This week, someone asked me the question “Why did you choose to focus on Music Education rather than another artistic discipline?”

Aside from the fact that Music is my passion, I thought I should explain why there needs to be a push in our Early Learning Services to make Music Education more accessible, compared to the other artistic disciplines.

Art

There is a huge amount of emphasis given to art in Early Learning, as its more accessible. Every educational setting has easy access to paper, pencils, paint, stamps, natural materials and easels. Educators and Parents also have no issues in modelling art and artistic techniques such as holding a paintbrush or pencil correctly and using creative mediums such as twigs and leaves as paintbrushes.

Drama

Let’s face it, being an Educator or Parent requires a lot of improvisation. You are always making things up as you go and adapting to new circumstances. Through these situations you are modelling this important technique to your children. Also, children use drama almost every day! Things like playing ‘house’, pretend and role playing sets up the foundation for more complex dramatic techniques.

Dance

Children naturally move to music without inhibition and quite often babies will be positively reinforced when they start moving to music as Parents and Care-givers smile, clap, laugh or move with them. When playing outside, children practice their Fundamental Movement Skills such as jumping, side stepping and skipping which is then transferable to dance.

What about Music?

We have unintentionally created a culture in which Educators and Parents are ashamed of their musical skills. No one is a perfect singer, yet many adults are unwilling to sing to children in their care, even though they are the most receptive audience they will ever find!

This is not to say that Specialty Teachers are not required in Art, Dance and Drama, but in Early Learning we are more inclined to give them ago compared to Music.