Lived Experiences of Adult Caregiver “Nonmusicians” and “Nonsingers” in Early Childhood Music Classes

Many adults do not see themselves as musical, and about 17% believe they are tone deaf. People who identify as tone deaf often believe this condition is congenital and permanent and prevents them from ever singing accurately. In many early childhood music (ECM) classes, adults participate as musical models, interacting with their children by moving, chanting, vocalizing, and singing. Using phenomenological inquiry, we explored the lived experiences of six adult self-identified nonmusicians/nonsingers as they made music with their child over the course of a 10-week session of ECM. Participants reported changes in their thinking about what makes someone a musician, evolving feelings about their singing voices, and increased enjoyment of singing and willingness to sing. We conclude with implications for ECM teachers and other music educators working with adults who see themselves as unmusical.