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Volume 4,Issue 1

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26 October 2025

Music as a Teaching Method in the Development of Teaching Competence among Pre-service Early Childhood Teachers

Lingyan Chen*
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1 Doctor of Philosophy in Education, Lincoln University College, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
CEF 2025 , 3(9), 105–110; https://doi.org/10.18063/CEF.v3i9.1083
© 2025 by the Author. Licensee Whioce Publishing, Singapore. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

This study examines how music can function as a pedagogical method in preservice early childhood teacher education, rather than as an isolated subject. Drawing on classroom observations, teaching materials, and reflective writings, the study explores how preservice teachers integrated music into their teaching practice.

The findings indicate that music supported teaching competence in several practical ways. First, music helped preservice teachers organize teaching activities more coherently, particularly in managing transitions and classroom routines. Second, music facilitated teacher–child interaction by supporting participation and shared engagement in classroom activities. Third, reflective analysis suggests that the use of music encouraged preservice teachers to think more carefully about the relationship between teaching decisions and children’s learning responses.

From an educational understanding perspective, the study suggests that music can serve as a mediating means through which preservice teachers connect pedagogical intentions with classroom practice. The findings highlight the value of integrating music as a method of teaching within early childhood teacher education programs.

Keywords
music as a teaching method
teaching competence
pre-service teachers
early childhood education
References

[1] Ball DL, Forzani FM, 2018, Building a common core for learning to teach: And connecting professional learning to practice. Journal of Teacher Education, 69(2): 107–110.

[2] Blaikie F, Daubney A, 2021, Rethinking music teaching in early childhood: Creativity, engagement, and pedagogy. International Journal of Music Education, 39(3): 222–236.

[3] Brown ET, Meidl C, 2020, Supporting preservice teachers’ reflective practice through structured observation. Teaching and Teacher Education, 96: 103189.

[4] Conway C, 2019, Pedagogical content knowledge in music teacher education: Current trends and issues. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 37(3): 27–33.

[5] Russell-Bowie D, 2019, Integrating music across the early childhood curriculum: Teachers’ perceptions and practices. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 44(4): 309–321.

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