Genuine Parent and Professor testimonials, proving that Moosicology really does work to help your child learn the science of music
There’s a great, wonderful, comprehensive article in today’s Telegraph titled ‘Can music make your child cleverer?’
Disclaimer: I am interviewed in it regarding my book The Music Miracle and the studies on music and children’s brain development. The article also features some tips (on how to engage musically with your child) from The Grown-Up’s Guide of the Moosicology Package.
Still, I genuinely think it’s a fabulous read, as the writer has done a great bit of research to make one fact-packed and nicely written article! Furthermore, the benefits of music for children clearly need this kind of national exposure: us parents need to be more informed on how crucial music is for babies and children. I very nearly missed this opportunity myself with my son six years ago – not wanting to be a ‘pushy parent’, or ‘living my music dreams through my son’, I hesitated in introducing my peculiar obsession with music to him – so it was just as well I came across one study when he was just a few months old (in the wonderful parenting book What Every Parent Needs to Know by Margot Sunderland) – and when I started to look for more information, a whole new world opened up in scientific journals; a wealth of information on how music benefits the brain development of children.
Without further ado, here’s a snippet of the article, which you can read in full at The Telegraph site:
“Liisa Henriksson-Macaulay, 30, Finnish author of The Music Miracle, believes that she has found the key to enhancing a child’s development. “In Finland, most children go to a music playschool until the age of seven,” she says. “They teach the children music in a very child-centred way. The benefits of this are so amazing that when I moved to Britain, I wanted to bring them to British children.”
According to the PISA international league tables, Finnish children are 14 places above Britain in maths, sixth in the world in reading, and fifth in science. The country has become something of a cause celebre among educational experts, who have long searched for the secret of this success.
Henriksson-Macaulay’s six-year-old son, Toivo, has been having piano lessons since he was four. She also has music sessions with him for half-an-hour a week, and for Christmas she gave him a drum kit. “He is exposed to music of all different types,” she says.
In her book, she concludes that musical practice can produce nothing short of a “a full-scale brain upgrade”. She has also developed a system of music tuition called Moosicology, which is intended to be used by parents to maximise the benefits to their child’s development.
According to a collation of peer-reviewed studies quoted in the book, benefits of early engagement with music include improved performance in mathematics and languages; higher levels of IQ; better emotional fluency; greater self-esteem; a more powerful memory; and physical health and fitness.
Such elaborate claims might sound far-fetched, especially as they are made by a non-scientist. But the book has been verified by a number of leading academics at the Institute of Education and elsewhere.
For babies up to the age of one, Henriksson-Macaulay says, it is best to play them a range of music, including major and minor keys, and different time signatures, rhythms and scales. “In Britain, children’s songs are usually in 4/4 time, and in the major key,” she explains. “That’s a bit like speaking to kids only in verbs. For the full benefits, children need a variety of music.”
She suggests singing and clapping games for children under the age of four, and for those aged between five and seven, she recommends introducing instruments.
“The most dramatic benefits happen before the age of seven or eight,” she says. “But it is important not to create a hothouse environment, or there will be a connection between music and stress.” ”
Click here to read the full article – including what Alex James from Blur and Susan Hallam from the Institute of Education have to say about the meaning of music for child development!
There’s a great, wonderful, comprehensive article in today’s Telegraph titled ‘Can music make your child cleverer?’ Disclaimer: I am interviewed in it regarding my book The Music Miracle and the studies on music and children’s brain development. The article also features some tips (on how to engage musically with your child) from The Grown-Up’s Guide […]
Teaching about rhythm has been excellent,my daughter is now clapping to beats in all music as a result of Moosicology and as she finds the right rhythm she’s delighted with herself. The song “the cows are singing moo moo moo” is a MASSIVE hit, so much so she found, for the first time, the repeat button on the CD player and when it’s on it’s on for around an hour at a time! Learning how to enjoy music on another level has been a revelation for my daughter and Moosicology ‘unpacks’ music at a good level for her age group. I would recommend it to anyone asking me about engaging children with music (which parents do knowing my own job).”
-Paula Hearsum, Mother of a 4-year old, Senior Lecturer (Music), University of Brighton, UK
and she told the teachers it was because she learned it from Moosicology! It’s motivated her to do more than just play around on the piano at home now and she’s keen to have lessons – not bad as she’s only just turned five!”
