1st Edition
Music in Early Childhood Exploring the Theories, Philosophies and Practices
Music in Early Childhood is an accessible and practical handbook, which introduces theories and pedagogical approaches for early childhood music education from birth to 8 years and explains their practical application.
Understanding the theories and philosophies behind music education and how these translate into practice is the key to being an effective music educator with young children. This book provides a comprehensive overview of these theories and philosophies. Organised in an easy-to-read format that summarises each approach and theory, the book clearly maps out how these theories are applied in present-day practice. Also included are a wide range of helpful practical examples and activity ideas based on the work of expert educators. This book aims:
- to inform educators of theories and philosophies of learning and teaching in music education for young children and what they look like in practice.
- to inform educators of the history and breadth of music education methods, and how they relate to the present.
- to help educators develop a theory-informed conception of music education that enables them to make informed decisions about the design and direction of their practice.
This book is an essential resource for all early childhood music educators, experienced or just starting out, who want to develop their practice in working with young children as effectively as possible. It will promote an enquiring, reflective and imaginative approach to practice.
Part I 1. Musical Learning as recapitulation 2. Behaviourism: learning through imitation and reinforcement Part II 3. Friedrich Froebel: learning through play 4. John Dewey: learning through experience 5. Maria Montessori: an environment for guided learning 6. Susan Isaacs: freedom to express Part III 7. Émile Jaques-Dalcroze: learning through rhythmic movement 8. Carl Orff: the unity of dance, music and language 9. Zoltán Kodály: singing to develop musicianship Part IV 10. Jean Piaget: children’s ways of understanding 11. Lev Vygotsky: learning in social contexts 12. Jerome Bruner: processes of learning Part V 13. Loris Malaguzzi and Reggio Emilia 14. Listening and Exploring Sound 15. Communicative Musicality 16. Music Play and Playful Pedagogies 17. Addressing Diversity
Biography
Susan Young is former senior lecturer in the school of education, University of Exeter, and Roehampton University, London. She has researched and published widely in the field of early childhood music education.
"In this scholarly, theoretically focused and immensely practical book Susan Young has succeeded in creating what I believe will be a seminal text for all music educators who are developing their praxis with young children. Despite the rapid developments in the practice of music education for the young child over the last three decades, stimulated in no small part by Susan herself, there has been a yawning gap in accessible texts which set out clearly the underpinning theory and philosophy that is essential to ensure critical and reflective music practice. This book fills that gap beautifully and powerfully. Susan has carefully selected, evaluated and curated a collection of the key theories and philosophies which have underpinned music education practice over time, and made a critical case for their relevance to contemporary early childhood music education. This book provides a new and original vehicle to inform and deepen the delicate of art of effective music education praxis. I believe any music educator who engages with this book will be inspired and motivated to reflect more critically on their current practice and take action to ensure it is both empowering and theoretically executed for the young children at the centre of their music making."
Professor Chris Pascal, OBE, Director, Centre for Research in Early Childhood, UK
"At last! A bespoke theoretical handbook to guide and support early childhood music practice and research. Susan Young carefully lays out the landscape for us from evolutionary theory to quite specific early childhood music practices and pedagogical approaches. The concise, systematic writing makes this an accessible and essential book for students of early childhood music education. It would be of interest to those studying music education more broadly, for music education and community music researchers, therapists, practitioners and parents/caregivers of young children."
Dr Jessica Pitt, Lecturer, Music Education, Royal College of Music; Research-Director, Magic Acorn
"Susan Young provides an incredibly broad overview of approaches to Early Years Education, from traditional, well-established music-centred 'methods' and child centred approaches to the fields of sociology, musicology and psychology. Young encourages us to think critically and practically about how we can apply such thinking in our own work today and signposts many useful avenues of further development which will appeal to both newcomers and more experienced practitioners alike."Jimmy Rotheram, Music Lead (Feversham Primary Academy), Advisor (DfE, Benedetti Foundation), Ambassador (Varkey Foundation)
