An understanding of the process of music learning in young children informs curriculum—what is to be taught, when, and why—music content and sequence that meets the musical needs of young children. Curriculum materials based on the process of music learning provide for you to select suitable musical materials for every age and stage that you teach. Teaching technique offers the “how to.”  It guides implementation of the curriculum and curriculum materials, and can make or break a successful teaching experience.

The process of music learning is our map, with curriculum materials based on that process the well-paved routes to get us to where we are going. Techniques are the variable part of the journey—ways to implement our travel plans—the dimension we can change on the fly, do differently in every class, and create to facilitate the execution of curriculum and curriculum materials. Techniques can include the musical—how to engage with a particular kind of music learning activity or choose and use props to facilitate music learning, and the non-musical—logistics that facilitate parent and child ease in attending classes.

Developing effective teaching technique is a career-long process. Children’s joy, ease and cooperation, or lack thereof, will guide you in creating effective techniques. Just be sure that you do not throw out the baby with the bathwater if something is ineffective in the classroom. Rather than doubt the curriculum or curriculum or materials, stay on course and use your creativity to find another way to implement what is right for music learning. The more command you have of the process of music learning and appropriate curriculum materials, the more you will be able to not only create effective techniques, but also distinguish between techniques that work with children and those that work with children and facilitate music learning.

Techniques presented in OTEC coursework addressing curriculum and materials, and those in this Workshop, have proven to be very effective with children and very effective for music learning. That is not to say that these are the only techniques that are effective. They will, however, propel your success in the early childhood music classroom.