PARENT’S GUIDE
Raising a musician
It may seem like only yesterday that you were preparing for the arrival of your little one into the world, and indeed your lives. But now, they’re already their own person, showing their own preferences, personality traits and, dare we say it, talents. And if you want to help nurture, support and stimulate your child’s natural interests and abilities from early childhood right up to the late teen stage, apps can rock their world!
If jiggling to the beat and lip-syncing in front of the mirror is what your child would do all day if given half a chance, these apps might bring some structure and direction to their journey in the world of music.
Baby (0 - 18 months)
When a baby is just a few weeks old, he or she will start reacting to interesting sounds. From sleep-inducing (a parent can dream!) white noise to funny animal sounds and much-loved nursery rhymes, these apps provide plenty of audial stimulation for tiny ears.
Toddler (1.5 - 3 years)
When it’s time to toddle, your child will probably want to start making sounds to accompany their brilliant babbling. Introduce them to a range of pitches and voices and let them experiment with everything from the piano and trumpet to drums and guitar, without having to store any of these in your home (hurrah!).
Preschool (3 - 6 years)
The following apps offer whole orchestras to play with to satisfy a growing musical appetite. Friendly animals represent different instruments and make hilarious dances as your little one conducts their first symphony.
Gradeschool (6 - 12 years)
Studying music requires a more conscious effort at age six and above, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be entertaining. Develop essential skills like memorising melodies, recognising notes and beating to the rhythm in beautifully crafted whimsical worlds that feel more like interactive stories than drills and exercises.
Teen (13 - 18 years)
Training an ear, developing a voice, mastering scales – who has time for that on top of preparing for school exams and battling teenage angst? With gamification and easy-going attitude, these apps manage to keep your teen interested in music without making it feeling like yet another chore.
Whether all this singing and dancing leads to a successful musical career or not, you’re guaranteed to have some fun bonding time with your child while they learn something new.