BY KINDERMUSIK
Why Songs Stick in Our Heads
Ever wake up with a song running around in your head? Or how about the song that you sing or hear one time…then stays in your head the rest of the day? (Disclaimer: Yes, this can happen after attending a Kindermusik class with your child, but it’s probably because he’s singing the same song out loud!) Why is it that songs stick in our heads? Well, as annoying as it can be when it happens, there are actually some very positive reasons why those songs stick and you might be happy – in some ways! – that they stay stuck.
A Foundational Skill
For those who claim not to have a musical bone in your body, you should feel musically accomplished when such a thing occurs. On a very basic level, the ability to hear a song in your head is called audiation (the aural equivalent of imagination), a foundational musical skill. One author refers to the songs that get stuck as “earworms.” An apt description, but somehow thinking of it as auditing sounds more musically sophisticated. We as humans come hard-wired to enjoy and respond to music.
We see it in Kindermusik class all the time – a little baby’s eyes widen with delight when she hears her mama singing her a lullaby, or that toddler immediately stops wandering around the room and starts bouncing when the music comes on. Or your preschooler asks for his favorite song every time you get in the car to go somewhere.
Repetition is a Sign of Enjoyment
We repeat songs multiple times in a single Kindermusik class and again for several weeks in a row because repetition is such an important tool for learning and strengthening the brain. But outside of class, repeating a song over and over – even when it pops into one’s head uninvited or when your child sings the same song for the one-hundredth time – signals that a particular song brings much joy.
Your brain is using those songs.
Researchers continue to uncover the power of music and how it impacts cognitive development in the early years and cognitive retention in our later years. So tucking all of those songs into your memory now could have benefits later on if indeed some of the theories about music and memory prove correct. So the next time that song in your head won’t go away, maybe you won’t feel quite as annoyed when you remember some of the good reasons why it happens.
And by the way, if you regularly attend Kindermusik classes, we promise to make sure that we’re always teaching you and your child lots of lots of new songs that yes, might get stuck in your head, but will also wind their way into your heart. Shared by Theresa Case, who as director of Piano Central Studios in Greenville, South Carolina, since 1995, has had a lot of songs get stuck in her head over the years!
Categories
All Categories 10 reasons to be a music major 3 daily music activities for neurodivergent learners 3 ways music-based rituals help alleviate back-to-school change 3 ways of creativity 3 ways to build grownup social-emotional growth 3 ways to enhance phonemic awareness with music 3 ways to teach creativity to young kids 4 ways to help your baby rest with music 5 big benefits: the social learning domain and kindermusik 5 creative diys to transform playtime at home 5 simple and easy ways to enjoy musical fun indoors 5 ways child-led playtime boosts learning 5 ways music positively impacts children with hearing loss 5 ways unstructured play boosts learning (plus tips-by-age guide!) 6 ways to prevent summer slide 7 benefits of a group music class for toddlers 7 musical ways to make your holidays less stressful 7 reasons to join a music class for toddlers 7 things: harvard psychologists identify positive parenting points 7 tips for making every day a musical day a better organized brain a message from kindermusik: we will not be silent. accolades adhd – an adult perspective on the journey adjusting tone and volume of voice amazing musical moments: #3 will have you sobbing amber galloway gallego – sign language rock star an educator that builds up your confidence and health apathy vs. empathy: creating compassionate kids app apples and bananas articulation assesing kids for steady beats at home beach activities attend an in-person or virtual kindermusik class. auditory input auditory system babble on…it benefits baby! babies can imitate a head voice babies focus better on a head voice babies love music baby brains: music and speech baby in the bedroom: keep that crib in with mom and dad baby speech development? they learn with their mouths… baby’s got the beat! how to add rhythm to your daily routine balance be aware of how close you are to the noise. be aware of how long you’ll be around the noise. be aware of your child’s sound environment. be the proud parent! become a children’s music teacher with kindermusik beethoven still works – over 200 years later bend concepts benefits for adults benefits for babies benefits for older children benefits for toddlers benefits of barefootin’ best music apps for kids beyond babbling big brains! music feeds brain development blend them together with others in order to innovate. bonding bonds book review – the secret life of squirrels: a love story book review: giraffes can’t dance book review: kate the great and the middle c music shop book review: pete the cat – i love my white shoes book review: skippyjon jones by judy schnachner book review: sometimes i like to curl up in a ball book review: triangle book