Demonstrate what a timbre is to the child. A timbre is the distinctive quality of tone of a sound. For the visual learner or the kinesthetic learner, instruct her to create sounds for stories when you read to her. If she's an auditory learner, have her listen to the sounds around her to hear high to low tones. Give the child an example of different voice ranges by singing in high, medium and low tones. Explain different instruments that have different tone qualities, such as the saxophone.
Play a music ball game to demonstrate tempo. Tempo is the pace of music that is based on the speed of the main beat. The music ball game is great for the visual, auditory and kinesthetic learner. Start the game with a slower tempo and then implement a faster tempo as the children progress. Divide the children into groups of four. Give each group its own meter (counting the number of beats from one strong beat to the next) such as 1, 2, 3, 4 or 1, 2, 3. The number 1 is the strong beat. Before you turn the metronome on, choose a song for the children to pass the ball. Each group will pass the ball to their partner according to the beat you choose without dropping the ball. Creativity of passing the ball can be implemented within the game. Have the children throw the ball to the beat or create dance moves to the beat when they pass the ball, as long as they understand the tempo of music.
Demonstrate dynamics to the child. Dynamics is the loudness or softness within a musical passage or piece. For auditory learners, allow the child to sing or speak loudly or softly to demonstrate dynamics. Demonstrate dynamics when you play softly or loudly on the piano. Have the child play different dynamics on the piano as well. This is great for the kinesthetic learner, who needs to have her whole body involved to learn. If the child is a visual learner, show her different markings on a music piece that show a symbol for loud (forte) and for soft (piano).