The Child as Musician

This comprehensive handbook offers an authoritative exploration of musical development from infancy through late adolescence, synthesizing cutting-edge research with established theories about how children acquire musical skills. McPherson presents complex developmental psychology and music education concepts in accessible language, surveying the remarkable diversity of ways young people engage with music across different cultures and learning environments. The book's systematic approach covers everything from prenatal musical exposure to advanced adolescent performance, though it concentrates most heavily on the formative childhood years when fundamental musical capacities take root.

What distinguishes this work is its interdisciplinary scope, blending insights from cognitive science, education, and developmental psychology to create a holistic understanding of musical growth. Teen musicians and young adults pursuing music education will find particularly valuable the research-backed strategies for skill development and the examination of how musical abilities evolve alongside other cognitive functions. This volume stands as an essential resource for anyone serious about understanding the science behind musical development and the factors that shape young musicians' journeys.