World Music Pedagogy, Volume I: Early Childhood Education

This text is a resource for music educators to explore the intersection of early childhood music pedagogy and multi-cultural music from around the world. Focusing on the musical lives of children in preschool, kindergarten, and grade 1 (ages birth to 7 years), this volume provides an overview of age-appropriate world music teaching and learning encounters that include informal versus formal teaching styles and a selection of musical learning aids and materials. The book uses multimodal approaches that include singing, listening, movement, storytelling, and instrumental performance.

As young children learn the culture of their first family and neighborhood environments, they can also grow into ever-widening concentric circles of cultural communities through child-centered encounters in music and the related arts. This type of learning through the arts can serve as a vehicle for children to know themselves and others more deeply. 

With a focus on playful engagement and the principles of informal instruction, the chapters reveal techniques and strategies for developing a child's musical and cultural knowledge and skills, with attention to music's place in the early childhood development. This volume explores children's perspectives and capacities through meaningful (and fun!) experiences with music.

Table of Contents:

• Chapter 1: Teaching and Learning in Context
• Chapter 2: Attentive Listening for Cultural Awakenings
• Chapter 3: Participatory Musicking
• Chapter 4: Performing World Music
• Chapter 5: Creating World Music
• Chapter 6: Integrating World Music
• Chapter 7: Surmountable Challenges and Worthy Outcomes
• Appendix 1: Learning Pathways
• Appendix 2: References and Resources