February 7, 2026
9:30a-1:30p
Radford University
Radford, VA

Wiggle, Waggle, Sing, and Chant: Guiding Young Children’s Music Development Through Playful Interactions

In this session we will experience an active approach to music development in early childhood, based on the types and stages of Preparatory Audiation, and provide appropriate activities to encourage music development in playful, interactive ways. Participants will participate actively through moving, singing, and chanting, use of props and instruments, discussion, and questions/answer time.

Dr. Jennifer S. McDonel is Director of Music Education at Radford University, where she teaches early childhood and elementary music education courses and received the Donald N. Dedmon Distinguished Teaching Professor award in 2022 and the Dalton Eminent Scholar award in 2025 at Radford University. For over three decades, she has taught music and mentored students from birth to adulthood. She co-developed Primrose Schools’ Harmony & HeartTM music program, a national early education and care franchise. Her compositions and activities are featured in music teaching resources, including Zero-To-Three.org’s “Problem Solvers” early childhood curricula. Her album, Little Beats: Counting, Shapes, and Sets, received Grammy award consideration and is available on streaming services.