Hi, my name is Stephanie Coleske, I live in Uitenhage, and I am very excited to do this module.  Music is very important in everyone's everyday life. 

Study unit 1:  

Cognitive development:

By the time a child enters school, they have developed the ability to selectively listen.  It allows children to focus on specific musical aspects.  In terms of skills, children's sense of tonality increases, along with the ability to more accurately pitch.  Singing abilities improve dramatically during the middle childhood years, in both range and accuracy noted.  By the age of 6 or 7, children have a vocal range of one octave.  The ability to play certain instruments, especially simple melodic instruments, such as the xylophone or keyboard can increase gross motor control.  An increasing number of modalities, including clapping, tapping, moving, and chanting can develop music reading and coordination.  At the age of 5, children develop the ability to associate a sound with symbols.  Research suggests that children prefer playing instruments above all other musical activities during this period.  Music education enhances attentiveness, multitasking and promotes literacy skills and numeracy skills while playing on musical instruments .  They expand their vocabulary by learning new words in their mother tongue.  Learners learn to solve problems and think creatively by creating their own body percussion patterns.  They develop reading and listening skills by using graphic and iconic notation.  Music can lead to higher academic achievement and it promotes higher-order thinking, logical and abstract thinking.  

Social development:

When learners make music with their classmates, they have opportunities to engage in social interaction.  Music activities such as singing in groups, moving together, and playing together can foster relationships and form new friendships.  

Personal development

By engaging in music, and specifically listening to and speaking about the feeling that music provokes, learners, learn more about themselves, their likes and dislikes.  

Emotional development:

When learners experience music with various moods, they identify various emotions.  By moving freely according to how music makes them feel.  They also learn to express their emotions through music.   The teacher can use music for mood management by listening to certain types of songs, according to how they are feeling at a given time.