Natural Music
Here's What To Do
1
Plan a trip to a park, nature trail, or other natural area.
2
Find natural objects that can be used to make different sounds, like sticks, rocks, dried leaves, tree trunks, etc.
3
Listen for natural sounds in the environment like moving water, chirping birds, and insect sounds.
4
Ask your child to make a song by listening to the nature sounds and adding sounds with their objects.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Explore the park or trail quietly to notice all the sounds in the natural environment.
E
Engage:
- Ask your child, “What sounds do you hear around us? Where are they coming from?"
- Demonstrate ways to make sounds like tapping a tree trunk with a stick or clapping 2 rocks together.
E
Encourage:
- "I'll start the song with these sticks. You can add on your own rhythm with those stones."
- "I like the sound the trees make when the wind blows. What sounds do you think would sound nice with the rustling leaves?"
R
Reflect:
- What surprised you about making music in nature?
Not quite ready?
Help your child experiment with making different sounds using nature objects.
Ready for more?
See if your child can copy different rhythms after you demonstrate them.
As your child masters this skill...
They will use a variety of instruments to make new music.