Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Music, Culture, and Early Childhood Development
This video was a great eye-opener as to why music is important. I had no idea that it was helpful in so many ways. This information is completely relevant to the elementary classroom because it provides great insight as to why we need to teach music. We need to teaching music because it is like oral tradition- it helps embed memory and helps us to remember things. I had no idea it was music that improved memory. Also, music helps us to know our identity and culture. I also believe this is why music is used in the classroom. In elementary music is added to almost any lesson. Along with that, music is there to express frustration when we do not know what to say. This is especially true for little kids who can not talk. They bang on pots and pans and hum. They are trying to communicate. Also, kids write songs when they are little, I know I did. I think this is a great way to teach a lesson and have kids express their feelings and creativity.
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What a cool Blog, Caitlin! I was so excited to hear that this video brought to light how important music is for students who learn differently from one another. As you are probably learning from the work you have been doing up to this point, music has so many important ties to higher levels of thinking, enabling students to make choices of how to learn rather than simply being told how to learn. It is such a cool connection!
ReplyDeleteMusic can provide a way for students to break through social norms, to communicate and to find a common ground between fellow peers, to make easy transitions from one subject matter to the next. Some students have anxiety when transitions are made from class to class without structure. This provides a safe feeling for those students (usually students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder).
For example:
The best use of music as a tool is through a "piggy back" song. This is a song which uses a tool we are all familiar with (Twinkle Twinkle, When the Saints Go Marching In, Yankee Doodle) and the words change to teach a classroom concept. For example: a line-up song...
To the Tune of Yankee Doodle:
My arms are resting by my sides
I'm standing straight and tall
My eyes are looking in front of me
I'm ready for the hall
REPEAT as needed....I also like to "march" them out of the room. It is a proactive way to get kids to follow directions rather than asking them over and over again to complete a task.
Dr. H