Music in Childhood: an exposition on the pedagogical practice developed in the Max and Mia Course in the Wonderful Land of Music

Abstract

Max and Mia in the Wonderful Land of Music is a music education course for children aged between four and six, which places particular emphasis on parental involvement as a means of fostering socialisation through music as a social and cultural practice. It is a pedagogical experience adopted in several European countries, involving music teachers, researchers, and other professionals dedicated to early childhood education. 

This text presents the pedagogical framework developed for a lesson within the course. It outlines the objectives, didactic content, strategies, and material resources used in the music sessions involving both parents and children. To support this presentation, it was considered essential to interview the director of the Institute of Modern Music Education and its pedagogical coordinator. Through this reflection, the aim is to present the Max and Mia in the Marvellous Land of Music course and to highlight its potential within the field of music education, recognising it as a valuable space for promoting music and the arts in educational contexts. The programme encourages the joint participation of parents, teachers, and children in a collective musical learning experience which, beyond the acquisition of musical skills, promotes the development of sociability, emotional bonding, and communication, integrating music as a meaningful artistic practice in everyday life.