A pioneering music educator reveals how music can supercharge early childhood development—and explains how parents and educators can harness its power.

Since opening her famed Parisian conservatory over three decades ago, Joan Koenig has led a global movement to improve children’s lives and minds with the transformative power of music. With a curriculum and philosophy drawn from cutting-edge science, L’École Koenig has educated and empowered even its youngest students—from baby Max, whose coordination and communication grow as he wiggles and coos to targeted songs and dance routines, to five-year-old Constance, who nourishes her empathy, creativity, and memory while practicing music from other cultures. In The Musical Child, Koenig shares stories from her classrooms, along with tips about how to use the latest research during the critical years when children are most sensitive to musical exposure and most receptive to its benefits.

A gift for parents, caregivers, musicians, and educators, The Musical Child reveals the multiple ways in which music can help children thrive—and shows how, in the twenty-first century, its practice is more vital than ever.

Based on thirty years of research and classroom experience, this practical guide reveals:

• The Neuroscience of Early Learning: How the latest scientific research explains the powerful link between music, brain growth, and your child’s developing mind from infancy onward.
• A Practical Guide to Child Development: Age-by-age strategies to support key milestones in language, coordination, empathy, and creativity, drawn from decades of classroom experience.
• Hands-On Activities for Kids: Simple, joyful games and exercises—no musical training required—that you can use to make “musicking” a part of your family’s daily life.
• The First Duet: Why the simple act of singing and engaging with your baby is a crucial form of communication that builds a foundation for a lifetime of confidence.