This year many schools, preschools and childcare facilities will be celebrating the “Week of the Young Child™ on April 22-28th and will be focusing on the theme - “Early Years are Learning Years”. Acclaimed multicultural performer DARIA  (Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou) has a new world music poster give-away on her site just in time for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)’s special week focusing on the importance of early education.   

Although there are many ways to encourage young children to learn, sharing music and world cultures with kids has a bevy of benefits.   Exploring bilingual songs helps develop language skills.  Crafting and playing musical instruments develops both self-esteem and motor skills. Playing music as a group (either in the classroom or at home) is a great bonding experience.  Exploring world cultures in a fun way helps a child develop an honest, positive interest in the world around them and is a valuable way to teach tolerance and celebrate diversity.

This year DARIA has created a fun poster for kids that explores instruments used by kids around the world.  From didgeridoos to djembes - castanets to cajones, teachers, parents and kids can seek and find wonderful new ways to make music.  And her Parent’s Choice award-winning website features an area to listen or color eight unusual instruments as well as a special tab with instructions for crafting almost two dozen “make-at-home” instruments that really work.

To enter the give-away for the poster, just go to her monthly song page and look for the Rafflecopter contest. Below are just a few of the unique instruments that you can discover on this “world music for kids” poster.

Afuche (or cabasa)

An instrument with African roots - loops of metal beads wrapped around a wide cylinder with a wooden handle.  Related to the shekere, it makes a great sound when the beads are rubbed back and forth. 

Bilma

Clapsticks from Australia - the pair pictured here are decorated with aboriginal dot-style artwork.

Bongo drums

A pair of two single-headed, open-ended drums that originated in Afro-Cuban music.   One drum is always bit larger then the other so each produces a unique sound.

Buffalo drum

A Native American hand drum most often struck with a beater. Many are decorated with beautiful images and used for ceremonial purposes.

Color, Hear or Discover New Instruments

http://www.dariamusic.com/cajon.php

Craft Your Own World Music Instruments

http://www.dariamusic.com/crafts.php

Poster Give-Away

http://www.dariamusic.com/monthly_song.php

Poster On Sale/Daria’s Music Available Here

http://dariasvillagestore.storenvy.com/

Daria’s Children’s Song Animations (Most are Bilingual)

www.vimeo.com/dariamusic