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Classical Music

As the largest direct importer of sheet music in Southern Africa, Lovemore Music Centre has the widest range of classical sheet music
books in the country.

Though classical music appeals to many people, the diversity, complexity and even the mystique of "Classical Music" can be rather
intimidating. Granted, there is much to know, and much to learn, concerning this music (many people have devoted their lives to studying
obscure facets of musicology), but the encouraging thing about this art form is that you can enjoy what you are hearing without knowing
exactly why.

So, while detailed study, investigation, reading, whatever, may perhaps enhance the enjoyment of the music even further, a scholarly
approach is fundamentally not required. All that is necessary is a desire to explore and discover new musical territory. The classical music
genre is rich enough to provide a lifetime of wonder and surprises, and a nearly limitless potential for discovery makes the journey well
worth the effort.

The Importance of Classical Music for Kids

Generations of kids grow up watching cartoons that use classical music. They often don’t know the pieces by name and who wrote them,
but they have heard them through the antics of animated animals on Saturday morning cartoons on TV countless times. While every child
may not develop into a musical master, every child does have the potential to benefit from classical music – and benefits are numerous,
especially regarding child development.

Recent studies show that making music can make your child 30 times nicer, more willing to help, and better at problem solving than his
peers who don’t play it.

When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain are lighting up at once as they process the sound, take it apart to understand
elements like melody and rhythm and then put it all back together into a unified musical experience. And our brains do all this work in a
split second between when we first hear the music and when our foot starts to tap along.

But, the little backyard fireworks that transpire in the brain of the music listener is only the warm up for what is really happening in the
brain of the musician. Although on the outside, musicians may look calm and focussed, reading music and making the precise and practised
movements required, starts up the party in their brains. Simultaneous processing of different information happens in intricate, inter-related
and astonishingly fast sequences. Playing a musical instrument engages practically every area of the brain at once, especially the visual,
auditory and motor cortices. And as with any other workout, disciplined, structured practice in playing music strengthens those brain
functions allowing us to apply that strength to other activities.

Early musical training helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning. There is also a causal link between music and spatial
intelligence or the ability to perceive the world accurately and to form mental pictures of things. Therefore, use music to teach children
something new. Link familiar songs with some activities, for example, play “The Nutcracker” while you make the cake together with
your kids.

In music, a mistake is a mistake: the instrument is in tune or not, the notes are well played or not. It is only by much hard work that a
successful performance is possible. Through music study, students learn the value of sustained effort to achieve excellence and the
concrete rewards of hard work. Music study develops skills that are necessary in the workplace while music performance teaches young
people to conquer fear and to take risks.

It has been scientifically proved what parents have suspected for centuries – that lullabies really do help children feel better by lowering
heart rates and reducing their perception of pain. So tonight put your baby to sleep with soft relaxing music of Mozart!

Next time you talk with your kids about the sea and the underwater world, add some music to your story – play them “The Aquarium –
Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint-Saëns. If they like it and want more, let them listen “Hens and Roosters”, “Royal March of the
Lion”, “Kangaroos”, “The Elephant”… Tell them that they can even hear how different spring, summer, fall and winter sound on a violin. And
tell them about Vivaldi, the famous composer who wrote “The Four Seasons” 300 years ago.

by Jelena Vasilev (Novakdjokovifoundation.org)

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