Children's music journey: the development of an interactive software solution for early childhood music education

ABSTRACT

Music is recognized as a fundamental component in the education of the individual. Despite this fact, support and funding for music programs in public schools across North America continues to decline. This article discusses the benefits of music education on the development of the young mind and outlines the development of an interactive software program called "Children's Music Journey" to deliver affordable and pedagogically rigorous music education to children everywhere.

REFERENCES

• 1: [fr 1]Neurological Research, Feb. 1997; Shaw, Rauscher, et al.
• 2: [fr 2]Nature, May 23, 1996; Gardiner, Fox Jeffery and Knowles.
• 3: [fr 3]Neurological Research, March, 1999.
• 4: [fr 4]"Music and Your Child," American Music Conference publication; Frank R. Wilson, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Neurology - University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco.
• 5: [fr 5]National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 First Follow-Up (1990), U.S. Department of Education.
• 6: [fr 6]Dr. James Catterall, UCLA, 1997.
• 7: [fr 7]1988 International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IAEEA) Test.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.5 Sound and Music Computing

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.m MISCELLANEOUS

  J. Computer Applications
  J.5 ARTS AND HUMANITIES

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.1 Computer Uses in Education

General Terms:
Design, Documentation, Human Factors, Measurement, Performance, Reliability

Keywords:
MIDI, children, children's music, children's music journey, improvisation, interactive music, interactive music learning, keyboard, learning, music, music education, music programs, music software, piano