Early Childhood Music
Why This Topic Matters
Making music with other people is a social activity before it is a musical one. Children listen, take turns, watch the adults around them, join in when they are ready, and share an experience with everyone else in the room.
The article introduced below looks at that social side of early childhood music-making.
About This Resource
“Creating Harmony: How Music Can Support Social Emotional Development” was written by Lauren Guilmartin, Director of Early Learning at Music Together. It was originally published by Parent Toolkit, and Music Together hosts it on its own blog. Bracy’s Music Together did not write the article; the introduction here and the program information below are ours.
Lauren Guilmartin, “Creating Harmony: How Music Can Support Social Emotional Development.” Originally published by Parent Toolkit; republished by Music Together.
What the Article Covers
The article considers how shared music-making relates to the social and emotional side of early childhood. Its main subject areas are:
- Self-control and self-regulation. Starting, stopping, waiting and matching a group during musical activities.
- Self-confidence and leadership. Opportunities for a child to contribute an idea and have the group follow it.
- Social skills. Taking turns, sharing instruments and paying attention to other people in the room.
- Empathy. Experiences of doing something together and noticing how others take part.
The article draws on research reported between 2010 and 2012, along with a list of academic references. Read it in full at the link above for the author’s own account of that material.
For Schools
Bringing Music Into the Early Childhood Classroom
Bracy’s Music Together brings developmentally appropriate music and movement experiences into UPK/Pre-K and Kindergarten classrooms during the school day.
Participating classrooms receive 30 weekly sessions during the academic year, with classroom teachers participating alongside their students and resources that help music-making continue beyond the specialist’s visit.
Updated September 2026. This resource was rewritten as an introduction to the original article. The previous version reproduced the article text and is kept in this site’s revision history.