Green Child Magazine Back-to-School 2012 | Page 72

When we heard about the ocarina, a pocketsized pottery wind instrument with ancient
roots, we couldn’t wait to talk to music educator Lena Leclaire about the many ways music
influences learning.
GCM: When our Back to School issue goes
live, many kids will have a few weeks left of
summer vacation. How can music education
help kids prevent summer slide in their grades?
Lena: Music education helps children to develop intellectually, emotionally, and physically.
It is a fun, life-long process that can be started
at any age. To be a good musical role model to
your children you don’t need any special training, just a willingness to learn and grow with
them.

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The break from school can be the best time
to start your child’s involvement in music.
The fall backslide can easily be prevented by

keeping your children immersed and actively
engaged in the arts. Appreciating or playing
music will help your child’s problem solving
ability, boost their confidence, and inspire
creativity – all things that will help the transition back to school go smoothly.
GCM: How can parents best encourage their
children’s interest in music?
Lena: To cultivate your child’s interest in music, it helps to be in touch with your own musical interests. If you are excited by the music
you listen to, your children will want to share
in that excitement.
When listening to music ask yourself, what
makes this piece interesting to me? Then when
you listen to music with your children ask
them to think in the same way. Do they like
the words? The melody? Is it scary, funny or
sad?