This 2012 study indicates that making music in a group may promote empathy. Music of kindness: playing together strengthens empathy in children A year-long study on childrens’ music-making indicates that playing music in groups on a regular basis greatly improves a child’s ability to empathise with others. We believe music to be one of the […]
Tag Archives: early childhood music
“Un Pulpito” by Charlotte Diamond available on iTunes “Un Pulpito” is Charlotte Diamond’s Spanish version of her wonderful song “Slippery Fish.” I think it’s even more fun than the English version! In “Un Pulpito,” children use their hands to act the parts of a sardine, an octopus (pulpito), a tuna fish, a shark, and a whale. The […]
The rabbit is one of those animals that are so difficult to fit into “Old McDonald” and other songs and games since we don’t know what noise it makes. This book explores that timeless question! The main reason I like this book for music class is the rabbit’s rhythm as he thumps his foot – I […]
Sometimes I play a game in which children take turns pretending to be a rooster while the rest of us pretend to be the other animals on the farm, who are sleeping through the night. We sing a lullaby and at the end of the song the “rooster” crows, “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” and wakes us all up. […]
Teaching and learning – we think they go hand in hand, but sometimes, oddly enough, they’re at odds with each other. Especially when it comes to early childhood. We know that young children learn through play, not through worksheets; with their whole bodies, not just their eyes and ears; and through concrete experiences, not discussions […]
Two Little Blackbirds – Music Together available on Amazon Of course, there are many versions of this traditional fingerplay song. This one is my favorite, for many reasons. It flows at a leisurely pace, so even very young children can follow alongeasily. An adult voice alternates with a young girl’s voice, which adds texture and interest. There’s a […]
If you were a bear who lived in a neat cave right on the beach, you might not be that eager to take a trip to the city. But that’s what the bear in this story does, lured by the intriguing sounds of cars and trains. Of course, he has many adventures. When he tires […]
This study from 2009 indicates that improvisational activities, such as those included In my books and articles, can help children develop creative thinking in music: An experimental study of the effects of improvisation on the development of children’s creative thinking in music Koutsoupidou, T., & Hargreaves, D. J. (2009). An experimental study of the effects of […]
This article originally appeared in TEMPO Magazine, the magazine of the New Jersey Music Educators Association, in October 2009. Where Does Music Come From?: Teaching the Elements of Music to Young Children Using Rhythm Instruments Rhythm instruments play a unique role in the development of young children’s musicality. When students are tapping on drums, shaking […]
A study from the University at Buffalo indicates that music activities promote oral language, literacy, and reading readiness. “Music is one way that children can learn rhythm and rhyme of text, be exposed to new vocabulary and learn to discriminate a variety of sounds,” states on eof the researchers. – See more at: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2013/01/021.html#sthash.SxAGzrtj.dpuf […]
Music (and Science) For Young Children 