Recitals do more than just entertaining family and friends; they actually stimulate musical development and trigger student motivation. Motivation is especially important during these difficult times when most learning is done virtually and where competitions are no longer an option.

Let’s create Music Rhythm Puzzles! This is a fun way to visually see the beats in music and a simple way for young students to learn rhythm. Try it out!

There is indeed a difference between listening to and playing music. Listening is passive and not as interactive, whereas playing music is active and collaborative. But the good news is that you do not need to have special skills to participate in music creation. A simple act of clapping along and/or singing along is also a form of collaboration in music-making.

Studies have shown that when we try to create music together- such as keeping the beat or singing along- we share positive feelings with those we are synchronizing with.

It is not yet an exact science, but it may be attributed to the release of endorphins, which results from coordinating movement with others. In other words, making music causes our brains to create warm, positive feelings.