early childhood education
I can only hope that his elementary school will teach – no, train – the children to “fill each other’s buckets,”1
and that his teach-
ers will expend all the extra efforts that this child will require. I hope that somehow all the negatives of his home life can be resolved and that he and his peers can learn healthy laughter. I hope that he can learn to make good choices consistently, and that his music teachers will always choose songs filled with character and joy, respect and love, safety and fulfillment. I can only hope.
I played a circle game with a plumber, homemaker, farmer, conductor, entrepre- neur, pastor, salesperson and policeman today. At two they were barely ready for a circle game, but three other adults were in the circle to guide them and it turned out fine. Their eyes were wide, and the
delight on their faces gave me hope that they would always seek things that are good and healthy. At least for now, when I was in charge, that would be the case.
In five years they will not remember this music class, and maybe not even me, but the essence of today’s circle game will always be a small part of who they are. Its substance will reinforce good mental, physical, emotional and social health, and the process that leads to aesthetic valuing – highpoint of Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs – might someday find its way onto school boards and into voting booths.
As we consider music education’s past and future we are reminded that past and future is comprised of an infinite number of presents. Someone sang a song to you one day long past, and because of that you
are reading these thoughts between lesson plans and dinner.
Sing your songs to kings and queens.
Note: 1. McCloud, Carol. Have You Filled a Bucket Today: A Guide to Daily Hap- piness for Kids. Ferne Press, Northville, MI, 2006.
Rick Townsend is director of instrumental music and director of music teacher educa- tion at Maranatha Baptist Bible College. He also serves as managing director of the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association. Email:
rtownsend@mbbc.edu
Wisconsin School Musician
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