Unlocking the Rhythms of Childhood: How Music Shapes Our Lives

Lori A. Custodero, Professor of Music Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, delves into the profound impact of music on early childhood development and its lasting influence on our lives. Through interdisciplinary research and personal narratives, her latest book, "Before We Teach Music: The Resonant Legacies of Childhood and Children," explores the intricate connections between music, self-expression, identity, and the human experience.

Uncovering the Melodies of Our Formative Years

Music as a Means of Self-Expression and Communication

Music is a powerful tool for self-expression and communication, often taking root in the earliest stages of childhood. Custodero's research draws from various disciplines, including psychology, musicology, and anthropology, to examine how music shapes our experiences and identities, both as children and as adults. She found that parents' musical choices for their children were often influenced by their own musical backgrounds, with choir singers more likely to sing lullabies and instrumentalists preferring to play recorded music for their babies. "Music tells our stories," shares Ruth Aguirre, a student who contributed an autobiographical account in Custodero's book. "We are the experts of our own experiences. We are the culture bearers and storytellers."

Childhood Development and the Role of Music

Custodero emphasizes the crucial role of music in childhood development and learning. She encourages educators to connect their teaching to their own musical experiences and memories, as this awareness can guide them in creating meaningful and authentic musical experiences for their students. Studies have shown that infants produce singing-like sounds before speaking, indicating an overlap between the neural pathways for music and language. By age one, children can narrow their focus on specific language and sound features through exposure and practice, shaping their skills. "Exposure to varied forms of music and language is crucial for childhood development," adds Aguirre. "It [music] also guides children in regulating emotions and fostering empathy."

Connecting with Heritage and Culture through Music

Custodero's research highlights the profound impact of music on how we connect with our heritage and culture. She explains that as we grow into adulthood, we often have a yearning to share our cultural heritage, and music provides a powerful avenue for this connection. "Cultural music in early childhood includes the participation of the child in a multi-generational setting where familial and community bonds are forged and strengthened," writes Aguirre. "The child learns that their voice matters, and that they are supported by people who love them."

Rediscovering the Musical Self

Custodero's book invites readers to reconnect with the uninhibited expression and creativity they experienced as children. For adults, music can promote self-expression by opening connections to ways of being and creativity that were always innate. As Shane Bordeau, a contributor, reflects, "Expression through music and movement in children is natural, it is not yet un-learned. For adults, music promotes self-expression by opening connections to ways of being and creativity that were always innate."

Resonant Legacies and Lifelong Musical Journeys

The personal narratives shared in Custodero's book illustrate the profound and lasting impact of music on individuals' lives. Ruth Aguirre, for example, has found herself drawn to playing more music from Latin American cultures, founding a music group at Teachers College and performing with Mariachi Leones de Columbia University. These musical experiences have become an integral part of her identity and connection to her heritage.Custodero's work has been praised by experts in the field, including Peter Webster, Professor Emeritus at the Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University, who calls the book "required reading for all seeking to teach music." Beatriz Ilari, Professor at the Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California, describes the book as a "deep exploration of the presence of music in childhood and its 'resonant legacies' across a lifetime," while Marie McCarthy, Professor at the University of Michigan, praises it as an "eloquent, compassionate, and inspirational source for music education – an ode to music in childhood."Lori Custodero's "Before We Teach Music" invites us to rediscover the power of music in our lives, from the formative years of childhood to the lasting impact it has on our identities, relationships, and cultural connections. By exploring the resonant legacies of music, this book offers a profound and insightful perspective on the vital role of music in shaping our human experience.