HISTORY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
MUSIC EDUCATION
By: Austin Daniel
HOW DID MUSIC EDUCATION BEGIN?
18th Century
The earliest known music education service was to train protestants to sing for their
services
These took place in barns, schools, and other informal locations
First public music education was offered in Boston in 1830’s
By 1838 Lowell Mason had convinced the Boston School Committee to make Music a
curricular subject.
QUESTIONS
What city did public Music Education first start in?
What religion was the first music education started to teach?
What Century was the earliest known music Education?
WHY WAS MUSIC CONSIDERED IMPORTANT
It was added to the curriculum because it served a purpose to the; Moral, Physical,
and Intellectual Nature.
Moral: It played a massive part in religion, and music was shown to induce positive
emotions.
Physical: Music was seen as exercise for the lungs
Intellectual: Contributes to memory, comparison, as well as attention.
TIMELINE OF MUSIC EDUCATION
1907: Music Supervisors National Conference founded (NAfME)
1950: Childs Bill of Rights in Music
1957: Launch of Sputnik
1965: Nationwide Endowment of the Arts
1994: National Standards for Music Education are released
QUESTIONS
What organization founded in 1907 went on to become the modern NAfME?
What satellite launched by Russia caused funding to be pulled from arts and
funneled into science?
What 3 aspects of human nature does music help improve?
ELEMENTARY MUSIC EDUCATION EVOLVING
For the longest time studies have shown a correlation between music studies and test
scores
In 1994 a study showed preschoolers who took daily 30 minute group singing lessons
and a weekly 10-15 minute private keyboard lesson scored 80 percent higher in
object assembly skills than students who did not have the music lessons
When music education first came to elementary schools it was taught using a majority
of teaching methods still used today.
When first introduced to children the music classes mainly focused of voice lessons. As
time evolved instrumentation began to make its way into grade schools through
orchestras and marching bands etc…
MUSIC EDUCATION IN CHILDHOOD
Music's melodic and rhythmic patterns provide exercise for the brain and help
develop memory.
Music evokes movement, and children delight in and require movement for their
development and growth.
Music is perfectly designed for training children's listening skills. Good listening skills
and school achievement go hand in hand.
Music is an aural art and young children are aural learners. Since ears are fully
mature before birth, infants begin learning from the sounds of their environment
before birth.
FINAL QUESTIONS
What are two reasons music education in elementary school is good for children.
What was the main focus of the first children’s music education classes
A)Composition
B)Voice
C) Setting up chairs and Stands
D) Instrumentation
WORKS CITED
Benefits of Music & Movement. (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2015, from
http://www.musikgarten.org/music_movement.cfm
History of Music Education In the United states. (n.d.). Retrieved October 20,
2015, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_education#History_of_music_education_in_t
he_United-States