There is so much that you can do musically with your children and 
your family.  It is 
wonderful to listen to many kinds of music at home and let children 
naturally move 
however they want to the music.    The first step in understanding 
musical beats and 
rhythms is to physically move to these elements of the music and to 
feel them in your 
body.  Students need to first dance, clap and walk to the music before 
they can be 
expected to read and understand musical notation.


     It is also fun to play your own music at home with "found" 
instruments.  So many 
normal household objects can be turned into musical instruments, from 
pots and pans to 
a broom, the sidewalk and a pair of dancing shoes!  Any empty round, 
cardboard 
container with a plastic lid can become a drum.  (oatmeal, Quick, 
etc.)  Try making a 
shaker using a softdrink can.   Try blowing across the top of a water 
bottle.  That is the 
way the sound on a real flute is produced.  Now see what happens when 
you add or take 
away some of the water.  Does the sound (pitch) change?  Add some 
small pebbles then 
seal up the hole with strong tape and you can become an important 
rhythmic addition to 
your family band.  

Now that it is the rainy season and staying indoors seems more 
desirable, try putting on 
some music and dancing before bath and bedtime.  My family likes to do 
this and it 
certainly can be both aerobic and entertaining!  Maybe your children 
would like to put on a 
show for you!

If you have internet access, try looking at some educational music 
sites that I have listed 
on my "Links" page.  Children love to play computer games and their 
are very nice 
educational sites where students are able to explore and learn more 
about music.