3 Educational Philosophies Every Parent & Teacher Should Know!
Incorporating ideas from the Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia approaches into music lessons.
As someone who does not believe in a “one size fits all” approach to education, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about these three alternative philosophies. I am not dogmatic in my teaching and believe that it is not necessary to follow any of these “to a T” in order to gain the benefits. But rather, picking and choosing certain elements from each may offer the best educational experience for the child.
As a little disclaimer, I will state that I am not an expert or professionally trained in any of the following approaches. Please use this article as inspiration to do your own research and get more information on these methods in order to fit them with your own student’s or family’s individual needs.
1. Montessori
The Montessori Method (founded by Dr. Maria Montessori) is an educational approach that fosters self motivated learning through hands-on activities. Montessori education is student-led and self-paced. The Montessori classroom is multi-aged and is notoriously well organized. You will find child-sized furniture and a clean minimalistic environment. The materials for each activity are placed on a tray and laid out on a shelf for the children to choose from.
WHAT I LOVE:
-Use of on hands-on, kinesthetic materials
-Sense of choice, freedom, and autonomy for the child
-Focus on practical life skills
-Fosters independence in children
-Minimalistic environment
-Teachers support & guide but don’t instruct
-Laid-back, nurturing atmosphere
-Mixed age classrooms
Downsides
-Activities have a right way and a wrong way
-Curriculum doesn’t always value creativity
-Discourages fantasy play
MONTESSORI INSPIRATION FOR MUSIC LESSONS:
I love the Montessori approach and incorporate so much of this style into my teaching. I find that children of all ages are much more focused and engaged in their lessons and practice when they have hands-on manipulatives.
2. Waldorf
Waldorf education (founded by Rudolf Steiner) integrates the arts into all academic disciplines. Beginning in the early childhood program and continuing into later grades, Waldorf education values imagination and creativity. The Waldorf approach seeks to nurture the whole child; “the head, the heart, and the hands.” This threefold learning process of “thinking, feeling, and doing” allows students to take an active role in their education becoming independent thinkers and problem solvers. Surprisingly, in a Waldorf school, teachers typically stay with the same group of children for five to eight years! This allows them to develop a strong relationship with each student and better understand their development, needs, and learning style.
WHAT I LOVE
-Waldorf’s approach to early childhood
-Integration of the arts into all academic disciplines
-Prioritizes creativity & imagination
-Nurtures the whole child
-Teaching methods are appropriately tailored to the child’s developmental stages
-Students take an active role in their education
-Teachers develop long-term relationship with students
Downsides
Rudolph Steiner also developed a philosophy called Anthroposophy. Although this is not taught directly in Waldorf Schools, Waldorf teachers do study Anthroposophy and may use insights from Steiner’s work to apply to their students’ development and education.
Another potential downside is very little technology is used in a traditional Waldorf environment. (This could also definitely be seen as a benefit, depending on your perspective!)
WALDORF INSPIRATION FOR MUSIC LESSONS
For me, one of the biggest take-aways from Waldorf (particularly in the early childhood setting) is the sense of wonder and enchantment that can be created in the classroom. The Waldorf atmosphere is magical. From the way the teachers create a sense of family with their students to the way the environment is filled with soft, beautiful colors, this approach clearly captures the essence of childhood. I resonate so well with the Waldorf way, where creativity, imagination, and play are at the heart of education.
3. Reggio Emilia
The Reggio Emilia approach was developed in Italy after WWII when the community was looking to rebuild their schools and create a new progressive way of learning. The name Reggio Emilia actually comes from the city in Italy where it was founded.
A Reggio inspired model of education focuses on student/teacher collaboration and follows an interest based curriculum. It is centered around the belief that all children have high potential and are capable, competent, and creative. The environment is seen as the third teacher and is designed in a way that ignites and supports learning.
Reggio inspired teachers treasure the many ways children explore the world and express themselves. This belief that children use art, music, language, movement, experimentation, relationships, and many other avenues to learn is referred to as the “hundred languages.”
What I Love
-Self-guided curriculum/ interest based learning
-Project learning
-Sensory based learning
-Integrated subjects
-Teacher learns alongside the student
-Encourages children to follow their curiosity
-Uses a variety of learning modalities
Downsides
Interest based curriculum puts the power of learning in the hands of the child and I believe that is absolutely wonderful in so many ways. However, when there are specific skills that we would like students to learn, this approach may leave us parents & teachers wishing we could steer the ship in a certain direction.
Reggio Inspiration for Music Lessons
So how do we combine interest based learning with teaching children the basic instrumental (or academic) skills that everyone just needs to know?
Julie Bogart (who is not associated with the Reggio Emilia approach) wrote a book called “The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life.” In her incredible book, Julie states that “You can learn everything from anything!" I use this approach all the time to combine the child’s interests & ideas with whatever musical skill I would like to teach them. Here’s how it works: You take whatever the child is really into like dinosaurs, ballet, Paw Patrol, or marine biology and teach everything else through that thing.
By allowing children to learn how to play the flute through the lens of their own unique passions, you automatically capture their interest and attention. They learn better, focus longer, and will grow up to be more invested in their education.
While this seems like a lot of extra work for the teacher, sometimes I just tell the student straight up," “Hey so today we need to practice this and that. Can you create a flute game so we can use your mermaids and also play the song?” Every time I’ve said that, it’s led to an extremely productive lesson. When a child hears that you value their ideas and they understand that you are on their team, learning becomes a collaboration and not a power struggle.
That is how I combine the Reggio idea of the self-guided curriculum while also teaching core skills.
The hands-on activities of Montessori, the colorful & creative atmosphere of Waldorf, and Reggio’s integrated subjects following the child’s interests are the main pillars that guide my approach to teaching young children.
What parts of Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia resonate with you?
Incorporating Child-Led Learning into Music Practice
When we partner up with children in their education and collaborate with them to incorporate their own interests, practicing music becomes more than just something we must do, it becomes a fulfilling creative endeavor.
When kids start music lessons, they are usually very excited to practice at home! Everything is fresh and new and the instrument is almost like a special new toy. But then after a while, the child begins to realize that doing this "thing" is hard work and suddenly it doesn't have the same novelty as it did in the beginning.
Cue the power struggles, frustration, and tantrums that all stem from a disconnection between what the child wants and what the parent wants.
Child-led learning is when we follow our children's interests and support their passions for optimal self-motivated learning. But of course, there are many things that we want our children to learn like math, science, literacy, and perhaps a musical instrument.
So what are we to do...follow our child's passions like dinosaurs, minecraft, and legos or teach them the things they need to know?
What if I told you there was a third way...
Perhaps, we could combine the two and create experiences for the child to learn flute (or those core subjects) through the lens of their own unique passion.
Because, as Julie Bogart says in her book The Brave Learner,
"You can learn everything through anything!"
Let's say your little one loves princesses and only thinks about that all day. For music practice at home, you might dress up and play flute inside the castle that you built out of cardboard boxes.
Or if your child is interested in birds, you might find some flute music where the flute represents the bird. You could learn to identify the bird calls of various species and then compose your own birdsongs. You could take your binoculars outside, do some bird watching, and then play to the birds.
Or if the passion is video games, maybe you find some music theory apps with note reading and ear training games. Or download Acapella or Soundtrap and your child could record themselves playing and learn about video editing, sound engineering and music production.
If your child loves to swim…practice in the pool!
When we partner up with children in their education and collaborate with them (instead of forcing our adult agenda on them), the resistance fades and makes way for passion. With this approach, education is more than just things we must learn, it becomes a fulfilling creative endeavor.