For Prospective Teachers and Teacher Educators

The MSU Early Childhood Music Play Lab prepares educators to provide high-quality, sequential, developmentally appropriate music play and to focus on creating culturally sustaining and ability-responsive music environments.

MSU students can take Music in Early Childhood courses that are either geared toward music education majors who will be certified PK-12 (MUS 465) or those preparing to be early childhood educators (birth-5 or PK-3 certifications – MUS 463). In each class, the Early Childhood Music Play Laboratory serves as a field learning site.

Students who pass MUS 465 can serve as paid assistants in Early Childhood Music classes. If they wish, they can apply to be a lead teacher in our program and gain experience working with caregivers and families. Outstanding students also sometimes teach outreach classes in the community. Throughout this process, Dr. Salvador provides feedback and mentorship.

Our program also employs experienced early childhood music educators as teachers and mentors; many of our teachers are certified to teach music PK-12 in Michigan, and several have “day jobs” as elementary music teachers. One of our teachers is also a board-certified music therapist.

We also partner with the Gordon Institute for Music Learning to offer intensive summer workshops on Music Play for practicing teachers from around the world. Our group in June of 2024 included participants from Brazil, Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Portugal, and Spain (living in Washington). Get more information on these courses. Register for this summer’s course (held June 21-July 2, 2026).

Playful Audiations

Carin McEvoy, an early childhood music pedagogy expert who teaches in the Music Play Lab, has created a podcast where caregivers and teachers can learn songs that she’s written for her classrooms. In each episode, she sings a song and explains how to use it to sing and play with kids. Click on the image to access this great resource.