Study Unit 1: The value of music for the holistic development of foundation phase learners.

Hello everyone, back again to talk a little bit more about LSKM 221. Well before I do so, let me just tell you about this week. Monday was so nice, I just relaxed after a very awful weekend. I laid in bed and looked how much sweets I could possibly eat. By Tuesday I started to panic again. I don’t know why the beginning of the semester is always so stressful. It is so weird in the beginning of the semester you are so overwhelmed and then everything calms down as the time goes by. I dealt with a lot of family issues this couple of days, but it’s so nice to do this blog to ‘’escape’’ from all that.

What I found very interesting is the different developments which children go through at different ages. This includes things like rhythm, singing and playing instruments. It was interesting for me to read through all that information and try to compare it to my development of those different things when I was that age. There are so many things that I have learned in this study unit. Things I never thought of. Like why we make musical instruments when we are small, or why do we learn nursery rhymes.

 

Individual reflection

1.Would you please describe your confidence in your current knowledge and skills to teach music through movement in the Foundation Phase as you start your LSKM 221 journey?

Although I have learned a lot in this first study unit, I know there is so much more to learn about using music to teach in foundation phase. I don’t have a lot of confidence in using all these techniques. There is such a big difference in learning about these things and using it in the classroom. Yes, sure I know everything, but will I be able to use it today in the classroom? I know a few extra things now on how to use music in the classroom so if I had to, I would be able to do so, but I believe I need a little more information on this topic before I use it myself. Since we do not do practical, it makes it a little harder to gain confidence in the classroom when you are not already working at a school.

 

2.When thinking about facilitating holistic development in the Foundation Phase, we need to consider, for example, cognitive development, personal development, social development, emotional development and physical development. We also need to consider literacy and numeracy skills, language acquisition, creativity, problem solving and midline crossing.

Both music and physical education play important roles in the holistic development of the young learner. However, if you have to choose between incorporating Music education OR Physical education in the Foundation Phase curriculum to meet the holistic development needs of learners, which would you choose?

I believe that incorporating music education is very beneficial to the holistic development needs of children. By using music in the classroom there are so many benefits for the students. There are so many articles one could read about what effect music has on a child, but here are a few barnstormers.

It helps them physically develop, by dancing along they learn to keep their balance or use their hand eye coordination when doing moves that fits with the song. Cognitive development like when they are singing a song in a different language than their mother tongue. This way they learn a new language without them knowing it. Social development is also encouraged when students work in groups, singing and moving together. Personal development when students participate in music activities. Like making musical instruments and they find out what they like, by decorating the instrument they picked out themselves. Emotional development when they listen to different music styles, and they see not all music is the same. They will later notice some are happy and some are more serious.