Sounds to Share: The State of Music Education in Three Reggio Emilia-Inspired North American Preschools

Renowned around the world, schools within the municipality of Reggio Emilia, Italy, have inspired North American early childhood educators for over 25 years. Despite the popularity and usage of the Reggio Emilia approach in the United States, music educators may find it unfamiliar. There is a lack of research that has discussed the use of music or application of music education in Reggio-inspired schools. The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine the state of music education in three North American preschools inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. The research was guided by three questions: (1) How is music socially constructed and integrated into a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool classroom's daily life curriculum? (2) How does music education in Reggio-inspired classrooms compare to the national preK music standards? and (3) What aspects of Reggio Emilia-inspired preschools may be transferable to early childhood music classroom contexts? The researcher asserted that music was prevalent in these schools and that several models of the music teacher role existed; however, more work needs to be done to realize the full potential of this organic, synergistic relationship.