review: your hand in my hand boost early literacy development with just 30 minutes of music per week boost language skills break ideas apart bring attention to mouth shape and tongue position building community through music building your child’s creativity and emotional health through music builds up language and speech cabasa can you spoil your baby? probably not cello in the trenches changing lives with music: stephen oliverson childhood development activities childhood music experiences children learn to self-regulate gradually. children’s book review: music is… children’s book review: the wonderful things you will be choose activities you actually like clap college-level training is a completely different animal community conduct like no one’s watching confidence consider giving instruments—truly simple gifts for kids! consistent cowbell creativity skills in music education crucial pre-reading cut down on cell phone babbling dance in sync dancing dear students developing balance and coordination developing fine motor skills developing gross motor skills developing strong relationships develops inhibitory control devotion of activity diy beach in a bottle! do music? yep! you're probably smarter do your research. don’t be scared… don’t forget to play! don’t have preconceived notions about when “real speech” will occur don’t just sit there – move! draw what you hear. embrace your “baby voice” emotional intelligence emotional learning enhance phonemic awareness establish a daily routine for music. everyone can sing everything you needed to know about a kindermusik class explore the three b's expressing ideas expression feeling it fetuses begin to form a connection with their mother’s voice around the 4th month of pregnancy find a calm song find a family class that helps you grow find an affordable program and reduce student debt finding your place in the performing arts follow the child for children with unique learning styles for the love of musik: starting a kindermusik studio four on the 4th: four ways early music classes prepare your child for school… and for life four on the fourth: four reasons to sing the day away free music rituals album freeplay getting grounded giving gifts group communication skills growing up in kindermusik guiro hang back from the sales frenzy. have a dance party. head voice for kids head voice vs. chest voice hearing hearing it hearing system heavy traffic high-pitched kids hoping to nurture social-emotional wellness in your child? music helps. how can music class help my family regulate noise? how do babies bond? how kindermusik prepares your child for school how loud is too loud? how music affects your mood and your mind how music teaches kids to self-regulate how postnatal singing supports secure attachment how pre- and postnatal singing support secure attachment how to keep the daily rhythms and routines that matter to your child imaginations impact: music and the differently abled improved happiness levels in your right brain: the mind’s response to music in-person or virtual music class help? incorporate themes. increases literacy and pre-reading skills infant music classes instrument exploration instrument exposure intentional pitch just sing keep learners engaged at home with songs that connect to each lesson. keep learning about creativity kid songs kids beats kids generation kids get it: music is magic kids love music kids need to be kids kids playing kids playlist kindermusik kindermusik blog kindermusik class for toddlers kindermusik classroom instruments and their big brothers kindermusik community kindermusik is the key kindermusik reviews: cutie sue and the darkness kindermusik reviews: the book with no pictures kindermusik reviews: the not so quiet library kindermusik reviews: what do you do with a problem? kindermusik's approach kindermusik’s gift guide lack of attention span needed language and literacy skills language and speech language skills lesson learned: how my son spent $1200 on itunes let kids create their own magic. letter sound let’s play: is it an instrument? listen to instrumental songs. look for a longer shelf life. love and music: a magical connection love for music is the answer lower stress - better health lullabies maintains babies’ attention and stimulates emotional responses (like smiling) master instruments math skills melody magic: music strengthens social bonds memorization motorcycle music music affects the science of reading music and literacy are processed the same way…through sound! music and movement music and the bridges it builds music as language music as medicine: good for mental health music builds memory. music can open the door to stronger communication music class for toddlers music education music for neurodivergent music from birth: in it for the long haul music in our lives: imagine a world without it music instruction is all about patience and listening music is everything music is magic music is the answer music kids are scrappy music lessons music listening with your kids: find the center music makes it music makes mettle music makes the moment music matters – but why? music reading music rituals workshop can help music sparks imagination. music teacher music therapy for babies music therapy: music as medicine music to boost phonemic awareness musical activity musical kids are hardy! musical kids know about focus musical science musicians can make a living music—a