All children possess natural musical potential, and regular exposure to rich musical experiences can enhance their innate abilities. With over 40 years of research and as a former OAKE National president, Dr. John Feierabend has developed the 8-part workout to nurture a child’s inherent musical skills using traditional songs, rhymes, games, and movement activities. This session explores how to cultivate tunefulness, beatfulness, and artfulness in young children, laying the groundwork for a fulfilling musical life.
First Steps in Music is a music readiness curriculum intended for implementation prior to beginning music reading studies. Key areas include fostering tuneful independence through pitch exploration, song fragments, solo singing, and arioso improvisation, as outlined in the book. The session also addresses movement and beat development strategies to enhance beatfulness and musical expressivity through movement exploration, beat-keeping activities, and expressive movement. Designed for educators teaching children aged three to nine, this interactive session offers a model First Steps lesson and practical insights into the Feierabend approach and its outcomes in the lower elementary music classroom.