Songs in Their Heads: Music and Its Meaning in Children's Lives (Paperback)

by Patricia Shehan Campbell (Author) "In the nooks and crannies of home, school, and neighborhood, and even within the times and places reserved for musical study, there is a steady..." (more)
Key Phrases: musical selves, musical behaviors, musical involvement, Horace Mann, African American, Janet Jackson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This wonderful book offers revealing insights into the way children think about music, the way music is taught in schools, and significant ways music education could be improved. Don't let the skillful presentation and engrossing narrative style fool you: this is a very important book."--Anthony Seeger, Curator, Smithsonian Institution
"This book is a genuine revelation and the foundation for a revolution in music education because it tells us what children are doing with music and lets us hear their voices describing the power of music in their lives. Patricia Campbell observes closely, listens carefully, and explains patiently that all young children are full of musicking skills, very music-minded, and full of wisdom about what they need from us to become fully realized musicians, if only we would listen."--Charles Keil, President of Musicians United for Superior Education, Inc.
"Songs in their Heads is an interesting examination of music and its role in the life of a child."--Kimberly Golder, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh
"I literally could not put this book down. I am very excited to add this as required text for my graduate music methods class."--Madeline S. Bridges, Belmont University


Product Description
This book explores the musical interest and needs of children in their daily lives. Based upon their expressed thoughts and actual "musicking" behaviors, this text examines the songs they sing, the rhythms they make, and the roles that music plays for them. Blending standard education field experiences with ethnomusicological techniques, Dr. Campbell demonstrates how music is personally and socially meaningful to children and what values they place on particular musical styles, songs, and functions. Sh0 explores musical behaviors in various contextual settings, and presents in notated and narrative forms some of the "songs in their heads," balancing music learned with music "made," and intentional, purposeful music with natural musical behavior.

Songs in Their Heads is a vivid and engaging book that bridges the disciplines of music education, musicology, ethnomusicology, and folklore. Designed as a text or supplemental text in a variety of music education method courses, as well as a reference for music specialists and classroom teachers, this book will also appeal to parents interested in understanding and enhancing music making in their children.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 16, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019511101X
• ISBN-13: 978-0195111019
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #296,269 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, May 12, 2007

By	Al "Alicia Excell" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Patricia's approach with children is sensitive and perceptive. I found this book personally helpful with children in my studio. Ms. Campbell's approach encouraged me to ask my students questions and I was pleasantly surprised by their honest and passionate ideas about music. I changed my program in response to their ideas. I appreciated that Patricia interviewed students of different abilities not just elite performers. The main idea is that they all had a meaningful connection to their music-making activities.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not an easy read, March 6, 2007

By	E. Seligmann (Aurora, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this book for a music education class. The book is divided into three sections. The first section describes scenes the author witnessed in various schools; the second section describes one-on-one interviews with children about music; the third section makes recommendations for music teachers based on her ethnographic observations of children. The third section has some compelling ideas in it, and the first two sections support her ideas there. However, if I hadn't been required to read it, I wouldn't have gotten through the first two sections in order to benefit from the third.

I agree with an earlier review - check it out from library rather than investing in the book yourself.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Library Book, January 28, 2005

By	Kari (Upstate NY) - See all my reviews

I enjoyed this discussion of children's natural bent for improvisation. However, this isn't the kind of book you refer back to a lot later on. I would suggest getting it through your local University library.

By the way, if you are a University librarian and your school has a music education department, you should definitely get this book!