Early Music Education
Early music education is becoming more and more important in day-care centres in Germany, Austria and Switzerland - similar to theatre education. Elements of music education are above all the areas of voice, movement, playing instruments, experiencing and the effect of music, thinking and connecting music with other forms of design.
Personal development and self-education
The beginnings of music education date back to the 16th century. Johann Amos Comenius (1562-1670) was the first pedagogue to conceive a concept for music education in elementary education. Today's music education sees itself as an opportunity for personality development and, above all, self-education. It is about bringing children into contact with music and instruments. However, music education in the elementary sector is not a classical instrument lesson. In the sense of early childhood music education, making music is a way of expression for the children and should strengthen their self-determination. The aim of music education in the day-care centre is therefore to encourage the children's musical expressions and to enable them to encounter music in order to allow a natural development in the sense of the child's interest to develop.
Advantages of music education
A study shows that regular singing in the kindergarten promotes cognitive abilities. For example, children who sing regularly are ready for school earlier. But the children's motor skills are also trained. Early musical education helps children in both gross motor skills (movement and rhythm) and fine motor skills (playing instruments). Social development and intercultural aspects are also promoted through music education. Making music together, dancing or expressing themselves creatively in another way promotes the social interaction of the children. Music education is linked with other concepts such as the situation-oriented approach or open andhalf-open concepts in KITA can be combined very well.