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College of Music
Giving & Alumni
College of Music
Music Education
Music Education

  EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC PLAY LABORATORY

Areas
Ensembles

The MSU Early Childhood Music Play Laboratory provides caregiver-child classes at MSU’s Community Music Schools in East Lansing and Detroit as well as outreach classes in community settings including childcare facilities, preschools, and more.

The Michigan State University Community Music School (CMS) mission is to provide a creative and welcoming environment where music experiences, education and therapy services inspire individuals at all ability levels and stages of life to achieve their personal best. Founded on the belief that music dramatically enhances the quality of life, CMS offers opportunities for the study, appreciation and therapeutic use of music while nurturing the musical development of all.

The MSU Early Childhood Music Play Laboratory advances this mission for children ages birth-7 years old and their families.

woman, right, smiles at a baby she holds up on her knee.

We envision children and families thriving
in and through music making.

To that end...

high-quality, sequential, developmentally appropriate music play classes for children (and families, where applicable).

 

children and families across ability differences, socioeconomic and cultural groups by reducing barriers to access and creating culturally sustaining and ability-responsive music environments.

 

family wellbeing as well as child development across domains of functioning (musical, physical/sensory, social/emotional, cognitive, communication).

 

future early childhood music educators.

research that elucidates and advances each of these goals.

Parents and Caregivers
On-site early childhood music classes consisting of musical play interactions — singing, chanting, and moving — led by a teacher with specific training in early childhood music.
Researchers
Investigating music learning in children ages birth-8 as well as the concomitant benefits of Music Play in motor, communication, cognitive, and social, emotional, and behavioral domains.
Prospective Teachers and Teacher Educators
Preparing educators to provide high-quality, sequential, developmentally appropriate music play and to focus on creating culturally sustaining and ability-responsive music environments.
Partners and Prospective Partners
Partnering with organizations in the Detroit and Lansing areas to extend music play into the community.