This book explores the meaning and value of music in children's lives, based upon their expressed thoughts and actual musicking behaviors in school and at play. Blending standard education field experiences with ethnomusicological techniques, Campbell demonstrates how music is personally and socially meaningful to children and what values they place on particular musical styles, songs, and functions. She explores musical behaviors in various contextual settings-in the outdoor garden of the Lakeshore Zebras' preschool, in Mr. Roberts' fifth grade classroom, on a school bus, at home with the Anderson family, in the Rundale School cafeteria, at the Toys and More Store. She documents in narrative forms some of the "songs in their heads", balancing music learned with music "made", and intentional, purposeful music with natural music behavior. From age three to tween-age, children are particularized by gender race, ethnicity, and class, and their soundscapes are described for the contexts, functions, and meanings they make of music in their lives. Treading through the individual cases and conversations is the image of the "universal child" children's culture that transcends localities, separates them from adults, and defines them as their own community of shared beliefs and practices. Songs in Their Heads is a vivid and engaging book that brides the disciplines of music education, ethnomusicology, and folklore. Designed as a text or supplemental text in a variety of music education methods courses, as well as a reference for music specialists and classroom teachers, this book will also appeal to parents interested in understand and enhancing music making in their own children.

About the Author
Patricia Shehan Campbell is the author of numerous books on music for children, a teacher, and an active musician. Her training in education and ethnomusicology has led her to the development of curriculum in music and cultural studies, and has helped shaped her unique approach to understanding children and their musical capacities. In addition to her post as Donald E. Peterson Professor at the University of Washington, she has lectured on world music pedagogy and children's musical involvement throughout North America, in much of Europe and Asia, in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Reviews
Seldom does one find a research book that you 'can't put down.' Scholarly yet conversational, this book tells us much about the children we teach. It will surely impact on what I teach and how I present my music methods courses. * Sr. Rita Schweitzer, Mount Mary College *
This wonderful book offers revealing insights into the way children think about music, the way music is taught in schools, and significant ways music education could be improved. Don't let the skillful presentation and engrossing narrative style fool you: this is a very important book. * Anthony Seeger, Professor of Ethnomusicology, UCLA *
This book is a genuine revelation and the foundation for a revolution in music education because it tells us what children are doing with music and lets us hear their voices describing the power of music in their lives. Patricia Campbell observes closely, listens carefully, and explains patiently that all young children are full of musicking skills, very music-minded, and full of wisdom about what they need from us to become fully realized musicians, if only we would listen. * Charles Keil, President of Musicians United for Superior Education, Inc. *
Songs in their Heads is an interesting examination of music and its role in the life of a child. * Kimberly Golder, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh *
I literally could not put this book down. I am very excited to add this as required text for my graduate music methods class. * Madeline S. Bridges, Belmont University *



Book Information
ISBN 9780195382525
Author Patricia Shehan Campbell
Format Paperback
Page Count 328
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Dimensions(mm) 155mm * 231mm * 20mm