Why is listening important?
The brief answer: Listening is a major source of information! We learn new things, find out what’s going on in our environment and figure out how others are feeling – all through listening.
Sometimes, we are so busy getting our own views across that we forget to listen to others. This paying attention to others, while having our own thoughts and point-of-view, is important in building empathy. Being able to listen well improves our communication and social relationships. Actively listening is a means of looking beyond ourselves and our own perspectives.
In music playing, it is also what makes an ensemble work. All the skills in communication apply. Listening, observing, giving space to others, waiting for our turn, impulse-control, regulating our volume and intensity – whether in playing an instrument, singing or talking with someone, the same skills are essential!
Here is a simple listening activity parents can do with their child at home. You may use a real musical instrument or any sound-making object easily found in the house.
Materials:
A solid cardboard box (drum), a metal tin / open glass bottle (music triangle), beads in a bottle (shaker), a thin stick (for hitting metal/glass)
Instructions:
First explain that you have 3 items, and they each make a different sound. Demonstrate that with each sound, there is an associated action.
A box that goes boom-boom-boom – stomp your feet.
A tin/glass that goes dinggg… float arms upwards.
A shaker that goes shakeshakeshake – shake your body (or just hands, which is easier).
Have your child (or participants) close their eyes while you play one of the sounds. They have to perform the corresponding action.
For those who have difficulty keeping their eyes closed, here are some alternatives:
Use a blindfold (if they are willing)
Have them turn their backs to the source of the sound (for autistic participants, they may be seated in a chair facing away from you, or given footprints that show where they should face when they stand, or asked to “look at the *something they’re happy to look at*”)
Play the sound behind a screen, under the table or in a large cardboard box
Use pre-recorded sounds
When this becomes too simple, add other sounds and actions of your own, or play 2 sounds in sequence and they have to perform the 2 actions!
Read more* for further information about the selected actions and why we need to experience different types of movement!
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