There is an old adage that states, “music soothes the savage beast.” But what about the youngsters yet to be influenced by the world around them?  

There has been various research into how music helps develop the mind that would indicate it is an effective method of preparing youngsters for learning and school. According to the keynote speaker at a recent conference at the Ritz Carlton titled, Building the Wealth of Cayman Through Early Childhood Care and Education, Ms Maryann Harman, “Music is a great tool in helping to make children confident by dancing and singing among other activities, while learning to become more sociable and how to learn generally. It is also a great way to teach them to use their bodies.” 

She explained that self control is another benefit of using music to work with children as they learn to stop and start with the rhythms and other disciplines that would assist their control and temperament. “It is something they can take with them for the rest of their lives. In fact, it has been shown that 60 per cent of doctors and physicians play a musical instrument and higher level jobs are often occupied by musicians,” she noted. 

It is known that though the brain is not fully developed at birth, hearing is the most developed sense at the time and newborns can recognise the voices of their mother and other relatives. These audio experiences stimulate and enhance brain growth, as well as development of nerve cell networks. The sum total of these stimuli being an enriching environment that help a child’s brain to reach its full potential. 

Additionally, providing musical activities has been found to cultivate the same neural pathways used in abstract reasoning, as youngsters use reasoning to organise notes in their brain in order to make melodies. These practices have been found to assist in maths and science. According to research, preschoolers who received piano lessons scored 34 per cent higher on spatial and temporal reasoning tests than those who had spent the same amount of time around computers; suggesting that by studying the piano - in this case - the children were forming pathways they could follow for other educational activities. 

Hammond said that many parents observe that exposing their children to activities that include music can help to shape their attitudes, interests and focus, as well as improve listening skills. It has also been noted that the freedom of creative expression found in music can add to the depth to a child’s emotional expression and experience. 

Organised by the Cayman Islands Early Childhood Association, Harman led a three-day seminar that engaged children in music and movement activities, using some of the many songs she has written and taught to children internationally over the years. 

She also conducted a full development conference programme for caregivers, teachers operators and administrators of Early Childhood Care and Education facilities on the Island. 

Harman’s songs and CDs have been celebrated the world over and can be found online in various places. Her recordings have received several awards, including a Silver Parent’s Choice Award, two Children’s Music Web Awards, a KMA Award and a John Lennon Song Writing Award for her song, Because We’re Friends. 

Through her company, Music with Mar, Harman has worked with children on every continent and she explains that all of them respond in the same way to music because it is a universal language. 

Regarding the conference, President of the Cayman Islands Early Childhood Association Reina Jefferson noted, “To build a nation we must start with our young children. This professional development conference provides an opportunity for the Cayman Islands Early Childhood Association to lead the way by investing in those individuals who touch these young lives each and every day in the Cayman Islands.”