multi-sensory activity music’s effect on the developmental domains neurodivergent neurodivergent learners neurodivergent learnings newborn bonding: how infant music classes connect parent and baby no surprise: with music involvement nurture creativity nutritional supplements our favorite musical activities to get you through your child’s day pairing movement pals parent perspective: why we love kindermusik pat or tap to the beat. phonemes phonemic awareness phonics phonological awareness phonological awareness literacy screening physiological responses plan ahead. planting seeds that grow: music for a lifetime play allows children to imagine whole new ways of being play invokes laughter play leads children to solve problems with perseverance and creativity! play leads children to sort information in new ways and to seek symbolic representations. play music! play stretches the imagination through fantasy playing instruments power of play-based learning practical at–home developmental strategies praise prenatal and postnatal singing is one of the easiest ways to jumpstart secure attachment. prioritize grownup social-emotional growth anytime. prioritize imaginative play promotes active listening read aloud. reading abilities reduce screen time. reflecting on july’s summer camp magic! regulate emotions repeat that sound to a familiar tune repetition repetition repetition reunited: a short film about music and the human spirit rhyme rhythm right choice for family rock concerts schedule learning time. science center stage: gratitude science center stage: kids’ brains grow faster with music science center stage: music changes the brain science center stage: music improves brain development in children science center stage: music may boost language learning in babies science center stage: the imaginary friend science of music science of reading scientific secure attachment seeing it self-confidence. self-regulation to emotional expression sequencing series of positive and nurturing interactions shape of lips share new school year musical rituals with families before classes begin shoes off simple diy crafts that let kids be creative and expressive simple gifts for kids simple gifts for kids: batteries not required simple toys or props sing sing aloud. sing and dance that stress away sing and sway sing like a pirate! sing throughout the day singing and movement singing dad singing helps grownups self-regulate singing in choir makes you happier singing is the best singing is the way singing mom singing parents sirens and fireworks sleeping infant so social social skills social-emotional growth social-emotional learning soft music solving problems sound sound first – symbol second sound vocabulary sounds speak up. speech skill sports events square peg in a square hole: music in the preschool experience – a natural fit steady beat steady beats for kids steady beats matters story time! reading to kids the right way storytime strengthens the vestibular system stretching them to their limits as we create strong relationship studio kindermusik classes study after study summer camp summer camp on a summer slide summer slide summer slide: what you should know sun’s out support divergent thinking through play support physical distancing and social-emotional development with seated or outdoor musical activities. teach creativity teaching kids to become creative the beginning of life is beautifully composed the best gifts are often not the most expensive the best kind of summer school the blues: music and mood the box vs. the toy that came in it: why the box wins the brain looks for patterns. the collaborative for academic the gift of health: music boosts the immune system the gift of love: a parent’s perspective of kindermusik the gift of time: holiday activities for the whole family the neurosciences and music vi: music the science behind singing to your child the surprising connections between social-emotional skills and cognitive development the surprising reasons why grownups love kindermusik too toddlers and toys too loud: how to prevent early hearing loss in children tools tools for kids top 5 tips for buying the perfect simple gifts for kids triangle trudel music studio trust trust relevant experts. try to live by this rule of five unique brain patterns use a mirror to visualize phonemes utero vacuum cleaner we have no earlids. we hear with our brains. we love our kindermusik educators what can i do to prevent early hearing loss? what does it take? becoming a kindermusik educator what kinds of activities should an infant music class include? what makes kindermusik so compelling to children what’s wrong with toddler music lessons? when it comes to your kids investing early pays off white noise for babies who knew? kindermusik changes lives in jordan why barefoot is best why do children need a “music program”? why does music increase literacy development? why is newborn bonding important and when does it happen? why is unstructured play important? why music is better than white noise for babies why shared musical experiences with your child are so important (and ideas to implement!) why singing to your child every day is vital why songs stick in our heads why toddler music lessons aren’t the best idea will i gain confidence as a parent? with love woodblock worried about partying in college? a music major ain’t got time for that! you can benefit together young kids