Educating Children for Creativity and Democracy Through a Music and Drama Community of Practice

The priority of promoting children’s creativity and democracy in educa­tion, which includes values such as freedom of expression, competence, respect for diversity, empathy, collaboration, dialogue and the develop­ment of critical thinking and curiosity, is strongly supported by com­munities of practice that foster these values and promote heuristic and sociocultural approaches to music learning and artistic expression. The research explored how children aged 5–10 years (N = 10) used musical and artistic forms for creative expression in music drama activities within a community of practice (music drama studio), and how elements of demo­cratic education were manifested in these activities. An ethnographic case study in early childhood education and care was used to explore children’s culture, experiences and actions through interactional and participatory observation methods. The data were analysed through a written proto­col of observation, transcriptions and video recordings. An inductive and deductive thematic analysis was used to better structure and interpret the data, organised into two main themes (categories): Forms of creative artistic expression and Democratic aspects of education. The conclusion emphasises that the integration of music, other arts and process drama within a community of practice, led by a skilled teacher, provides authen­tic learning opportunities that foster democratic artistic expression, crea­tivity and holistic development, preparing children for active citizenship.