FIG. 1: The Web site for the Gordon Institute for Music Learning contains information about Edwin E. Gordon’s influential music-learning theory. Shown here are Gordon’s three types and stages of preparatory audiation.

During the past 20 years, interest in early-childhood music education has increased dramatically. Today parents and teachers can usually find several good programs for preschool music and movement classes in any major metropolitan area. In those programs, parents are asked to bring their babies and toddlers to small classes in which informal singing and movement activities take place. Participating parents believe that (backed by research) such early-music experiences will enhance their children's lives and stimulate mental development and physical coordination.

Music teachers often get involved as part-time and full-time instructors. And the Web, of course, has become the first place to look when researching such programs. Here are a few sites you should visit to get started.

www.giml.org/frames.html
Effectively teaching music to babies and preschool children requires strategies based on sound learning theory and research. The Web site for the Gordon Institute for Music Learning (see Fig. 1) contains summary information and tables to help people understand Edwin E. Gordon's influential music-learning theory.

In the Music Learning Theory section of the site under Early Childhood, for example, you can learn about the three types of preparatory audiation: acculturation (birth to ages 2 to 4), imitation (ages 2 to 5), and assimilation (ages 3 to 6). Children begin by absorbing the sounds and music of their culture and making random, then purposeful responses. Next they learn to modify their music babble to match models presented by others. In the last stage, they gradually increase their ability to coordinate singing and chanting with breathing and movement. If you have never encountered the work of Edwin E. Gordon, begin your exploration of early-childhood music education with this site.

www.ecmma.org
“Applying research to the joy of learning” is the motto of the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association. ECMMA is an organization of professional educators who are dedicated to the ideal that all children should be given the advantage of music and movement instruction in their formative years from birth to age 7. The association's Web site contains information about the organization, including conferences and a certification program for early-childhood music teachers. A list of articles describes the many benefits of early-childhood music experiences, and the site provides you with a large page of links to related organizations. Teachers can also participate in the ECMMAforum@yahoogroups.com to share their experiences and support one another.

www.musikgarten.com
www.kindermusik.com
nwww.musictogether.com
www.themusicclass.com
www.wigglesntunes.com
The early-childhood music-education movement has given birth to large and small businesses. It has also encouraged many music teachers to become entrepreneurs. Musikgarten (see Fig. 2) is the most typical of the larger businesses devoted to this market. Its Web site gives philosophical and research-based justifications for providing early-childhood music activities, a complete curriculum with original music, photos of children participating, a teacher locator to help find local franchises, and information on workshops for prospective teachers.

FIG. 2: Musikgarten’s site provides a complete curriculum with original music, photos of children participating, a teacher locator, and information on training workshops.

Kindermusik.com is similar in scope and has a store offering small percussion instruments (drums, shakers, scrapers, and so on) for little hands, CDs, clothing, and audio samples of original music for children. The Music Class, Music Together, and WigglesNTunes are similar programs that are also worth a look. I particularly like the design of the Music Class's site, and the store at musictogether.com is nicely organized. WigglesNTunes.com has a nice selection of sample videos that show prospective teachers and parents all the fun activities that happen in these music and movement classes.

The information given here only begins to explore the many Web resources for early-childhood music education. In preparing it, I received some helpful advice from the members of the Musikgarten forum at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gartenloop. That forum is very active, and I recommend joining it if you are interested in early-childhood music education. For additional resources, see www.stevenestrella.com/mused/websitings.html.

Steven Estrella owns StevenEstrella.com and Shearspire, Inc., creating interactive media for business and education. He teaches for Villanova, Duquesne, and Central Connecticut State Universities and is on the National Board of Advisors and Board of Directors of TI:ME. Contact him at steve@stevenestrella.com.