The Ways Children Learn Music

How do children learn music? And how can music teachers help children to become independent and self-sufficient musical thinkers? Author Eric Bluestine sheds light on these issues in music education.

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.

Is my singing good enough? What should I do with instruments? How can I create a rich and exciting musical environment which will allow for both child and adult led musical activity? Singing, dancing and music-making comes naturally to young children, but we as adults often lack confidence in our musical ability. This easily accessible book will help you to realise that everyone can be a creative music-maker with young children. It aims to inspire you to take young children’s enthusiasm for music and create a musically rich environment that supports all areas of learning and development and at the same time celebrate music for music’s sake. Packed with activities, songs and musical games, this book includes: Recognising musical development in young children and the benefits of music-making in the early years Advice on inclusive practice Guidance on using musical instruments Ways to develop your own musicality Help with planning and assessment Chapters linking musical activities to each area of learning and development How to create a balance between adult-led and child-initiated activities Music for Early Learning also includes downloadable resources containing 23 songs and listening activities linked to each area of development which can be used as a standalone resource or alongside the music manuscript and Guitar and Ukulele tabs provided, as well as lyrics to each of the songs. This practical text will help you to realise the wonderful opportunities that music can offer young children and is an ideal resource for Early Years Practitioners, Early Years consultants and trainnee teachers, as well as those on Nursery Nursing and Childcare courses at Further and Higher education levels.

Musical Children: Engaging Children in Musical Experiences by Carolyn Lindeman is the only text that focuses on the teaching of preschool and kindergarten students and the important role music plays in a their educations and lives. Music educators are increasingly recognizing the importance of teaching musical skills as early as the preschool years. This book presents the latest research emphasizing real life applications so that teachers can achieve their goal of creating more musically creative children. The book presents 25 strategies for engaging children who are learning music based on the latest Music Educators National Conference (MENC) standards. It includes reproducible student activity charts, a song selection of 40 notated melodies, a collection of chants, and resource materials for any new teacher to reference. Musical Children is not only an excellent text in any Music Education classroom, but an excellent resource for any preschool or kindergarten teacher. Written by a leading authority on early childhood music education, the text will be used in courses on Elementary Methods and Fundamentals of Music Education. Audio-CD not for sale. Available for instructors upon request from Sales office

Music Learning Theory for Newborn and Young Children (2003 Edition) treats the most critical learning period in every individual's musical life: birth to age five. Written for parents and early childhood music teachers, this latest revision is the most authoritative of its kind by the man many consider the leading educator and researcher in music education. Professor Gordon shares insights and research from almost twenty-five years of guiding young children in music learning.

Providing guidance for parents who want their children to enjoy learning to play a musical instrument, this resource teaches parents the best ways to encourage children's musical talents. Key guidance is provided for the trickiest hurdles of all: helping children learn how to practice and navigating their impulse to quit by encouraging them to take pride in their progress despite the frustrations of the learning process. Commonly taught methods--including Suzuki, Kodaly, Dalcroze training, and the Orff approach--and instrument selection are discussed in detail, as are tips for choosing the right teacher. Up-to-date resources and references for youth orchestras, national and regional organizations, outreach programs, and school advocacy organizations, and supplementary materials for various ages and stages of ability, are provided.

An expert in cognitive development and music education reveals the remarkable and surprising benefits that playing--or even appreciating--music offers to children. The latest cognitive research has revealed something extraordinary: learning music and listening to music can grow and repair our brains at any age. Here, Dr. Anita Collins explains how music has the potential to positively benefit almost all aspects of a child's development, whether it's through formal education or mindful appreciation; simply clapping in time can assist a young child who is struggling with reading. It turns out that playing music is the cognitive equivalent of a full-body workout. Dr. Collins lays out the groundbreaking research that shows how playing an instrument can improve language abilities, social skills, concentration, impulse control, emotional development, working memory, and planning and strategy competence, from infancy through adolescence. She also provides real-life stories to show the difference that music learning can make, as well as practical strategies for parents and educators to encourage a love of music in their kids.

Children are naturally fascinated with sound and movement play as they teach themselves how to function in the world. Every child has the potential to learn music. Without early, sequential music development guidance, however, the potential for true music understanding and enjoyment is left underdeveloped among most children. This music series, based on A Music Learning Theory for Newborn and Young Children and years of practical and experimental research, is designed to assist teachers, parents, and caregivers of newborn and young children in the development of basic music skills such as singing, rhythm chanting, and moving. By using this compilation of music and movement activities you will discover the pure delight of playing music and movement games with children. You will learn how to provide a rich music environment for them, how to listen and understand the sounds they make, and how to reinforce each child's music and movement creativity through imitation and improvisation using audiation, the ability each of us has to think music.