Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/music-the-great-connector/5013350/
What's wrong with this scene?"My Girl," one of the teacher's favorite songs, fills the classroom with its upbeat chorus. The four-year-olds jump and dance alongside the teacher. Almost all the children are engaged, except for a few who are happily coloring at a side table. The teacher even pantomimes a microphone and gives each child a chance to sing with The Temptations.
In some ways, nothing is wrong with what I've described. It's wonderful for children to listen to music, either as a main activity or as background sound. But imagine how much more the children would gain if the teacher used music as the starting point for a fuller experience.
What if, once everyone finished dancing, the teacher began to describe when she first heard that song as a girl? What if she brought photos of herself at that age, and some of the clothing styles she wore? What if she talked about the neighborhood and city where she grew up, the foods she ate, the games and activities she and her friends liked?
Then the children are entertained - and much more. They find out who their teacher is as a person. They develop bonds with other children and people in their ...