The concept of preschool music education in Estonian education system

Abstract

The aim of study is to describe the development of the music educations concept in Estonian kindergartens and the factors influencing it. The purpose of study is to find out what changes have taken place in kindergarten music education in different historical periods? What are the factors that have influenced the formation of the concept of Estonian kindergarten music education? The aim of empirical part of the study was to find out about factors influencing the formation of the concept of music education at the Estonian kindergarten. The study relies on a combined design and an analysis of historical archival material and empirical data: questionnaire (n=183) and interviews (n=18) carried out with kindergarten music teachers. The data has been analysed using qualitative and quantitative methods. The subject of the research is the content and activity types of kindergarten music education and the role of music teacher in their implementation. The study confirmed that fundamental changes took place in Estonian kindergarten music education due to the change in political power in the 1940s. Following the example of the Soviet system of education, music in kindergarten became an independent music educational orientation and the position of a professionally trained music teacher was established (1947). It was also confirmed that in the newly independent Estonian Republic under the influence of innovative trends a new paradigm of music education arose∼ from the traditional singing-centred education towards the more balanced use of music activity types (attaching importance to the child-centred approach, an increase in the number and variety of activity types). The study reviled that there has been improvement and development deriving from contemporary trends in the clear concept that has evolved in Estonian kindergarten music education over a century; professionally trained music teachers have had a crucial role in shaping it; and kindergarten music education is firmly positioned as a part of preschool education in Estonian system of education.