Musical Inspiration

What you need:

• crayons
• drawing paper
• variety of music CDs

What to do:

1. Begin by playing a variety of music — classical, jazz, rock, hip-hop — anything for your child simply to listen to for a few minutes. 
2. Explain that composers often tell stories using music, and they are going to have the opportunity to draw a picture that they think of when the music is playing. Remind them that there is no right or wrong way to interpret the music. It is how it makes them feel and what they think about when they listen to the music.
3. Play each type of music for one minute, and encourage them to draw the way the music sounds. You'll be surprised how the drawings change. 

Learning benefits:

• Encourages creative expression
• Provides exposure to different kinds of music
• Builds fine-motor skills important for handwriting