Joining Lisa in episode 55 is Dr. Helena Rodrigues, Artistic Director of Companhia de Musica Teatral (CMT), an organization championing musical experience and the arts for social and human development. Dr. Rodrigues founded the Laboratory of Music and Communication in Childhood and is a professor in the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at the University of Lisbon. She talks with Lisa about CMT, community engagement, and the influences of Gordon’s Music Learning Theory and Trevarthen’s Communicative Musicality on her work in Portugal.

Joining in the conversation are Vivian and Tiago Madalozzo. Vivian Madalozzo is a PhD candidate in Childhood Studies at the University of Minho and Dr. Tiago Madalozzo is Assistant Invited Professor at the Department of Arts, School of Education, at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança and at the Department of Education, at the Douro Higher Institute of Educational Sciences. Both are researchers and educators focusing on early childhood music and teacher training. The Madalozzos discuss their experience engaging their community through early childhood music education in Brazil. They also reflect on Helena’s work with CMT and share personal insights about parenting musically in Portugal.

Episode 55 shownotes:

Companhia de Musica Teatral (CMT) webpage

Companhia de Música Teatral - BebéBabá video (Youtube)

Companhia de Música Teatral Bebé-Plim-Plim video (Youtube)

Helena’s co-authored article, “Music for mothers and babies living in a prison: A report on a special production of ‘BebéBabá’”

Further articles and books about Helena’s work and the work of CMT

Tiago’s article, Childhood cultures and early childhood music education: A driving axis for creActive music listening

Vivian’s co-authored article, Intersections between music education and the sociology of childhood in Brazil: Searching for children’s agency and musical protagonism

Joining Lisa in episode 54 is Josiah Birai, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Cheza Music School, a Nairobi-based in-home music school dedicated to helping children and families experience music in a joyful, structured, and confidence-building way. Josiah speaks about the way he and his colleagues support their students’ musicking and performing. Kenyatta University Senior Lecturer Dr. Elizabeth A. Andang’o responds with insights on music education in Kenya, emphasizing the importance of considering how music supports children’s identity and self-knowledge. Elizabeth also shares her research working with grandmothers in Kenya, highlighting the grandmothers’ deliberate use of music to cultivate relationships with their grandchildren as well as to pass along religious values.

Episode 54 shownotes:

Cheza Music School, Nairobi Web Page

Josiah Birai’s faculty page

Cheza Music School Facebook

Cheza Music School Instagram

Elizabeth A. Andang’o’s faculty page

Elizabeth A. Andang’o’s article, “The role of music in shaping children’s self-knowledge and identity: Perspectives from an African setting”

In Episode 53, Lisa interviews pianist, cross media artist, and music educator, Dr. Fang Ting Huang. Fang Ting creates immersive new-media installations and interactive musical experiences that integrate technology, arts, and music. Fang Ting reflects on her musical childhood in Taiwan, her studies in Europe, and her career as a cross media artist and musical collaborator. Responding to Fang-Ting’s interview is Dr. Melody Liao, a professor of early childhood education, practitioner of Dalcroze Eurythmics, and advocate for early childhood music education. Melody shares insight from her exploratory music-making as a child in rural Taiwan and her current research on the use of loose parts in early childhood music spaces.

Episode 53 Shownotes:

Fang Ting Huang’s YouTube channel

Fang Ting’s new video performance, Coco’s Piano Diary Ep. 1

Fang Ting Huang’s new media performance of "On My Way”

Fang Ting Huang’s performance of Debussy’s “L’isle Joyeuse” on location by the sea

Behind-the-scenes video of filming “L’isle Joyeuse” on location

Melody Liao’s webpage with more information on her research

Penn State Research-to-Practice Tip Page on Loose Parts & Early Childhood Play

Research videos from Melody’s research on loose parts: (1) Loose parts in in-between spaces, (2) loose parts musical play on a playground fence

Melody Liao’s research on loose parts in early childhood education, “The Possibilities of the In-Between Space: A Case Study on Creating a Music Environment in a Preschool Setting”