Digital Music Play in Early Childhood

2021 ◽  
pp. 16-28
Author(s):  
Suzanne L. Burton
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Music Education ◽  
Mobile Technology ◽  
Early Childhood Teachers ◽  
Traditional Music ◽  
Digital Music ◽  
Early Childhood Music ◽  
Youtube Videos ◽  
Music Play

The chapter describes how mobile technology is firmly planted in young children’s everyday lives as they watch YouTube videos and play with apps that entertain and educate. Yet the question remains, What is the role of mobile technology in early childhood music education? There is concern that technology will compromise the active, playful musicking of young children. Mobile devices, however, can be used to support music development, with digital music play working in tandem with traditional music play in the form of converged music play. This chapter describes the ways in which early childhood teachers can incorporate mobile technology into their practice, extending its use to young children’s musicking in early childhood music settings, at home and in play spaces.

Assessing Music in Early Childhood

2019 ◽  
pp. 444-476
Author(s):  
Maria Runfola
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Music Education ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Student Assessment ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Children's Music ◽  
National Network ◽  
Music Assessment ◽  
Early Childhood Music ◽  
Utilitarian Value

In this chapter, pros and cons of assessing young children’s music skills and content knowledge are explored. An integrative literature review is included as well as a thematic review lending support to core themes. Several reasons were identified as to the importance of promoting student assessment as children participate in early childhood music. Use of music assessments in the classroom and for research should consider practices consistent with musical age as well as chronological age. Increased recognition of the importance of music in total development of the child supports need for effective early childhood assessment systems especially by the music education research community as they continue to gather evidence regarding the utilitarian value of music in early childhood. Researchers need to be aware of environmental factors that may impact early music learning and cognizant of current best practices in music education for early childhood. Researcher-developed criterion measures often are not investigated for quality characteristics, and thus rigorous guidelines for such criterion measures are needed. It appears there are no definitive policy or ethics statements regarding early childhood music assessment but both should be considered vital priorities for the profession. Most likely only those scholars with profound interest in assessment and teachers with deep understanding of the role of assessment in teaching and learning will volunteer to respond. Everything developed in such a national network will be useful, providing we start with clearly defined, intended outcomes and then develop assessments to document student attainment of those musical outcomes.

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