Use of Music-based Activities to Support Early Childhood Development and Education

Session Type: Conversation Roundtable

Abstract

Developmental and learning outcomes have been associated with music-based activities during childhood. However, access to music-based activities may be constrained by socioeconomic means in families. Integrating music-based activities at home and in classrooms is one way to promote access to music engagement in early childhood. Although music has been included at home and in early education classrooms in formal and informal ways, there is little research documenting these practices and challenges. With the changing landscape of early childhood education and the increasingly diverse classrooms, this roundtable conversation will explore the use of music-based activities at home and in preschools. Moderated by Gigi Luk, this session will bring together panelists from the United States (Anna Kirby, Mariam Dahbi, Sarah Surrain, & Meredith Rowe), England (Nina Politimou & Fabia Franco), and Australia (Margaret Barrett & Vicky Abad) to discuss the research surrounding music and early childhood development and education. The goals are to: (1) acknowledge music-associated developmental outcomes and relevant individual differences; (2) identify features relevant to informal music exposure and engagement at home, including parent-child joint activities; and (3) recognize pedagogical practices and challenges experienced by early childhood educators when integrating music in classrooms with different degrees of linguistic and cultural diversity. Converging discussions from this roundtable will inform researchers of the informal features of music integration at home and at school and facilitate research of music in these contexts. Furthermore, understanding practices and challenges experienced by educators will inform recommendations to support educators and enrich classroom learning with music-based activities.

Sub Unit

• Education, Schooling

Moderator

• Gigi Luk, McGill University

Panelists

• Anna Lucia Kirby, Harvard University

• Mariam Dahbi, Harvard University

• Nina Politimou, University College London (UCL)

• Margaret Sylvia Barrett, Monash University