Listening to Music

Selected Characteristics of Four-Year-Olds

• Are very active and can run up and down steps
• Can throw a ball overhand
• Like to do things their own way and resist too many directions
• Are very curious and ask many questions concerning why and how
• Talk a great deal. They like nonsense words, silly language, rhymes, and words that are repeated in peoms or songs
• Love to listen to stories, will often listen to two or more stories at one sitting, and have favorites
• Are becoming more creative and imaginative
• Are beginning to understand seasons of the year, including when they occur and what takes place during each season
• Are socializing more easily and are ready for more group experiences
• On command, can place an object on, under, in front of, and in back of some other object
• Like to dramatize songs and poems as well as stories and parts of stories
• Should be able to carry out two simple directions in sequence

Characteristics to Consider When Planning Musical Activities for Four-Year Olds

• Are beginning to enjoy group singing more
• Show increased desire to listen to music
• Take pride in their ability to identify familiar songs
• May enjoy taking a turn singing alone
• Show increased voice control and a closer approximation of pitch and rhythm
• May be able to sing an entire song accurately
• Are beginning to create songs during play
• Can talk about what a piece of music suggests
• Like to try out instruments and play along on instrumental songs
• Can improvise simple melodies
• Can identify certain sounds made by different instruments

Selected Characteristics of Five-Year-Olds

• Are generally conforming in nature, like to please, thrive on positive feedback, and are sensitive to praise and blame
• Like to jump and climb and still need plenty of big muscle activity. Muscle coordination is improving
• Are described as "wigglers" and "bundles of endless energy"
• Can sometimes skip on alternate feet and do quite well at galloping
• Like to talk a great deal and are interested in words and their meanings
• Know how old they are and can generally tell how old they will be in another year
• Like to remain close to familiar surroundings; are primarily interested in their home and community, not distant places; are interested in different cities and states if they know someone who lives there, such as grandparents or previous playmates
• Understand and can carry out actions involving words like forward and backward
• Are learning the meaning of small, smaller, and smallest
• Are often very adept at rhyming words
• Are relatively independent and self-reliant, dependable, and protective toward younger playmates and siblings

Characteristics to Consider When Planning Musical Activities for Five-Year-Olds

• Are refining and exploring musical skills previously learned
• May be able to read words to songs
• Can generally play instruments accurately
• May begin to show an interest in piano and dance lessons
• Can better synchronize body movements with the rhythm of the music