-Paula Hearsum, Senior Lecturer (Music), University of Brighton, UK
the musical tracks can be connected with physical activities, which will enhance the learning of musical ideas and non-specialized music teachers and parents can use the material and support their children’s learning. On the whole, it’s a very well prepared work that can be used at home and in schools or other education centres.”
– Dr. Maria Varvarigou, Research Officer and Lecturer in Music Education, University of London, UK
Seems to catch my son’s attention and he likes the songs and stories. At a young age, children need to be encouraged to explore and to be enticed by things, not to be taught to. Moosicology sparks interest which is critical at this age. It is sometimes difficult to find music that is age-appropriate and not preachy or simpering for children. Moosicology’s songs and stories engage and intrigue and are aimed nicely at young children.”
– Kristin Harris Walsh, Mother of a 3-year old, Project Coordinator, MMap Research Centre for Music, Media and Place, Canada
The organisation is very systematic that each concept of music theory is presented in the same order. The music clearly demonstrates each musical concept. It is creative to integrate stories and songs to engage children’s attention. It fits children’s level of understanding and conveys basic principles underneath each musical concept. I think it is well designed and the singing and the stories are matched to the children’s level. The CD is fun to listen to and good material for parents to interact with their children at home.”
– Dr. Evangeline Cheng, Assistant Professor in Pingtung University of Education, Department of Music, Taiwan
I think it’s a great idea and very nicely put together, attractive and fun and I would certainly play it to my kids if they were still young. I also think that it is likely to ‘work’ in the sense that, with repeated listenings, kids should be able to pick up some of the terms and know how to apply them correctly.”
– Lucy Green, Professor of Music Education, University of London
Based on both listening to the cd myself and watching my daughter I think it provides one way to get accustomed to basic musical concepts in a playful matter.”
– David-Emil Wickström, Degree program administrator at the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg, Germany
and if it’s benefiting his development then it’s a great product in my eyes. As a busy working Mum the convenience of Moosicology means it’s ideal for us, I can play the CDs in the car and Benny can enjoy it while we are on the go.”
– Nicky Hambleton-Jones, TV presenter, Mother of Benny, aged 3
It’s far more advanced than I had anticipated and it has meant that my husband can got something he can really get involved with Lara with as it refreshed his interest in music theory. It is so much more than just ‘fun music for kids’.””
– Emma Button, mellowmummy.co.uk, Mother of Lara
There’s at least a year’s worth of music lessons in the book alone. The amount of design and planning that has obviously gone into it is incredible.”
– Patricia Collingbourne, Private school teacher, Wiltshire, UK
Moosicology is a really good concept that teaches them about music through music. As a person who doesn’t understand anything about music, even I have learned from it. It takes the kids’ attention and they dance to it when the music goes on. I like the concept of using animals because at that age they absolutely love animals. “
– Lindsey Kerr, Mother of children aged 1 and 3, Berkshire, UK
and takes the musical understanding several steps further for both. The songs are indeed “singable” and catchy. I also like the natural adult vocals (as I find many children’s CDs featuring children’s choirs for example sadly annoying). Moosicology made both me and my Son happy. The dog even ran over and started barking in response to the “Funny Monster” section!”
– Jennifer Milioto Matsue, Mother of a 3-year old, Associate Professor of Music at Union College, NY, USA
we had to stop it to take a phone call, and, not knowing for sure whether the kids were enjoying hearing the CD, we asked them if they’d like us to turn it back on, and they unanimously, and loudly, shouted for us to do so. They seem particularly to like the songs, and were almost instantly able to repeat them, words, melody and all. Now, on the one hand, both kids seem somewhat musically inclined. Our daughter has been taking piano lessons for three years, and our son took guitar for a year, but seems to have lost interest. That said, they’re somewhat picky, and will tell you when they don’t like something, and it’s only the things that they quite like that they’ll sing themselves.”
– Steve Jones, Father of children aged 5 and 7, UIC Distinguished Professor of Communication, University of Illinois at Chicago, US
we play it in the car all the time! The stories and pictures are great, the music is fabulous, all the words are clear… It definitely teaches my kids about music and they’ll learn about the different notes and timings. It would even help them in the future if they started playing a musical instrument. This is more productive than all the other baby music classes where the child gets to do a bit of bashing. A very professional product. Everything fits in so well.”
– Olivia Doyle, Mother of children aged 4 and 6, Hampshire, UK
My Son really enjoys it and I thought it is a fun introduction to a more technical appreciation of music. As someone who is not a musicologist there are things that parents can learn too with their children.”
– Paul Harkins, Father of a 2-year old, Music Lecturer, Edinburgh
