Graphic Notation

Graphic Notation

Pianist Stephen Malinowski plays Beethoven

Drawing to Music

Graphic notation is a term that refers to any written or visual music system that uses symbols other than traditional music notes and rests to represent sounds and silence. In Kindermusik, graphic and traditional notation, and symbolic awareness that happens with storytelling and pretend play reinforces overall symbolic recognition and awareness adding to pre-literacy skills and language acquisition skills. Check out the button above for an example: Pianist Stephen Malinowski plays Beethoven while showing conventional musical scores alongside graphic notation.

While we are not meeting in person, you can encourage symbolic recognition and awareness by creating art to represent the music that your child hears. The second button above includes a link to an activity idea: Put your favorite music on and draw pictures together to represent what you hear. Ask your child to talk about each creation, including color choices. Have fun! We miss you all!

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