About the Curriculum

The curriculum used in Music and Me is based off of Dr. John Feierabend's First Steps in Music.  This is a researched based program that starts children as young as 6 months and continues their development through middle school. 

 

Dr. Feierabend developed this program by researching brain development in children, studying folk music from elders, and using his knowledge of music and education. 

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Here's some information from the First Steps in Music program:

Importance of Quality Early Childhood Music Experiences

1. Music intelligence is separate from the other intelligences (H. Gardner)

2. Music intelligence atrophies if not stimulated (E. Gordon)

   1. Both rhythm and tonal aptitudes need to be stimulated.

   2. Musical aptitude stabilizes around the age of nine.

3. A musical person thinks tunes, feels beats/rhythms, and responds sensitively to the expressiveness in music. (J. Feierabend)

4. Music may help you and your child become more connected.

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Unique Aspects of the First Steps in Music Curriculum

1. This curriculum is based on quality children's music literature. Traditional children's songs and rhymes have natural melodic expressiveness, natural flow of the language, and texts filled with wonder.

2. This curriculum is based on early childhood research related to the development of:

   1. music intelligence

   2. singing skills

   3. sensitivity to the beat and beat groups

   4. expressive movement

   5. musical memory

   6. preferences

   7. neurological connections