cliurm OF a
well-modulated. pieasant-toned voice.
lending itself freely 70 he various
moods OF the fine nnture il serves. It
Is trilly une Of The duties Of the
mother and tie kindcrgariner to be II
a.o.,s.! FOR her children N This respect
Ms in many others. for children. are
very sensitive to voice quality.
While the klndcreartners opportu-
nifty COMES ,nter than tliat OF the