Big story, short song: Exploring Indigenous knowledges through music in early childhood

This paper presents findings from research undertaken in an early learning centre in Melbourne, Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musician and cultural historian Jessie Lloyd led a workshop for 3 and 4 year old children. Jessie shared a collection of stories and songs that are an introduction to a broad range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands histories and cultures through music that can be taught by Indigenous and non-Indigenous teachers. The stories and songs included: traditional and newly-composed songs and dances from Zenadth Kes (Torres Straits), a song about the Aboriginal flag and another about the Torres Strait Islands flag, Jessie’s family’s story of the Stolen Generations through song, and instruments such as clapsticks, Kulap and ukulele.



An ethnographic case study was undertaken guided by questions such as: What happened? What did Jessie do and why? How did the children and the teacher respond? Data collection included an audio recording of the workshop, a collective reflective conversation with the researchers, an interview with an EC teacher, observations of the children, and the children’s perspective through reflective drawings created after the workshop. This paper focusses on the pedagogical approach that Jessie used and the educational purpose behind each story and song. Some opportunities and challenges are also considered for sharing these stories and songs in Australian classrooms.