Learning to sing in tune?

Quick question -

DD (now 2.3 yrs) has been singing to herself a lot lately. Not very
well in tune, alas. I'm wondering, is that something that is an innate
skill, or more learned? I have a nasty suspicion she's picking it up

Nikki...

My thoughts are that for most kids it is just a thing they learn at some
point in their development. There are some things that may cause them to
not 'just pick it up'. For instance my 7yo can't carry a tune. He's heard
twinkle twinkle little star every night for 7 years and he can't carry that
tune. It took him forever to learn the ABC's because he can't sing the
song. Actually I think it is the same tune, lol. I've read/heard that

Chookie...

Um, yes!

carrying a tune or finding a rhythm is also part of language development and
in learning to read. Not surprisingly he has language issues and is having
a very difficult time learning to read.

Chookie...

Hmmm, but it doesn't explain my Mum, who is always off-key, but has also
always been a good reader/English Lit student.

usenetlyn...

I have a friend who is literally a genius and she can't carry a tune in
a bucket. She read at age 4, so maybe she was an exception to the
theory. She can't dance, either.

from a musical toy she has, tho she may also be learning the same songs
at preschool/daycare. (Rockabye baby, Twinkle/Alphabet, most notably)

Chookie...

I suspect it's learned, because I've heard the children in DS1's music class
move from *shouting* to *singing in tune* over time.

I used to sing a lot when ds was small, but he went through a "Mommy,
don't sing!" phase, and I haven't really gotten back into it.

Ericka Kammerer...

Don't worry about it. Little kids have problems
singing in tune as much because they don't have great
control over their voices as because they can't where
they ought to be. Just surround her with music (better
yet, with good music) and it will all come out okay in
the end.

Best wishes,
Ericka

L....

I play a game with DS when I change his diaper, where I sing and hold a
note for a long time, and he matches it. I change the "word" with
each note so it's sort of a word-learning game, too. For example it
might be "Daaaaaaaaa!" (his word for Dad) and then "Meeeeeee!" a note
higher, then "Tessaaaaaaaa!" (his dog) a note higher. I have done the
Do-Re-Me, thing, too. He sings pretty well, I think, in part because
he listens for the tones. Even when he's off-tone I praise him because
it's just so darn cute. :)

Zipadee...

I have a pretty good singing voice and have sung in choruses.
When my DD was about 2, she started singing. It was completely
monotone. I was horrified - was she going to be this
completely tone deaf? Fortunately not - she outgrew that.