The Aboriginal peoples of Australia give special status to the song men who sing the songs of the dreaming and so pass on the stories to the next generation. The old folk songs of northern Italy tell of the struggle for democracy and the freedom songs of South Africa cried for justice in the face of Apartheid. Today the songs of the Kurds speak of a home-land they have lost and music is transforming the violence as children reclaim their voice in the former Yugoslavia. In Melbourne the crowd joins in a victory song at the MCG, hymns are sung every Sunday and advertising ditties invade our homes. Music is cultural communication and therefore becomes one of the most effective tools for early childhood educators as they design programs to meet the diverse needs of children and their families.
Programs become more responsive to cultural and linguistic needs when music is present.
The value of using music as a means of giving cultural experience a voice cannot be underestimated. Consider the response of a parent watching their child with a group of children enjoying the music that is an important part of their culture. Staff have sent a powerful message of respect and welcome in the simple act of enjoying music. Imagine a father's expression of joy when he arrived one afternoon to see his son and the other children dancing to some Arabic drumming. He had barely spoken to staff, the formal words of English let them down.