Children's learning time is valuable and should not be wasted on experiences with music or activities of trite or questionable quality. Children should not be encumbered with the need to meet performance goals. Opportunities should be available for children to develop accurate singing, rhythmic responses to music, and performance skills on instruments. Each child's attainment of a pre determined performance level, however, is neither essential nor appropriate. Children's play is their work.
Children learn within a playful environment.
Play provides a safe pla ce to try on the roles of others, to fantasize, and to explore new ideas. Children's play involves imitation and improvisation. Children learn best in pleasant physical and social environments. Dominant use of drill-type activities and exercises and worksheet tasks will not provide the kind of active, manipulative, and creative musical environment essential to the devel opment of young minds. Diverse learning environments are needed to serve the developmental needs of many individual children.