Live Interactive Chat
Associate Dean, College of Fine and Applied Arts, and Associate Professor, Music Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Biography
- Resources
- Questions & Answers (Transcript)
Young children can be musical in a wide variety of ways, including rhythmic chanting; bouncing their bodies; trying exploratory vocalizing; singing spontaneous songs of their own making (with and without words or exact pitches); using simple percussion instruments that rattle, shake, hit, or scrape; singing along to songs for children and moving to recorded music; and joining in on a family sing-along on car trips. Although musicians can certainly provide some unique and valuable experiences for children, a musically rich environment can be provided by anyone. In this Chat, find answers to questions such as, “Is formal music instruction for preschool children a good idea?” “Does a child get the same benefit from listening to recorded vocal or instrumental music as from singing?” “How do you feel about music that is played in day care and preschool centers that encourages learning through song as opposed to just listening to the music?”
NOTE: There may be publications on this page that are available as PDF (portable document format) files. To be able to read these files, download the free Adobe Reader.
Disclaimer
The opinions, resources, and referrals provided on the IEL Web site are intended for informational purposes only and are not intended to take the place of medical or legal advice, or of other appropriate services. We encourage you to seek direct local assistance from a qualified professional if necessary before taking action.
The content of the IEL Web site does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Illinois Early Learning Project, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or the Illinois State Board of Education; nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the Illinois Early Learning Project, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or the Illinois State Board of Education.
