Songs in Their Heads : Music and Its Meaning in Children's Lives

This insightful exploration of children's musical worlds reveals how young people naturally integrate music into their daily experiences, from playground chants to personal soundtracks. Patricia Shehan Campbell blends ethnographic research with educational observation to document the songs children actually sing and the rhythms they create spontaneously. The book moves beyond formal music education to examine how children use music for emotional regulation, social bonding, and personal expression in their own cultural contexts. Through children's own words and musical behaviors, Campbell demonstrates that young people are not just passive consumers but active creators of musical meaning.

What makes this work particularly valuable is its respectful approach to children as musical authorities in their own right, capturing the authentic soundscape of childhood rather than imposing adult musical values. Music educators will find crucial insights about connecting formal instruction to students' existing musical lives, while parents and caregivers gain understanding of how music functions in child development. The research reveals how children assign personal significance to different musical styles and use specific songs for particular emotional or social purposes. Campbell's work ultimately challenges us to listen more carefully to the sophisticated musical minds already at work in the children around us.