The Magic of Listening Walks:

Discovering Music Beyond the Keyboard and the Classroom

It’s spring and you and your children may be finding it increasingly difficult to stay focused on practicing piano and other tasks that keep us indoors.  My friends, it is time for a listening walk!

In my early years as an elementary music teacher, I learned the value of taking my kindergarten classes out of doors for a listening walk.   Taking a listening walk can be a delightful and educational experience for young children. Not only does it enhance their auditory perception, but it also fosters a deeper connection with the environment around them. In this post, we'll explore the myriad of things children can learn on a listening walk, suitable books on the topic for children aged 2-7, how to prepare them for this sensory adventure and some classical music listening examples to extend the concepts.

What can be learned on a Listening Walk:

  1. Low and High Pitch: During a listening walk, children can learn to differentiate between low-pitched sounds, like the rumble of distant traffic, and high-pitched sounds, such as bird songs or the tinkling of wind chimes.  Be aware that many children and adults will confuse high- and low-pitched sounds with sounds that are louder or quieter.  For instance, we say, “Turn the TV down,” when we mean to make the sound quieter.  For reference, the sound of a violin is high pitched, and the double bass makes low pitched sounds.  

  2. Loud and Quiet: Encourage children to listen for both loud sounds, like passing cars or barking dogs, and quiet sounds, such as rustling leaves or the gentle hum of insects.  This is a good time to teach the musical terms for loud and quiet, piano and forte.

  3. Music vs Not Music: Introduce the concept of music versus non-musical sounds. Children can identify musical sounds like a chirping bird or wind chimes, as well as less musical sounds like a car horn or a dog's bark.

  4. Man-made Sounds vs Sounds Found in Nature: Help children distinguish between sounds created by humans, like honking horns or ringing phones, and sounds naturally occurring in their surroundings, like the rustle of leaves or the chirping of crickets.

  5. Sounds that Kids Can Imitate: Encourage children to mimic the sounds they hear, whether it's a bird's call, a train whistle, or the sound of a brook babbling. This not only reinforces their listening skills but also fosters creativity and imagination.

  6. Related Language Development: Engage children in discussions about the sounds they hear. Ask open-ended questions like "What do you think is making that sound?" or "How would you describe that sound?" This helps develop their vocabulary and language skills.

Preparing for a Listening Walk:

  1. Introduce the Concept: Before embarking on a listening walk, explain to children what they'll be doing and why it's exciting. You can talk about how we use our ears to listen and explore the world around us.

  2. Choose a Suitable Location: Select a safe outdoor location with minimal distractions and plenty of natural sounds to explore. A park, nature reserve, or even just a quiet neighborhood street can provide ample opportunities for listening.

  3. Pack Essentials: Bring along a few essentials like water, snacks, sunscreen, and possibly the attached handout (available at the button below) and pen for recording observations

  4. Set Expectations: Let children know what behavior is expected during the walk, such as walking quietly to better hear the sounds around them and respect the environment by not disturbing wildlife.

  5. Encourage Curiosity: Throughout the walk, encourage children to ask questions, share their observations, and express their feelings about the sounds they hear. This fosters a sense of curiosity and wonder about the world around them.

Recommended Books for Children aged 2-7:

  1. The Listening Walk by Paul Showers

  2. Listen to the Rain by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault.  The sounds in this book range from gentle rain to a terrific thunderstorm.  This book is particularly nice for recreating the sounds of a rainstorm with body percussion and rhythm instruments or piano as you read aloud the descriptive language. 

  3. Quiet! There's a Canary in the Library by Don Freeman

  4. Sounds All Around by Wendy Pfeffer

  5. The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

  6. Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells

  7. The Listening Song by Paul Wayne Foltz

Listening for nature in music:  Throughout history, many composers have drawn inspiration from the natural world, infusing their compositions with the sounds they encountered on their own walks. From Beethoven's "Pastoral Symphony" to Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," nature has served as a muse for some of the most beloved works in classical music.  You may want to follow up your listening walk by listening for some of the same sounds in actual music. 

1.        “Cloudburst”, the fourth movement of Grand Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofé

2.      “The Aviary” from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint Saens

3.      An American in Paris by George Gershwin - car horns, traffic

4.      Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev

Conclusion: A listening walk is not only a fun outdoor activity but also a valuable learning experience for young children. By engaging their sense of hearing, children can develop important auditory skills, deepen their connection with nature and music, and enhance their language development. With the right preparation and guidance, a listening walk can become a memorable and enriching adventure for both children and adults alike.

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