Music for ETK

Rationale: Music lessons that emphasize rhythm and wordplay can help Expanded Transitional Kindergarten students (ages 4-5) with phonemic awareness skills like syllabification, which is foundational for early literacy. Participation in quality music programs also helps strengthen executive function skills like self-regulation and decision-making. Animals are a strong point of interest for students, while songs and percussion instruments from different cultures are used to illustrate their universality and for students to make personal connections. While Japan, Thailand, and Polynesia were not examined in this particular seminar, I use artifacts and musical samples from them in the spirit of “crossing boundaries” in Asia and beyond.