ABSTRACT
Music is the Universal language of mankind. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The importance of music for preschool children was observed in October 1987 when little two-year-old Jessica McClure of Midland, Texas, made national headlines. Jessica had fallen down a hole and remained trapped in a dark and abandoned well for two-anda-half days. Jessica was found tired, bruised, hungry, but singing in her solitary confi nement. Instinctively, Jessica was aware of the strength of music. She knew a song, and her singing may have saved her life. Music seemed to console and support Jessica in her anguish, which suggests that music plays an essential role in children’s lives. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the music in children’s lives, music curriculum, music appreciation, aesthetic music experiences, music play, developing a play-based music program, and music learning centers (music vs. non music).
