Music education through the lens of ITERS-R: Discussing results from 206 toddler day care groups

Abstract

This article presents results from a large-scale Norwegian study that examines the quality of early childhood education and care, using the research tool ITERS-R. Although ITERS-R consists of 39 items, this article focuses solely on results within music education in Item 18. Music and movement. According to ITERS-R, results from 206 toddler day care groups reveal that the quality of music education in Norwegian day care is low. Our in-depth study of a single item reveals that a lack of musical toys and instruments is what yields such a low score. The quality of singing and the use of recorded music, however, scores better. These results point to a music education philosophy in ITERS-R that diverges somewhat from contemporary music education philosophies and curricula. The article therefore also discusses some potential consequences of this difference.