Skip to content
1981
Volume 17, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 2516-1989
  • E-ISSN: 2516-1997

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the content and goals of music education in Greek public nurseries and highlight the experiences of early childhood teachers when teaching music in their classrooms. A secondary purpose was to design and implement a professional development programme for teachers in one nursery school and explore their music skill development as part of this programme. The project was conducted over nine months in two phases in 23 public nurseries in the municipality of Ioannina. In Phase 1, data were collected via interviews with nursery teachers. In Phase 2, a professional development programme was developed, based on interview responses, and implemented with teachers from one nursery school. Data from both phases were considered in framing the results. Based on the data analysis, the content and goals of music education provided to preschool children were identified, described and evaluated, as well as the early childhood teachers’ music practices and approaches, their music skills and their training needs. Although nursery school teachers recognized the importance of music in preschool education, they defined themselves as ‘non-specialists’ in this particular teaching subject and faced challenges in implementing music education activities. Therefore, planning music education professional development programmes that meet the ‘real’ needs of early childhood teachers appears to be essential.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/ijmec_00048_1
2023-05-16
2026-04-12

Metrics

Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Bond, L. V.. ( 2015;), ‘ Sounds to share: The state of music education in three Reggio Emilia-inspired North American preschools. ’, Journal of Research in Music Education, 62:4, pp. 46284.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Burnard, P.. ( 2000;), ‘ How children ascribe meaning to improvisation and composition: Rethinking pedagogy in music education. ’, Music Education Research, 2:1, pp. 1723.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Cohen, L.,, Manion, L., and Morrison, K.. ( 2008), Μεθοδολογία Εκπαιδευτικής Έρευνας, Athens:: Μεταίχμιο;.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Davidson, L.. ( 1994;), ‘ Songsinging by young and old: A developmental approach to music. ’, in R. Aiello, and J. Sloboda. (eds), Musical Perceptions, Oxford:: Oxford University Press;, pp. 99130.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Denac, O.. ( 2009;), ‘ Place and role of music education in the planned curriculum for kindergartens. ’, International Journal of Music Education, 27:1, pp. 6981.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Δογάνη, K.. ( 2012), Μουσική στην Προσχολική Ηλικία: Αλληλεπίδραση Παιδιού: Παιδαγωγού, Athens:: Gutenberg;.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Eccles, J. S.. ( 1999;), ‘ The development of children ages 6 to 14. ’, The Future of Children, 9:2, pp. 3044.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Edwards, G.,, Gandini, L., and Forman, G.. ( 2017), Reggio Emilia: Οι χίλιες γλώσσες των παιδιών προσχολικής ηλικίας, Athens:: Πατάκης;.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Ehril, A., and Gustavsson, H.. ( 2015;), ‘ The importance of music in preschool education. ’, Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 40:7, pp. 3242.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Elliot, D. J.. ( 1995), Music Matters: A New Philosophy of Music Education, New York:: Oxford University Press;.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Ευθυμίου, Σ.. ( 2020;), ‘ Οι διδακτικές μέθοδοι και οι πρακτικές της μουσικής διδασκαλίας στους Παιδικούς και Βρεφονηπιακούς Σταθμούς: μια μελέτη περίπτωσης. ’, Μουσικοπαιδαγωγικά, 18:1, pp. 723.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Forrai, K.. ( 1990), Music in Pre-School (trans. J. Sinor), Budapest:: Corina;.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Gillespie, C. W., and Glider, K. R.. ( 2010;), ‘ Preschool teachers’ use of music to scaffold children’s learning and behavior. ’, Early Child Development and Care, 180:6, pp. 799808.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Gordon, E. E.. ( 2003), A Music Learning Theory for Newborn and Young Children, Chicago, IL:: GIA Publications;.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Gromko, E. J.. ( 2005;), ‘ The effect of music instruction on phonemic awareness in beginning readers. ’, Journal of Research in Music Education, 53:3, pp. 199209.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Gromko, E. J., and Russell, C.. ( 2002;), ‘ Relationships among young children’s aural perception, listening condition and accurate reading of graphic listening maps. ’, Journal of Research in Music Education, 50:4, pp. 33342.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Guilbault, M. D.. ( 2004;), ‘ The effect of harmonic accompaniment on the tonal achievement and tonal improvisation of children in kindergarten and first grade. ’, International Journal of Music Education, 52:1, pp. 6476.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Hallam, S.. ( 2010;), ‘ The power of music: Its impact on the intellectual, social and personal development. ’, Journal of Research in Music Education, 28:3, pp. 26989.
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Heimonen, M.. ( 2006;), ‘ Justifying the right to music education. ’, Philosophy of Music Education Review, 14:2, pp. 11941.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Θεοδωρίδης, Ν.. ( 2011;), ‘ Οι απόψεις και οι προτιμήσεις των νηπιαγωγών για τη διδασκαλία της μουσικής και τη μουσικοπαιδαγωγική τους επιμόρφωση. ’, Μουσικοπαιδαγωγικά, 9:4, pp. 6278.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Θεοδωρίδης, Ν., and Αυγητίδου, Σ.. ( 2008;), ‘ Η αποτελεσματικότητα του περιεχομένου της μουσικοπαιδαγωγικής επιμόρφωσης των νηπιαγωγών. ’, in Α. Τριλιανός, and Ι. Καραμηνάς. (eds), Πρακτικά του 6ο Πανελληνίου Συνεδρίου της Παιδαγωγικής Εταιρείας Ελλάδος, Athens: Ατραπός:, σσ, pp. 82434.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Ho, Y. C.,, Cheung, M. C., and Chan, A. S.. ( 2003;), ‘ Music training improves verbal but not visual memory: Cross sectional and longitudinal exploration in children. ’, Neuropsychology, 17:3, pp. 43950.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Hodges, D. A.. ( 2002;), ‘ Musicality from birth to five. ’, IFMR News, 1:1, Summer, p. 1.
