We all want our children to experience the joy of music. But does it really matter?
In this fascinating and thought-provoking talk, world-renowned expert Dr John Feierabend explains WHY music is so important for babies and children.
Dr Feierabend's research shows that all of us are born with some potential to succeed with music but, with inappropriate or no music experiences in the early years, we can lose our intuitiveness for making accurate and sensitive musical responses. Here is critical information about how we learn to think music and what can be done to help develop that skill. This talk will highlight the importance of quality musical experiences for babies and young children, and how parents and early childhood educators can learn to harness cutting edge research and help all children become 'tuneful, beatful and artful' adults.
Family-friendly event with kids corner. Join us for supper after the talk and a chance to let down your hair, kick up your heels and share John's passion for folk dancing!
Please note: children must be supervised at all times
This event is a collaboration between Bluebird Foundation and City of Greater Geelong, proudly supported by Geelong Connected Communities
Dr John Feierabend will also be presenting First Steps in Music (four-day accreditation course for Early Childhood Educators) in Geelong 25 -28 January. For more information and to book go to www.firststeps.eventbrite.com.au
Dr John Feierabend
Dr. John Feierabend is considered one of the leading authorities on music and movement development in childhood. He is a Professor Emeritus of Music Education at The Hartt School of the University of Hartford and is a past President of the Organization of American Kodály Educators. He has given presentations in all 50 states and many other countries. He is the author of over 70 books, recordings, and DVDs, several of which served as the inspiration for the award winning PBS children’s television series Lomax: The Hound of Music.
Dr. Feierabend has been honored as a Lowell Mason Fellow by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME); named University Educator of the Year by the Connecticut Music Educators Association; received the outstanding alumni award from Wayne State University; received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Organization of American Kodály Educators, the James Bent Award for outstanding achievement in scholarship and creativity from the University of Hartford, and was the first U.S. recipient of the LEGO Prize, an international award given annually to “an individual who has made a distinctive contribution to the betterment of children.”
Dr. Feierabend continues to be committed to collecting, preserving and teaching the diverse folk music of our country and using that folk music as a bridge to help children understand and enjoy classical music. Dr. Feierabend’s creativity and research has resulted in two music methods; First Steps in Music, a music and movement program for infants through elementary-aged children and Conversational Solfege, a music literacy method suitable for elementary through college-aged student.
Dr. Feierabend’s teaching has provided thousands of teachers and their students with the materials and techniques to help build community through music by evoking enthusiastic participation of all people. To that end his approach strives for all people to become tuneful, beatful and artful through research based and developmentally appropriate pedagogies while promoting the use of quality literature. In the summer of 2012 a group of dedicated and like-minded educators honored Dr. Feierabend’s 40 plus years of teaching and research with the formation of the Feierabend Association for Music Education. For more information go to: www.feierabendmusic.org and www.giamusic.com/feierabend.