The purpose of this study was to explore how preschool teachers use music and identify the types of music activities available to children in their classrooms. Preschool teachers (N = 178) at park district programs throughout a large state in the American Midwest responded to an online questionnaire. Although teachers acknowledged using music every day, examples of music activities were primarily teacher-directed such as singing along to CDs or following music cues. Teachers also used music to build academic connections and to engage children during transitions. Teachers valued music as important to their teaching practice and for its contribution to children’s learning and development, but cited limited resources, a self-reported lack of music ability, and an absence of knowledge of the standards for music education, as inhibiting their use of child-centered music activities. Implications for teacher preparation and professional development course work in early childhood and music teacher education are discussed.
The purpose of this project was to explore young children's musical behaviors in an informal music class to better facilitate child-centered musical experiences. Through observations and videotapes, the interactions and behaviors of fifteen 3-to 5-year-old children were documented as they engaged in various musical activities during a preschool music class. The 30-minute music classes were held once a week for a period of one year. Through this exploration, and drawing on literature on child-centered philosophies, the author compiles a list of the components requisite for creating and implementing child-centered musical activities for young children. Suggested ideas include singing, playing, movement, and an integration of art and literacy.
This exploratory study examined the changing role of music education and the availability of musical experiences for students attending Montessori schools in the Midwestern United States. On a survey instrument designed by the researcher, Montessori school directors ( N = 36) from eight states shared descriptions of the current role of music at their schools, the challenges faced when teaching music, individual perceptions of the impact of music on development, and beliefs about music as a valuable component of the curriculum. Data included responses to Likert-scale items and open-ended questions in an online survey. Analyses revealed that while school directors believed music could be used to engage students in learning or to build upon issues of multicultural understanding, opportunities for musical engagement were limited as a result of stringent budget cuts or time restrictions in the classroom. Implications are discussed in terms of including music in the Montessori classroom in ways that align with Maria Montessori’s pedagogies situated within an international context.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.