Elementary Music Education

Who Teaches The Elementary Music Education Program In Your School?

Now I am sure that elementary teachers everywhere are concerned about the education of their charges, and also that they teach the best that they know how, but when it comes to music education, is that good enough? If you think back to your own education, how was music taught to you? Did you get to play different instruments, play different beats and rhythms? Were your music lessons fun? Did you learn how to read music notations? Did you have your music lesson with a music teacher, or did you have all your lessons with the same teacher?

Don't get me wrong, there are some classroom teachers who are very adept at teaching music, but I am not at all sure that this applies to all music teachers. Music is a very different kind of class to teach, and a subject that many find harder to learn if they have little musical training. By starting to teach children at an early age about music, the symbols, beats etc, the thinking skills of the child are developed quicker than without music. In fact, research has shown that elementary music education is important in developing the brain, as the music notation develops thinking skills, language skills and the child's self esteem. All of this is worth developing in every child, and a specialized elementary music education teacher may be the best person to do this.

Music is not just a case of singing a few songs, or listening to a few CDs. The language of music is important too. Now music can be combined with physical education in the form of dancing, something else that is good to teach at an early age. Cooperation can be taught through music too, as most schools do not have enough musical instruments and the children have to take turns. Research has also shown that quiet music can have a calming effect on the listener, and this is perhaps well worth remembering for those times when your class is rather agitated, for whatever reason.

Children can be taught the joys of listening to music, and this is a good thing to learn, as the love of music will probably stay with them for life, and can provide hours of enjoyment. Often elementary schools hold Christmas concerts and this gives a lot of enjoyment to all concerned. It usually brings together the whole school, and their is a sense of school pride during such performances. This is an important time for all children, and to have their parents and relatives attend is the icing on the cake. Music can and does bring people together.

To conclude, it is better to have a specialist teach elementary music education to the school, if at all possible. Failing this, other teachers can provide training and good musical experiences for their students, but it may be more stressful for the teacher, and involve a lot more work before each music lesson. Music is out there to be enjoyed, so let's enjoy it and let others enjoy it.