Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Music in Preschool Education

Music has always played an integral role in preschool education.  Kids of all ages grow up listening to songs and rhymes that are used to teach them colors, numbers, animal sounds, the days of the week, months of the year, and more.
Preschool teachers utilize music in all aspects of a typical day in their classrooms.  They sing songs at circle time, introduce new lessons using songs, poems, and rhymes, use short songs for transitioning between activities, and play lullabies to put kids to sleep at nap time. 
The benefits of having a curriculum that is rich in music are plentiful.  According to the National Association for Music Education, "music expands memory and assists in developing crucial language skills."  Furthermore, "when children develop musical skill and understanding, they are developing basic cognitive, social , and motor skills necessary for success throughout the educational process."  
An important point to be made is that children enjoy making music!  They love singing new songs, and playing instruments.  Additionally, music is applicable to all teachable aspects of education.  For example, when they pretend to play a guitar or drums with their friends, they are building social skills as they learn the power of collaboration and cooperation.
According to the NAEYC, "infancy and early childhood are prime times to capitalize on children's innate musical spontaneity, and to encourage their natural inclinations to sing, move, and play with sound."  Beyond the classroom, there are many ways to encourage music in children's lives.  From singing with them, encouraging them to listen to different genres of music, to allowing them to explore with musical instruments, parents can broaden their kids' horizons as well.
-Emily Lian,
Education Director










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