Browsing by Author "Norppa, Hanna"

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how early childhood educators perform music education, and how they utilize it to support teaching and education. The other purpose was to find out whether they deliberately use other than singing and playing instrument when they are performing music education. This study brings information about child’s stage in musical development, how music supports child’s development and how early childhood educators use music with children. The basics of Early Childhood Education became obligatory in autumn 2017 where the goals of music education are imparted. This study has been conducted as a qualitative research. The data for the study was collected in September 2018 using a web form. The webform was answered by 46 early childhood educators and the data was analysed based on inductive content analysis. According to the results the early childhood educators use music quite diversely. Singing, playing an instrument or body rhythm, listening and learning basics of music theory were seen as means of music education. The results reveal that early childhood music education is used to support child’s musical development and all aspects of child’s growth and development.