Time to let your little one dance to the beat of their own drum!
As a part of their Small Explorers series, the New Jersey State Museum (205 West State St., Trenton, NJ) will be offering a music and drums workshop for your family’s budding musician. Children 5 and under are invited to explore the world of beats, instruments, and more. The workshop will take place on December 10th, with one session at 9:45am and the other at 11:00am. If you’re interested in attending, enrollment is available here: Small Explorers – Music and Drums. Registration for each session is limited to the first 10 families, so be sure to sign up as soon as possible! Registration will close on December 8th.
This installment of the Small Explorers series will include a variety of activities to get your little one dancing their way through the world of music. First, guests will get to enjoy a reading of of “When Max Found Two Sticks” by Brian Pinkney. This tale follows the story of Max, a young boy whose world is transformed through music. After having two heavy sticks land in front of him, Max began tapping out the rhythm of the world around him. From birds in the sky to to a train on its tracks, Max began to drum the soundtrack of his life. What started as a quiet day quickly transformed to an exuberant celebration, showing young Max just how powerful music can be.
After story time, guests will also get to enjoy learning more about Lenape drums and dance to the beat. The events will conclude with an opportunity to make your own instruments and try out your music and dance skills. By the end of the festivities, your child will be clapping, tapping, and grooving their way through the rest of their day.
According to research conducted by the University of Southern California, music education in early childhood can have a transformative impact on your child’s development. Musical experiences in early childhood have been linked to accelerated brain development. The National Association of Music Merchants also noted that learning an instrument at a young age can improve mathematical learning and can even help to improve SAT scores. Exposing your child to musical education can help to promote social-emotional learning, intellectual development, and improve motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Who knew that a bit of music could mean so much!
If you and your little music-maker want to get involved, be sure to sign up prior to the December 8th deadline. If you have any questions, please contact the New Jersey State Museum at NJSMFsmallexplorers@gmail.com and their team will be able to assist. We hope you’re ready to get moving and shaking!
