Augusta, I don't work with children but I've a two years old boy. At school where he studiessome activities are introduced by music and I can perceive this is to make a habit and make the different activities interesting to them, whose resist a lot the news "responsabilities" like wash the hands before eat and after the painting; sit down on the chair to do the class work etc. At home my son sings the musics and this is to me a perceptible sign that learning is happening. I am not a specialist, but this is my opinion as a parent and I wish help you.

The Reggio Emilia Program in Italy considers music as one of the hundred languages that children have. They have always a teacher and an "atelier" (an artist in visual arts or musician) to promote the development of children's projects. The aesthethic development of sensibility is essential to their curriculum

Teaching them what"  ? Starting to  guide them as to what's musically important in their society and potentially to them?  Or what national or local curriculum mandates are?

I vote for the former:  a curriculum, starting very early, that slowly introduces students to the musics of their community and society, in ways that are focused on in-life musicking within their culture.  Thus, the curriculum should start with their local society and culture, and expand (resources permitting) to other musics and other cultures. A recipe based curriculum can't do this. And, as to Norma Del Rio and others of like ilk, please read my new book (Regelski, Amazon, 2016.) for my arguments against "aesthetic" this and that as a rationale for curriculum.  II can't imagine NOT using music (not as examples but as the content as to what 'musicking' in life (especially the young) is all about.  It seems to me to be a question in answer of a curriculum. .

Hi colleagues,

I have been involved in training tutors about active teaching and learning methods and techniques in classroom. Among the benefits or purposes of using them in classroom is to motivate learning and to keep children active.  Songs, storytelling and role play are examples of active teaching and learning techniques that are recommended for children at early childhood level to help them enjoy learning and be active. So, some contents of the curriculum can be taught through songs or songs can be used as energizers in classroom.

Music is an important part of the child care curriculum. Young children love sound. Music activities and experiences help children practice important skills, including thinking, language, motor coordination and understanding emotions.

Music is an important part of the child care curriculum. Young children love sound. Music activities and experiences help children practice important skills, including thinking, language, motor coordination and understanding emotions.

It is indeed very important to use music and even if possible should include some actions because it is easy for children to memorize that than the normal teaching style. I still do remember some of the things I was taught at primary and high school because they were music inclined. Most of the kids at Sunday school are able to memorize the memory verses and remember even after a long time because they are in the form of music unlike the ones that were taught in the raw form. The music style of teaching helps children alot.....its a good practice 

The direct music example is of fundamental importance because the musical experience is often only based on reproduced and mediated music (radio, tv, Internet, CD...). But, due to the commercial goals of the greatest part of media, even the nature of mediated music is mostly commercial. So equally important is the type of example. Different choices can lead children to accept and even reinforce the stereotype or, on the contrary, create the conditions for critical and independent thinking.

So, the example is useful if it leads to practical experimentation, as a part of the process, avoiding a self assessment based on stereotypes. The example should be the instrument to do exactly this.

I think the examples should be short (4, 8, 16 bars), with the scale over 1 octave and an easy and clear rhythm (2/4, 3/4, 4/4) It´s typically for folk songs, and folk music. Most children love it. Because it´s easy to understand the structures. Also short an well know melodies by Mozart often used in music education for young children.