Song composition for early childhood music teaching activities

Year 2025, Volume: 13 Issue: 2, 141 - 160, 30.06.2025

Suthasinee Theerapan

https://doi.org/10.12975/rastmd.20251323

Abstract

This study composes and evaluates songs specifically designed for early childhood music activities. The composition process integrates insights from a thorough analysis of relevant literature, theoretical perspectives on early childhood development, and the Early Childhood Education Curriculum established by the Ministry of Education (2017). To assess the quality of the composed songs, the research team consults a panel of five experts, including three specialists in early childhood education and two music education specialists from the Yamaha Music Institute. The team selects these experts based on their professional qualifications and extensive experience in early childhood pedagogy and music instruction. Using a five-point Likert scale, the study evaluates six key criteria: (1) appropriateness of lyrics, (2) melodic and rhythmic appeal, (3) suitability of vocal range, (4) appropriateness of instrumentation, (5) contribution to child development, and (6) practical applicability in music activities. Researchers conduct a content analysis to interpret the data and present the results descriptively. The findings reveal that the composed songs align with the Early Childhood Education Curriculum and fall into four thematic units: (1) rhythm, featuring “Magical Rhythm” and “The Value of Notes”; (2) singing, including “Let’s Sing Together” and “Singing Do-Re-Mi with Joy”; (3) movement, with “The Elephant’s Gentle Walk” and “The Frog’s Joyful Leap”; and (4) playing musical instruments, incorporating “Drumming: Tuk-Tuk-Tum- Tum” and “Strumming the Guitar: Plak-Plak-Poong-Poong.” The compositions integrate simple rhythms, age-appropriate vocabulary, and accessible vocal ranges to facilitate learning, while repetitive elements enhance engagement and retention among young learners. Expert evaluations yield an overall mean score of 4.23 with a standard deviation of 0.56, confirming the songs’ suitability for early childhood music activities.

Keywords

Early childhood music , song composition , music teaching activities

Ethical Statement

This research has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects, Mahasarakham University, Thailand (Approval Number: 089-042/2025; Date of Approval: 18 February 2025).

Supporting Institution

This research project was financially supported by the College of Music, Mahasarakham University, which significantly facilitated the completion of this study. T

Thanks

The researchers sincerely thank the experts in early childhood music education and preschool teachers who participated in this study and provided invaluable insights. Their contributions played a crucial role in shaping the analysis and development of music-based learning approaches for young children. The researchers also extend special appreciation to colleagues and academic advisors for their guidance and constructive feedback throughout the research process.

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