An intentional approach to meaningful teacher-child musical interactions

This research project will explore a novel approach towards enhancing the quality of interactions in early childhood contexts through intentional and purposeful meaning expression between teachers and young children through music. This is important in addressing the core need for teacher-child interactions that are undergirded by pedagogical love, which precedes child wellbeing and achievement (O’Connor et al., 2020). Early childhood teachers’ perspectives of how such an approach impacts on teacher-child relationships, child learning and development, as well as teacher and child wellbeing will be qualitatively analysed. Ways of effectively supporting in-service early childhood teachers in applying an intentional approach towards meaning expression, as well as practically incorporating music into daily interactions with young children will also be examined.

Dr Lynn Lee-Pang: llee@unimelb.edu.au

This project received Faculty of Education SEED Funding in 2023.