A linguagem musical: uma investigação na formação inicial do professor de educação infantil

Abstract

The importance of music to children s whole development has led to reflections related to initial training of early childhood education teachers. Knowing that the majority of Pedagogy course programs do not include Musical Language in their programs, questions about the necessity of its insertion in teachers training courses have been discussed. Considering the role musical education plays in children development, and demystifying the use of music by specialists, the main objective of this paper is analyzing the importance this subject has in initial training of early childhood education teachers. The specific objectives are: verifying teachers concepts about teaching and about the insertion of music in early childhood education; identifying the concept teachers have about planning teaching activities; analyzing the methodology teachers use to teach music to early childhood education groups. Data were collected by means of a semi-structured interview made with teachers who work in Pre I and Pre II classes in a municipal school located in the outskirts of Presidente Prudente. Organized in axis and categories, the interviewers answers (oral and written) have been analyzed and discussed in relation to the proposed objectives. The investigation results have shown that the insertion of music in Pedagogy course programs may contribute not only to teachers personal and professional formation, but also to their students whole development. It has also been observed that teachers still believe that musical language should only be taught by specialists. Thus they are not prepared or motivated to deal with Musical Language as it is concerned in the official curriculum references and national parameters to early childhood education. Despite their efforts in doing their best, all the interviewed teachers have declared that if musical language had been a subject in their training course, their performance in the area would certainly be better. Therefore, institutions of higher education should start a reflection process in order to restructure their Pedagogy course programs. Teachers, on the other hand, should make use of the continuing education opportunities to overcome the difficulties in inserting the musical language in their teaching practice, with the comprehension of its importance to children development.