Parent “Tell Me” Document
By Connie Greenwood, First Steps in Music, Instructor
Why is Developing Steady Beat so Important?
Steady beat is a consistent, continuous pulse. This concept is invisible and must be developed by the sense of touch. An established steady beat is required for walking, talking, singing in a choir, as well as bouncing a ball or cutting with scissors. Have you ever been to a sports function and noticed adults who cannot clap to a steady beat? The reason is because learning to keep a steady beat is more about development then it is about age.
Most people don’t value its importance. An international study by the High/Scope Educational Research foundation, asked about 2,000 teachers and 5,000 parents in 15 countries about the importance of teaching the steady beat. They believed it had moderate importance but no teaching was necessary (Weikert, 1999). If steady beat could be developed on its own, why do so many adults admit they have “two left feet?”
Steady beat must be developed experientially. A child must have support from a knowledgeable adult and have “plenty of opportunities for active engagement in targeted learning experiences.” (Weikert, 2003). Dr. John Feierabend reports “children should move to recordings not more than 2-3 minutes in length and music should provide a tempo of approximately 120-136 taps per minute,” which is about 2 taps per second (Feierabend, 1996). Don’t worry if you’re one who can’t keep a steady beat. Playful musical interactions between a child and a caring adult are beneficial to all involved.
First a child must experience the steady beat. By having someone tap on their legs or a variety of body parts, children begin to gain ability but repetition is necessary to master this skill. Singing and dancing in a joyful environment will help develop this ability all throughout the elementary years. Around 1.5 to 2- years- old children will begin to imitate different ways to keep a beat. Toddlers have their own “inner” beat and adults should follow the child’s body movements. Just as children were allowed to babble when they learned to talk, young children should be allowed to rhythmically babble without an adult forcing the beat. In time, after they have mastered their steady “inner beat” the child will be able to control their tempo by playing faster or slower to music with a percussion instrument. This skill is usually not mastered until the child is 3-to- 4 years old. Without early training and experience it could take even longer.
Educating pioneer, Phyllis Weikert, states, “Standardized testing shows that children with steady beat independence are better readers and more successful in mathematics…..they are better behaved in class and have less aggressive physical contact with other students. Steady beat seems to help these areas because it contributes to children’s ability to concentrate, to understand space and distance, and to have better control of physical movements.” In order for a child to gain steady beat they must listen, observe and gain control their own movements. Now we can begin to understand why steady beat is so important! Steady beat is a self-regulating tool. It organizes the brain and helps with focus. Although not a difficult concept, steady beat doesn’t just happen. It needs thoughtful practice and loving support. Parents who chant nursery rhymes while bouncing their little ones on their legs are investing in many areas of development. Steady beat is the foundation for all other musical interactions and early childhood is the natural place to first experience this skill.
References
Feierabend, J.M. (1996) Music and Movement for Infants and Toddlers: Naturally Wonderful, GIA Publications, Inc.
Weikert, D.P. (2003) Value for learning and Living, Child, Care Information Exchange
© C. Greenwood, 2015