Early music education

Importance and current situation

Early music education in Spain is going through a difficult period for several reasons:

1. The lack of importance our politicians and educational advisers attach to music. They are drastically cutting the number of music hours across all educational stages.
2. Often the music lesson is the ‘maría’ subject and is not treated with respect, not even by the teachers themselves. In most cases it is a constant improvisation. This contrasts with the amount of current research. A good musical education in early childhood greatly benefits children in areas such as mathematical ability and reading. Through music we cultivate citizens who are critical in their aesthetic appreciation, emotional development, and in improving physical wellbeing and creativity.

Learning in young children should be based on play. This is how curiosity, experimentation and autonomy are encouraged. Play affects cognitive, psychomotor, affective and social development because it allows children to express feelings, understand rules, and develop attention, memory and the imitation of social behaviours.

It is wrong to think that some people are born with musical ability and others are not. We are all potentially musical. This will depend on educational, family and social opportunities. For that reason, music education should reach everyone. The earlier children have the chance to be in contact with music, the sooner they can start developing all its benefits.

It is necessary to surround the child with a quality sound environment. This process begins at home, with the family, but should continue at school with high-quality music education. The aim is not to train professional musicians. That is the role of the teachers at Diapason the Wizard.

The music teachers at Diapason the Wizard are trained to the highest level in early music education.

For music education in the early years to be of high quality, the staff responsible for the area must be properly trained and it is essential that they value the importance of music. It is also important that they understand the developmental characteristics of children at this stage, which will be the starting point for teaching practice.

Characteristics of our music teachers for young children

The music teachers at Diapason the Wizard are trained to the highest level in early music education. Our qualities include:

• • • singing, with or without instrumental accompaniment.
    • beating rhythms, both using the body and with percussion instruments,
    • identifying and distinguishing between the sounds of different instruments,
    • distinguishing sound qualities
    • distinguishing musical forms.

There are many early music education professionals in Spain and Mexico who offer classes for children from babies. Music teachers