Syncopation and Toddlers DO go together!

Musical Parenting Tip for Toddlers:  Play with syncopation

Why?

• “The brain is a pattern-recognition machine. We like repetition and symmetry because they engage our pattern-recognizers. But we only like patterns up to a point. Once we’ve recognized and memorized the pattern, we get bored and stop paying attention. If the pattern changes or breaks, it grabs our attention again. And if the pattern-breaking happens repetitively, recursively forming a new pattern, we find that extremely gratifying.” – Ethan Hein, music technology and music education professor, NYU & Montclair State University.
• Understanding of syncopation leads to a greater understanding of the steady beat.

How?

• Dance to syncopated songs from the ‘Big Red Barn’ CD, like Tinga Layo, and Did you Feed My Cow.
• Tap the rhythm of the words on baby’s tummy, as the song plays.
• Play the song “Hop to It” (from Kindermusik’s ‘Playtime’ CD), and dance with baby.  Stop for a ‘Hop Hop’ during each syncopated, musical ‘hop!’

Want to Learn More?

• Learn what happens to the brain, when hearing syncopated, rhythmic sound.