Good Morning,

Why did the music stop? Musical pause is a technique we often use in Sprouting Melodies as well as in our clinical work as Music Therapists. But why? Musical pause or stop cues have many developmental benefits, and can help to engage people in playing or singing together. You may notice that we use this stop cue several times during instrument exploration experiences. In your next class watch what your children do during the silence. The sudden pause gives your child the opportunity to practice joint attention skills that will be very helpful when they go to school. With joint attention we are looking for everyone to be focused as a group on one object or person. When I stop playing, I'm watching for the children to look at me. 

The response of each child will differ due to age and development. You may notice an older child around 2 or older start the music during the pause by playing their drum up high, showing us their skills in independence and control. The younger toddlers may look, smile, laugh, and then begin shaking or tapping their instrument to fill-in the silence. Even though the direction was to stop, this response is exactly what is expected developmentally. The pause in the music prompts them to stop and look, and the instinct and desire for the music to continue is demonstrated in their initiation of playing the music! For infants who are still dependent on their caregivers, they may be mouthing a maraca and during the stop cue, the maraca comes out of their mouth, and they may shake it once before returning it to their mouth when the music starts. All of these responses are appropriate for different developmental levels. 

The music also acts as a non-verbal means of communication. The music plays and stops, waits for a response, and responds back. This musical conversation is the basic instinct we all have to interact and communicate with others. Your children are practicing so many necessary developmental skills while engaging in a fun bonding experience. 

I'll see you in class!  

~Kristina