Children are inherently musical. They respond to music and learn through music. Music expresses children's identity and heritage, teaches them to belong to a culture, and develops their cognitive well-being and inner self worth. As professional instructors, childcare workers, or students looking forward to a career working with children, we should continuously search for ways to tap into children's natural reservoir of enthusiasm for singing, moving and experimenting with instruments. But how, you might ask? What music is appropriate for the children I'm working with? How can music help inspire a well-rounded child? How do I reach and teach children musically? Most importantly perhaps, how can I incorporate music into a curriculum that marginalizes the arts?This book explores a holistic, artistic, and integrated approach to understanding the developmental connections between music and children. This book guides professionals to work through music, harnessing the processes that underlie music learning, and outlining developmentally appropriate methods to understand the role of music in children's lives through play, games, creativity, and movement. Additionally, the book explores ways of applying music-making to benefit the whole child, i.e., socially, emotionally, physically, cognitively, and linguistically.
Constructing a Personal Orientation to Music Teaching promotes inquiry and reflection to facilitate teacher growth, lifelong learning and a disposition toward educational change. Strongly grounded in current theories and research in teacher education, the text engages readers in analyzing their own experiences in order to conceptualize the complexity of teaching; involves them in clarifying their reasons for seeking a career in teaching; supports their insights, questions, and reflections about their work; and promotes a reflective, critical attitude about schools in general as teachers are urged to think of themselves as change agents in school settings.
The new edition of 'The Child as Musician' celebrates the richness and diversity of the many different ways in which children can engage in and interact with music. It presents theory - both cutting edge and classic - in an accessible way for readers by surveying research concerned with the development and acquisition of musical skills.
How do children learn--or learn about--music? How do national cultures and education systems affect children's musical learning?Combining information, analysis and evaluation from fifteen countries, Musical Development and Learning answers these questions. This unique survey, written by an international team of experts, not only provides a global perspective on musical education and development but also a comparative framework designed to enable teachers, parents and researchers to learn from practice and policy in other countries.
Review of the first edition “All the major areas of early childhood maths teaching and learning are covered in this powerful book… The book is also full of delightful stories… [It] would be eminently suitable for beginning and trainee teachers but would also be helpful to all those concerned in early years settings. All the relevant information is here, based on a wealth of knowledge and experience.” TES Supporting Mathematical Development in the Early Years provides practical guidance for parents, teachers and other early years workers who want to give children a good start in mathematical development. Showing how competent children are as mathematicians from an early age, the book offers an overview of young children’s mathematical behaviour at home and in early years settings. The book defines the content and the learning curriculum required to promote mathematical thinking, including an examination of the relationship between mathematics and language learning, and the role of other cross-curricular aspects such as information and communications technology (ICT). It explores the role of staff in observing, planning for and supporting children’s learning by using a variety of strategies, and makes suggestions for promoting effective partnerships between the parents or principal carers and early years staff. The book also considers the importance of play and imagination to the development of abstract thought. The second edition is comprehensively updated throughout and includes new material on Special Educational Needs, the very early years, the role of play, the role of ICT, and examples of outdoor play. It is essential reading for early years teachers and students, as well as parents who want to understand and develop their children’s early mathematical learning.
In The Musician's Way, veteran performer and educator Gerald Klickstein combines the latest research with his 30 years of professional experience to provide aspiring musicians with a roadmap to artistic excellence. Part I, Artful Practice, describes strategies to interpret and memorize compositions, fuel motivation, collaborate, and more. Part II, Fearless Performance, lifts the lid on the hidden causes of nervousness and shows how musicians can become confident performers. Part III, Lifelong Creativity, surveys tactics to prevent music-related injuries and equips musicians to tap their own innate creativity. Written in a conversational style, The Musician's Way presents an inclusive system for all instrumentalists and vocalists to advance their musical abilities and succeed as performing artists.