“As Early Childhood Music Education is a pedagogical domain, it is appropriate to consider pedagogical principles which are discussed in educational science and in pedagogical professional discourse. On the one hand, they could be essential for ethical reasons. Moral foundations of living together in society should also shape pedagogy. On the other hand, those principles could also be important for making learning possible and effectively facilitating it. In the recent past, learning research and scientific theory have continuously developed and opened up new perspectives on learning. Learning is no longer seen as something that could and should be completely controlled and organised from the outside. This understanding requires a new orientation for teaching.”

Within the framework of the Strengthening Music in Society (SMS) project, the Working Group on Early Childhood Music Education (ECME WG) is examining relevant guidelines to produce a guidebook providing insights and practical advice for this type of pedagogy.

The guidebook includes an overview of the main types of activities such as instrumental playing, singing and rhyming, improvising, listening, children concerts and more. It also gives practical guidance on how to design lessons for the different age groups of children between 0 and 6 years old.

A preview of the chapter on basic pedagogical principles in general and for early childhood music education in particular, written by Michael Dartsch, is available here. Stay tuned for the publication of the other chapters!