Musical Tempos
Here's What To Do
1
Play some music. Hold a tissue or a scarf, and wave it to match the beat of the music.
2
Ask your child to match your movements and the beat of the song.
3
Talk about whether the music is fast or slow.
4
Try alternating songs between slow and fast tempos and see if your child can change their movements to match.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Together, shake your arms and move them fast. Now move your arms slowly through the air. Still your arms and take a deep breath.
E
Engage:
- "Let's notice the tempo of this song, which is another word for speed. Is this song fast or slow?"
- "Can you wave your tissue to match this song's fast tempo? Follow Daddy."
E
Encourage:
- Clap along to the song's beat to make the speed more noticeable.
- "Hmmm… I'm noticing a fast beat in this song but you're moving slowly. Do you think you can make your hand match the song?"
R
Reflect:
- Is your child able to match the song's tempo? This skill can be tricky for children, so they may need more practice.
Not quite ready?
Guide your child's hand to help them feel the difference between fast and slow.
Ready for more?
Give your child a rhythm "instrument" (like a pot and a spoon to make a drum or a container filled with rice to make a maraca). See if they can match the beats of a fast and a slow song with their instrument.
As your child masters this skill...
They will understand how to listen for a song's tempo and how to move their body to match.