Professional Development and Training
For music teachers, early childhood educators, performers, arts academy directors, and community artists Browse the CoursesLearn — Courses in Early Childhood Music Education
Feel like you’re missing something? Do you want to find out more about music for babies, toddlers, preschoolers or children in their first year at school?
Browse our courses.
Or book a call if you want to discuss your particular gaps in skills, knowledge, mindset or qualifications before you invest time and money.
Want to Talk to Someone About Your Goal?
Need some reassurance that you’re on the right career track? Want to ask questions about early childhood music? Click this calendar link to book your FREE and confidential Zoom chat.
Need a Quote on a Professional Development Event?
Book a time to discuss what content you need, for you or your staff, when and where you would like it, our rates and your payment options. Click to book a Zoom call here.
We Can Call You or Zoom
You are welcome to book a free 15 minute consultation. If you decide you’d like to learn from us, we can design your personal session, group workshop, or a longer certificated learning program from there.
We encourage individuals, such as music teachers, early childhood educators or performing artists to talk about affordable professional development. We invite managers to make inquiries about what we can do for your staff. All questions are welcome and answered frankly. Book your free consultation using the links above.
A NOTE FROM OUR FOUNDER, Carol Biddiss M.Ed
Let’s face it — not all musical experiences are worth doing day-in, day-out in the same way. Tired songs and ideas may no longer fit within your current philosophical framework. Times are changing rapidly and we can see how musical experiences are highly culturally sensitive, often media-rich and integral to many high-tech interfaces.
I know that most pre-service courses do not cover much (if anything at all) in the rich field of early childhood music studies. Early childhood educators and music teachers have been left wondering what to do about music for little children — should they ‘make it up’ or are there ‘best practices’ out there? I can assure you, there are a lot of experts in many countries, sharing their thoughts, research and everyday practice. I’d love to introduce you to their work — it will surprise and delight you.
Musical Child has been offering opportunities in professional development for early childhood educators and music teachers since 2004.
I invite you to read through the list of our training, research and development partners to see where we have made an impact in Australia, UK, US, South Africa, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Mongolia.
Get a fresh new perspective — we hope to add you to the list soon. Book that free, introductory chat now.
Carol Biddiss M. Ed
Training, Research and Development Partners
Professional Development, Mentoring and Support of Early Childhood Educators, Music Teachers, Performers, Community Artists and others in person, via email, phone and Zoom, according to individual needs. Ongoing 2004-2023
Kids World Kindy, Long Day Care and Preschool, Quakers Hill NSW — ‘How to Tailor and Implement a Preschool Music Program Sing and Play 3, Musical Child.’ Online Professional Development via Zoom. September, 2021
Hamley Bridge Kindergarten, Hamley Bridge S.A. — ‘Building Phonemic Awareness Through Music and Movement’. Assisted by a Grant from the South Australian Department of Education’s Music Innovation Fund. Ongoing sessions with children and staff including a full-day professional development program delivered at the site for staff and guest educators and follow-up sessions, June through August, 2021. Included provision of instruments.
The District Council of Coober Pedy Child and Parenting Support Services (CaPS), through “Little Musicians”, organised a series of Musical Child trainings and conversations with key professionals in the town. The events included Professional Development for Educators — “Music Sessions for Fun and Education”; and Music Training for Parents and Carers — “Training to help parents and carers embrace music to help children learn and have fun.” The 2-Day series took place in Coober Pedy, S.A. May 2021.
Covid-19 Mentoring and Support of Studio Music Teachers Online 2020 – 2022.
Heidi Music Hong Kong. Projects in Music Education for Children aged 0-3 years and parents; Development of Curriculum resources for use by parents at home. Ongoing relationship in developing teaching resources and new approaches during lockdown, 2019-current.
Musical Child Training; Mentoring of Early Childhood Educators Online 2019, 2020, 2021.
Andrea Xinyan Li, Early Childhood Education, Nanjing China. Projects in Music Education for Children aged 0-3 years and 3-6 years; Development of Curriculum and Trainings. Ongoing relationship in developing bilingual resources and translations for Chinese educators, 2015-current.
Musical Child Training Modules, New! Baby Music downloadable, self-paced modules were added throughout 2020. Activities for babies were trialled in association with Quinliven Road Early Learning Centre, Aldinga, South Australia and individual families. ZERO, Music for Babies 0-13 Months launched 2021.
Mongolian Music Teachers, Online via Zoom workshops with music teacher and interpreter, Khulan Tsogbayer September 2020
“Little Lessons” Music and Literacy Workshops for Educators, Seaford Community Centre, Beechwood Grove, Seaford, SEAFORD SA 5169 April 2018
Musical Child Workshop Series, Education Development Centre, Hindmarsh S.A. 5070 January, February and March 2018
Brooklyn Park Kindergarten, Brooklyn Park S.A. Action Research, Product Development March – May 2018
Montessori House, Fulham Gardens S.A. Action Research, Product Development August – September 2017
Woodville Day Nursery and Kindergarten, Woodville S.A. Action Research, Product Development throughout 2017 and 2018.
Australian Childcare Alliance (ACASA), Adelaide Director’s Hub Seminar, Woodville S.A. July 2017
Oxanda Education, Sydney. Oxanda Area Managers Seminar, May 2016
Meri’s Music, Drouin, Victoria. Partnership Course Delivery, April-May 2016
Daniel Milard, Music Rings Music Academy, Causeway Bay Hong Kong, Staff Development October 2015. Ongoing relationship in cross-cultural curriculum development, video presentations for children.
Andrea Li, T-Mega Education Shenzhen, China. Partnership Staff Development and Parent Information Sessions August 2015. Ongoing relationship in developing bilingual resources 2015-Current.
Vinci Education China, Beijing & Shanghai, China. Partnership Staff Development Sessions August 2015
Fun Music Company Virtual Music Education Conference March 2013
Stepping Stone Childcare Christie Downs S.A. Fortnightly full staff training January 2011 to March 2012
Western Hub Preschool Teachers, S.A. Workshop October 2011
Stepping Stone Childcare Morphett Vale Sessions January to April 2011
Stepping Stone Childcare Kidman Park Sessions January to April 2011
Early Childhood Australia National Conference Presentation “Playing Instruments with Children” Adelaide, S.A. 2010
Current and Traditional Methods and Approaches
The Musical Child pedagogical approach is in line with the current Australian Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and meets all five of the learning outcomes. The approach acknowledges children’s innate musicality. It nurtures and expands their natural capabilities in moving in synchrony, deep listening, playing simple instruments, improvising, singing and speaking. The approach is rooted in culture and expressed through play.
While our approach is concerned with the child learning through music, we also would like to acknowledge the excellence, dedication and successful influence of the four main music education systems designed by composers, performers and teachers from Hungary, Germany, Switzerland and Japan in the early and mid twentieth century.
Of the four, the Musical Child early learning through music approach has the most in common with Orff Schulwerk because of its emphasis on learning through play and the integration of drama and speech.
- Carl Orff, German composer in association with Gunild Keetman, composer, performer, teacher — Orff Schulwerk; Orff Approach 1920s. Combines music, movement, drama and speech similar to child’s play.
- Zoltán Kodály, Hungarian composer — Kodály Method 1935. Curriculum and teaching methods for lower and middle schools.
- Émile Jacques Dalcroze, Swiss composer — Eurhythmics early 20th Century. Teaches music through movement.
- Shinichi Suzuki, Japanese violinist and pedagogue — Suzuki Method mid-20th Century. Uses music education to enrich student’s life and instil character traits.