Putting the “Fiddle” In “Fiddleheads:” Music Education in an Outdoor Preschool
It seems that children are more often found climbing furniture than trees; more often playing video games than pianos. Yet, both ‘nature play’ and music are crucial to early childhood development. For this project I have partnered with Fiddleheads Forest School to design a comprehensive, feasible, and weatherproof music curriculum for use in all-outdoor preschools. I provided Fiddleheads with lesson plans for formal group instruction as well as strategies for encouraging explorative musical play. My lessons were developed from academic research, anecdotal internship experiences, and my personal background as a music instructor. I also solicited the donation of a ukulele to the school and trained teachers in accompanying all songs sung daily by the students. The addition of music to Fiddlehead’s core curricula increases opportunity for students’ socioemotional, motor, and linguistic development. Early childhood experiences in music may also foster students’ ability and interest, encouraging lifelong musicality. Paired with Fiddlehead’s acclaimed outdoor curricula, music education helps cultivate the next generation of well-rounded environmentalists.