Music in Early Childhood

Catalog description

The goal of the course is to provide students with an understanding of the role of music in early childhood and approaches to music education with young children. Students will experience an overview of selected theories of musical development of young children, discuss the importance of music to various areas of child development, explore cultural perspectives and influences on musical development, evaluate curricular materials and methods used in early childhood music education, observe children's music making in early childhood classrooms, and develop teaching skills for early childhood music settings. Topics and content of this course include: music's role in early childhood development; music aptitude and its measurement; theories of early childhood music learning; early childhood making; evaluating curricular materials for early childhood music; the importance of play in early childhood musical development; incorporating State and National Music Education Standards; designing instruction for early childhood music settings; assessment in early childhood music; cultural perspectives on music in early childhood; cultural influences on musical development; music therapy with young children; benefits of family interaction in music; the role of listening in early childhood musical development; and formal music instruction with young children The class will participate in a weekly service learning project providing music instruction for preschool or kindergarten children at The Music Settlement. Offered as MUED 391 and MUED 491 . Counts as a Local & Global Engagement course.