Music, a Way of Life for the Young Child

Music is our universal language, the language of our imaginations, of musicians and dancers, composers and performers, orchestras and operas. Music is the rhythmic language of the dancing 5-year-old using her body to recreate the graceful movements of a swimming dolphin. Music is the lullaby of a father singing to his infant while communicating tenderness and love. The language of music is revealed through the dancers who choose not to be restrained by convention as they represent their understanding of space, time, and form in ways that are personally satisfying and pleasing. Music is the language of children adding original lyrics and new melodies to a familiar song. This new edition presents a comprehensive and up-to-date survey of professional research while continuing to provide links between theory and practice. It encourages teachers and caregivers to attend to the importance of research and contemporary thought regarding music education. At the same time, the narrative frames theoretical ideas in meaningful ways for the adult who has chosen teaching as a profession. The songs, ideas, suggestions, and musical concepts are time tested. Parents, teachers, student teachers, caregivers, and students have aided in compiling and assessing the contents of this edition. Musical concepts and activities appropriate for each age level have been included to accompany some of the songs and rhythms. I do not believe, however, that music experiences provided for young children must always be used to teach them something. Children's awareness and understanding of the concepts and skills presented should grow out of natural encounters with the musical selections and activities. At each age level, enjoyment of the music should be paramount, and teachers are encouraged to use music in creative ways. I hope that as you discover the materials, you will enjoy the musical activities whether in your home or in the larger community where children gather. Become an advocate for music in the lives of young children. Even though you may feel you lack experience, just begin! Young children are not critics of your expertise with music; they enjoy, participate, and thrive as you do the same. Throughout the book, the wordteacheris used to describe the adult who is charged with the care and well-being of children. This includes the preservice college student enrolled in a teacher education program, the student teacher embarking on a teaching career, practicing teachers, master teachers, college professors, and other professionals who are dedicated to enriching the lives of children. NEW TO THIS EDITION Many changes and major revisions to this fifth edition provide a comprehensive look at music, children and teachers, and how music can expand our understanding of the teaching and learning process. Music in a Cultural Context Music is suited to address the wonderful diversity of children in today's schools. Music provides teachers with a multicultural context for seeing diversity from viewpoints different from their own and provides some of the tools needed to meet the different learning modalities of children. A new focus on viewing music through a multicultural context is included in this fifth edition. New sections entitled "Music from Around the World" highlight music's great potential as a resource for musical expression and an awareness of the diversity of music. Multiple Intelligences Theory Howard Gardner's eight intelligences provide a framework for approaching multiple intelligence theory and the implications this theory has for music education. His theory recognizes eight intelligences: linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist. In this edition, the coverage of these intelligences includes an in-depth focus on musical, bodily-kinesthetic, and logical-mathematical intelligences because our own successEdwards, Linda Carol is the author of 'Music, a Way of Life for the Young Child', published 2004 under ISBN 9780131116764 and ISBN 0131116762.