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Hodges, D. A.. ( 2005;), ‘ Why study music?. ’, International Journal of Music Education, 23:2, pp. 11115.
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Koch, G. G.. ( 1982;), ‘ Intraclass correlation coefficient. ’, in S. Kotz, and N. L. Johnson. (eds), Encyclopedia of Statistical Sciences, vol. 4, New York:: John Wiley & Sons;, pp. 21317.
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Koutsoupidou, T., and Hargreaves, D.. ( 2009;), ‘ An experimental study of the effects of improvisation on the development of children’s creativity thinking in music. ’, Psychology of Music, 37:3, pp. 25178.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Langer, S.. ( 1979), Philosophy in a New Key: A Study in the Symbolism of Reason, Rite and Art, Cambridge, MA:: Harvard University Press;.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Lee, Y.. ( 2009;), ‘ Music practices and teachers’ needs for teaching music in public preschools of South Korea. ’, International Society for Music Education, 27:4, pp. 35671.
    [Google Scholar]
  29. l’Etoile, S. De. ( 2001;), ‘ An in-service training program in music for child-care personnel working with infants and toddlers. ’, Journal of Research in Music Education, 49:1, pp. 620.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Mason, J.. ( 2011), Η Διεξαγωγή της Ποιοτικής Έρευνας, Athens:: Πεδίο;.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Ministry of Education ( 2003), National Curriculum, Athens:: Institute of Education Policy;.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Miranda, L. M.. ( 2004;), ‘ The implications of developmentally appropriate practice for the kindergarten general music classroom. ’, Journal of Research in Music Education, 52:1, pp. 4363.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Moreno, S.,, Marques, C.,, Santos, A.,, Santos, M.,, Castro, S., and Besson, M.. ( 2008;), ‘ Musical training influences linguistic abilities in 8-year-old children: More evidence for brain plasticity. ’, Cerebral Cortex, 19:3, pp. 71223.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Nardo, L. R.,, Custodero, A. L.,, Perselin, C. D., and Fox, B. D.. ( 2006;), ‘ Looking back, looking forward: A report on early childhood music education in accredited American preschools. ’, Journal of Research in Music Education, 54:4, pp. 27892.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Papousek, M.. ( 1996;), ‘ Intuitive parenting: A hidden source of music stimulation in infancy. ’, in I. Deliege, and J. Sloboda. (eds), Musical Beginnings: Origins and Development of Musical Competence, New York:: Oxford University Press;, pp. 88112.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Paynter, J.. ( 1992), Sound and Structure, Cambridge:: Cambridge University Press;.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Pitt, J.. ( 2020;), ‘ Communicating through musical play: Combining speech and language therapy practices with those of early childhood music education: The SALTMusic approach. ’, Music Education Research, 22:1, pp. 6886.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Portowitz, A., and Klein, S. P.. ( 2007;), ‘ MISC-MUSIC: A music program to enhance cognitive processing among children with learning difficulties. ’, International Journal of Music Education, 25:3, pp. 25967.
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Rajan, S. R.. ( 2017;), ‘ Preschool teachers’ use of music in the classroom: A survey of park district preschool programs. ’, Journal of Music Teacher Education, 27:1, pp. 89102.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Reynolds, M. A., and Burton, L. S.. ( 2017;), ‘ Serve and return: Communication foundations for early childhood music policy stakeholders. ’, Arts Education Policy Review, 118:3, pp. 14053.
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Runfola, M.,, Etopio, E.,, Hamlen, K., and Grandville, R. M.. ( 2012;), ‘ Effect of music instruction on preschoolers’ music achievement and emergent literacy. ’, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 192: Spring, pp. 727.
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Schafer, R. Μ.. ( 1969), The New Soundscape, New York:: Bernadol Music Limited;.
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Stamou, L.. ( 2001;), ‘ Brain and musical development before and after birth. ’, Cadenza, 46:1, pp. 4748.
    [Google Scholar]
  44. Storr, A.. ( 1993), Music and the Mind, London:: HarperCollins;.
    [Google Scholar]
  45. Tarnowski, S., and Barrett, J.. ( 1997;), ‘ The beginnings of music for a lifetime: Survey of music practices in Wisconsin preschools. ’, Application of Research in Music Education, 15:2, pp. 611.
    [Google Scholar]
  46. Temmerman, N.. ( 2000;), ‘ An investigation of the music activity preferences of pre-school children. ’, British Journal of Music Education, 17:1, pp. 5160.
    [Google Scholar]
  47. Trevarthen, C.. ( 1998;), ‘ The concept and foundations of infant intersubjectivity. ’, in S. Braten. (ed.), Intersubjective Communication and Emotion in Early Ontogeny, Cambridge:: Cambridge University Press;, pp. 1546.
    [Google Scholar]
  48. Wilson, J. J.. ( 1991;), ‘ A multidimensional evaluation of developmentally appropriate practice in kindergartens in Tuolumne County. ’, Ph.D. thesis, Turlock, CA:: Stanislaus University.
    [Google Scholar]
  49. Efthymiou, Spyridoula. ( 2022;), ‘ Music education in public nurseries of Greece. ’, International Journal of Music in Early Childhood, 17:2, pp. 12948, https://doi.org/10.1386/ijmec_00048_1
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1386/ijmec_00048_1
Loading
/content/journals/10.1386/ijmec_00048_1
Loading

Data & Media loading...

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test