1st Edition
Music and Singing in the Early Years A Guide to Singing with Young Children
Music and singing are an inherent part of children’s lives and offer a wonderful opportunity to promote young children’s learning and development. This how-to guide is full of useful information to support musical understanding and assist practitioners in developing their knowledge, skills and confidence in planning and leading successful and enjoyable musical activities in a range of early years settings.
Focusing on the role of singing and children’s musical learning at various stages of development, Music and Singing in the Early Years aims to demystify music by providing practical tips, ideas and information on the integration of musical activities in the early years curriculum and environment, and provides clear explanations of musical concepts.
Chapters consider topics such as:
- vocal strategies and development
- using song, rhyme and movement
- integrating instrumental accompaniments
- observation and assessment
- planning and delivery
- resources for music making.
This book is essential reading for all early years practitioners looking to improve their musical understanding and plan successful musical activities with young children.
Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Musical Development Learning Musical skills: the role of singing Vocal development Chapter 2: Melodic Matters Singing games and rhymes Supporting children’s musical learning Chapter 3: Rhythmic Roots Rhythmic development Steady beat, Rhythm, Form and Structure Chapter 4: Developing a Song Unaccompanied singing with movement Using a companion song/rhyme Adding an instrumental accompaniment Chapter 5: Planning and Evaluation Planning individual music sessions Planning a music curriculum Observing children Chapter 6: Putting the planning into practice Checklist – 10 points for successful delivery Chapter 7: Resources for Music Making Glossary Further sources of information
Biography
Zoe Greenhalgh is well known for her work as an Early Childhood Music educator, writer, researcher and consultant. In addition to providing bespoke workshops for Early Years and Music practitioners, she has written accredited programmes for organisations such as the British Kodály Academy and Edge Hill University, UK, where she is an Associate Tutor in Early Years Education. Zoe is a course mentor for the groundbreaking Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood at the Centre for Research in Early Childhood in Birmingham, UK.
