Musical pathfinders of the kindergarten

The study investigates the different practices of kindergarten staff who are musically active when interacting with the children. Based on the assumption that increasing cultural diversity is reflected in several different musical practices, the authors ask the following research questions: How can we understand the different practices, identifications and professional positions of music performers in kindergarten, and how can these challenge prevailing views on professional identity and bring forth a new understanding of what it means to work musically in kindergarten?

After analysing the data, the authors identified five different types of musical employees in kindergartens: The disc jockey, the facilitator, the choir leader, the carer and the artist, who they believe act as representatives of the variation in musical practices in Norwegian kindergartens. The authors believe that these five types, to varying degrees, can challenge the prevailing view of kindergarten employees and their care tasks. The professional understanding of these employees is more closely related to the fact that they are cultural workers more than ‘motherly’ carers. As a result, these types can give us a new overview of what it means to work in kindergarten. Most people in this group did not view the musical activities with the children as learning activities, but more as activities that facilitated human interaction. For many of them, working with music was not only related to their profession, but also a deep personal commitment. Thus, the enthusiasm and joy of the adults easily rubbed off on the children. However, the authors believe that the employees’ focus on their ‘own’ music may affect the stimulation of the children’s cultural needs and preferences.

The study is based on empirical data collected through observations, field notes, interviews and audio recordings of musical activity in seven kindergartens in the Oslo area. The kindergartens were selected because they all placed great focus on music in everyday kindergarten life. The selection criterion for the kindergarten employees in the sample was that they were musically active on a daily basis. Both organised and more disorganised musical activities were observed and audio recorded. The interviews with employees and managers focused on the informants’ reflections on their own work.

Knudsen, J. S., Aglen, G. S., Danbolt, I. & Engesnes, N. (2019). «Musical pathfinders of the kindergarten”. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 20(2):163–176.