Ask the Expert

Music Class as Education and Therapy

Early-childhood music teacher Michelle Lawrence shares some thoughts and experiences on creating music classes for young children and the benefits she has seen for children and parents from her own experiences teaching her class Melodies and ABCs.

nouvelle mama's questions: What is your education and your official designation?

Michelle's answers: I received my undergraduate degree in Music Education and Special Education and recently completed my Masters in Music with a focus in Music Therapy.

You explain the purpose of Melodies and ABCs as "a parent and child music class, which uses music as a tool in developing social, academic, emotional and gross motor skills. Songs, games, chants, instruments, musical stories and other age appropriate props are used each week while we explore learning."

How did you come up with the curriculum – is it based on existing principles and programs, or did you find that what you wanted to accomplished was not present in the available classes?

I came up with the overall weekly curriculum on my own. Some of the songs are original creations and I have borrowed some songs and ideas from a variety of other programs/curriculum but the overall frame work of the program is original.  A typical early childhood music class focuses on musical concepts either at a conscious or unconscious level where my program takes more of a music therapy approach as we use music as the vehicle to teach other concepts.  Again, my program differs from traditional music therapy because no diagnosis is needed.  My personal belief is that everyone (parents and children) can benefit from attending music classes, which focuses on developing age-appropriate skills in a group setting.

What are some of the tenants of your philosophy that you use when planning your classes for preschoolers? How did you come to hold these beliefs? Is it based on personal experience with children, on education and what others have learned through experience, or your own personal values?

My philosophy comes from a mixture of watching and working with children both with and without special needs for over ten years and seeing how similarly everyone naturally is in their response to music.  Music can be such a powerful tool when used appropriately; it can turn a daunting task into something much more enjoyable, it naturally creates repetition and it uses so many parts of the brain at once.

Who can benefit from your music classes? What will children gain that they would miss out on without Melodies and ABCs?

Absolutely everyone (parents and children) will benefit from these classes.  They provide a chance for parents to learn new songs, stories, ideas that they can take away and do at home.  It has repetition for the children to master concepts, provides a safe place for them to take risks and a relaxed environment to introduce them to circle time and group activities.

What has been the most unexpected result of teaching these classes for either yourself or one of the children you taught?

It still shocks me to this day when people tell me all the stories about how much the children actually do the music classes at home. Sometimes there are children in my class who are more observers or I feel like I might not be connecting with and their parents will tell me these wonderful stories about how they sing all the songs at home or they play music class and they are the teacher.  The classes really aren’t about the half hour or forty five minutes of class they spend with me, it is about the other 6 days of the week where music has infiltrated their lives.

Any further comments? Is there anything you want people to know about music, about your teaching style, about children’s response to music or anything else important to you as a teacher?

All families can benefit from doing early programming of any kind. Early intervention has been stated as being one of the best forms of education, and no diagnosis is needed to partake in activities. Children love music and it is a great way to connect with your child, the more the parent participates and enjoys the activities the more the children will as well. One thing that I want to mention to parents about any programming that your child attends is to remember that children learn in a variety of ways. Not all children will want to get right in the commotion; some will just want to observe, especially at first.  Don’t worry about it; just support them in their learning style.

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