Harmonising education : achieving music early years learning outcomes through song-based pedagogy

Abstract

This practice-based dissertation presents the development of a Songbook Companion and an online platform tailored for Year 1 and Year 2 music education in Malta. Although the Learning Outcomes Framework (LOF) specifies clear musical objectives, there is a notable absence of locally developed resources (particularly songbooks) that directly support these goals. This project addresses that gap by creating an original, Malta-based songbook resource featuring newly composed songs aligned with specific LOF outcomes. Grounded in early childhood education and music pedagogy, the Songbook Companion adopts a child-centred, multisensory approach that integrates singing, movement, bilingual content and content-integrated learning. It promotes skills such as pitch accuracy, rhythm, performance confidence and expressive communication. The companion is complemented by teacher-friendly materials and an online video-sharing platform featuring videos with recorded performances and onscreen lyrics, enhancing accessibility for both specialist and non-specialist educators. Findings indicate that song-based pedagogy enhances engagement, inclusion and holistic development in early years classrooms. The resource underwent iteratively refinement based on educator and student feedback to enhance accessibility, clarity, and musical impact. By integrating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and immersion-based techniques, the Songbook offers a joyful and effective model for early music instruction. This study contributes a scalable, curriculum-aligned resource that addresses Malta’s educational needs while exemplifying best practices in early childhood music education both for native Maltese speakers and for those learning Maltese as a second or third language.