Musicality and Musical Culture: Sharing Narratives of Sound from Early Childhood
This article, which focuses on the early experiences of the young child and the ways these lay the foundations for playful and communicative engagement with music throughout life, discusses a theory of the beginnings of music; music teaching and learning; and creative musicality in action. It concludes that as our musicality is shaped by our particular cultural heritage, it can either be helped by sensitive teachers who walk with us along a path of mutual cultural discovery, or hindered by those who would see culture as something to be upheld and protected, separate from life. To trust that, with sensitive guidance, our ingenious musical creativity will find its own way within the rich, complex cultural worlds humans have created is the paradox which all teachers of music face.