Music-Creative Arts: Ages 3-5

Widely Held Expectations

• Child is able to sing, play, move and create music, expressing individual imagination
• Takes the lead in music activities
• Develops an appreciation for music
• Child responds to music through movement
• Responds to the beat of songs or instrumental music with more complex movements (walking or jumping to the beat)
• Uses music as an avenue to express thoughts, feelings, and energy
• Describes and carries out movement sequences
• Child is able to distinguish between different types of music
  (loud/soft, fast/slow, happy/sad, etc.)

Learning in Action: Examples

The Child

• Participates in music activities (listening, singing, finger plays, games, performances, etc.)
• Uses props to respond with expression to music (scarves,
  streamers, instruments, etc.)
• Knows the words of often-repeated songs, humming or singing
  them during other parts of the day
• Makes up songs to accompany their play activitie
• Imitates movement to a steady beat

The Adult

• Encourages children’s interest in music, creative movement and dance
• Provides opportunities for children to experience movement
  through music
• Introduces children to different kinds of music (jazz, rock,ethnic, classical, etc.)
• Uses music or songs as cues to transition to a new activity or
  signal a quiet work time

The Environment Includes

• Materials for children to create their own instruments (strings,rubber bands, boxes, cans, etc.)
• Opportunities to hear and sing a variety of types of music(lullabyes, folk music, classical, jazz, children’s songs, and songs from other cultures and in other languages)