First Steps in Music

This course bridges research to practice by demonstrating how a "natural" curriculum, rich in the repertoire of traditional children's songs, rhymes, games and dances, can develop young children's musical intelligence, singing and movement skills, and expressive sensitivities. A model of parents and children playing together in the years from birth to age three will be presented as well as a curriculum for 3- to 8-year-old children in classroom settings. Objectives for this course include introducing effective psychological principles, techniques, and materials to aid in the discovery and maximization of the innate music potential of children in preschool and the early elementary grades; developing teaching skills appropriate to the developmental abilities of children in grades N-2; and developing the ability to design curriculum appropriate for grades N-2.

The First Steps in Music curriculum is designed to prepare children to become musical in by being Tuneful, Beatful, and Artful. First Steps in Music for Infants and Toddlers provides developmentally appropriate activities that are well suited for children under three years old with their caregivers. First Steps in Music for Preschool and Beyond provides activities for children as young as three but appropriate for any aged child that needs to further develop their tuneful, beatful, and artful abilities. Folk songs and rhymes as well as classical music are the primary source materials that are used to develop their musical minds and abilities. Created by Dr. John Feierabend, this pedagogical approach contains everything you need to lead a music class for preschool and early elementary students, including: Echo Songs, Call-and-Response Songs, Simple Songs, SongTales, Action Songs, Circle Games, Beat Motion Activities, and more. Ample time will be spent on exploring complete lesson plans for a three-year curriculum. Participants who successfully complete this course will receive an official certificate of completion from the Feierabend Association for Music Education.

Instructor: Dr. John Feierabend

Dr. John Feierabend is considered one of the leading authorities on music and movement development in childhood. He is a professor of music education at the Hartt School of the University of Hartford, and is a past president of the Organization of American Kodály Educators. He has given presentations in all 50 states and a number of countries. He is the author of over 70 books, recordings, and DVDs, several of which served as the inspiration for the award winning PBS children’s television series Lomax: The Hound of Music.
 

Dr. Feierabend has been honored as a Lowell Mason Fellow by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME); named University Educator of the Year by the Connecticut Music Educators Association; received the outstanding alumni award from Wayne State University; and received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Organization of American Kodály Educators, the James Bent Award for outstanding achievement in scholarship and creativity from the University of Hartford. In addition, he was the first U.S. recipient of the LEGO Prize, an international award given annually to “an individual who has made a distinctive contribution to the betterment of children.”

 

Dr. Feierabend continues his commitment to collecting, preserving and teaching the diverse folk music of our country and using that folk music as a bridge to help children understand and enjoy classical music. His ongoing creativity and research has resulted in two music methods: First Steps in Music, a music and movement program for infants through elementary-aged children; and Conversational Solfège, a music literacy method suitable for elementary through college-aged students. In the summer of 2012, a group of dedicated and like-minded educators honored Dr. Feierabend’s 40+ years of teaching and research with the formation of the Feierabend Association for Music Education. More information may be found at www.feierabendmusic.org and www.giamusic.com/feierabend.