"Taking into account the growing obesity epidemic and the expanding relationship between physical activity, music, and academic performance, this new book gives readers the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions to guide and motivate children toward a lifetime of movement. More than a listing of activities, this resource presents in-depth information on physical activity and music that allows the early childhood educator to match motivating physical activity and music lessons to the developmental level of the child. The guiding principles throughout the book focus on meeting individual needs, reciprocating environment and curriculum, integrating movement and music, involving family and community, and providing guidance through assessment and standards"--Publisher's website.

We experience and understand the world, including music, through body movement–when we hear something, we are able to make sense of it by relating it to our body movements, or form an image in our minds of body movements. Musical Gestures is a collection of essays that explore the relationship between sound and movement. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to the fundamental issues of this subject, drawing on ideas, theories and methods from disciplines such as musicology, music perception, human movement science, cognitive psychology, and computer science.

EXPERIENCES IN MUSIC AND MOVEMENT, 5E, International Edition helps you develop a movement-oriented setting for teaching children ages birth to eight years. In addition to providing a complete, ready-to-implement movement program, the author presents techniques for weaving movement and music into your day and across your curriculum. Ample resources and appendices include websites and other sources for ordering music, instruments, equipment, and props, and more.

By balancing research coverage and theory with applied practice, this text covers the most current and comprehensive of topics while encouraging teachers to not only inspire young children to move with music, but be inspired themselves. --from publisher description.

This expanded and revised book will enable teachers to provide numerous fun-filled opportunities for children ages 3 to 7 years to experience the beauty and creativity of music as they explore various ways to move to musical selections. The eight basic activities in this book provide a variety of options for teachers. Each activity begins with a short description, lists the key experiences in movement involved, and outlines the procedure to follow. In addition, from 3 to 8 suitable musical selections are listed for each activity, with separate directions for leading movements to each selection. All the musical selections for the activities are from the authors Rhythmically Moving music series (recordings 1B4); many of these are presented on the CD included with the book.

Long before any dance performance is presented, an artistic collaboration takes place in the studio between dance teachers, musicians, and dancers. This book, a companion to the author's Music for the Dance: Reflections on a Collaborative Art, explores that collaboration, considering every level of training from creative movement for the very young to the daily workouts and rehearsals of professional ballet and modern concert dance companies. Designed to be easily accessible to those without musical literacy or an extensive knowledge of dance technique, the volume is appropriate both for dance teachers, musicians, and students, as well as for the parents and theater-goers who want to know more about what goes on behind the scenes. This book also encompasses styles of jazz dance and some ethnic forms in the African tradition. Based on Katherine Teck's experience as a studio musician and on her interviews with outstanding dance teachers and musicians, the book addresses a wide variety of musical concerns. For dance teachers such topics as finding and training an accompanist, communicating musical needs, working with a live musician in class, and collaborating for original choreography are covered. Subjects of interest to musicians include the existing repertoire for dance, how to analyze movement patterns, techniques of improvisation, how to find formal training, and career possibilities in dance. Finally, for the dancers themselves, the work provides an introduction to ways in which music and movement can relate. Of special interest to dance historians will be the author's interviews with leading artists in the fields of both ballet and modern dance. An appendix provides listings of further resources, as well as a checklist of important reminders for musicians and teachers. This work will be a valuable resource for courses in dance technique, musical collaboration, and dance history, as well as an important addition to both public and college libraries.

"Of the three elements of music -- rhythm, melody, and harmony -- rhythm has received the least attention from the theorists, yet it is indisputably the basic element without which there is no musical art." Such is the first sentence of this book on use of the body to express musical rhythm. Elsa Findlay is eminently qualified to write on this subject, having been a student of Emile-Jaques Dalcroze, the master himself, also from her own experience in a variety of teaching situations. These included schools of dance and theater, colleges and universities, and The Cleveland Institute of Music, one of the first to offer a BMus degree with a major in eurhythmics. Each chapter concentrates on a different phase of rhythm: tempo, dynamics, duration, metrical patterns, speech and rhythm patterns, phrase and form, pitch and melody, and creative expression. Activities for each phase are outlined in detail and illustrated by charming drawings and photos. Appendices furnish further suggestions for exercises, games, action songs, and suitable music.