The Mood of the Fifth

The Mood of the Fifth: A Musical Approach to Early Childhood

This book collects a wide range of perspectives on the theme of music in the mood of the fifth, in order to help teachers and caregivers understand and work with this important means of supporting the healthy development of the young child. Classic articles by Jennifer Aulie, Wilma Ellersiek, and Rita Jacobs are included, along with new contributions by Michael Deason-Barrow, Jana Hawley, Renate Long-Breipohl, Sally Schweizer, Estelle Bryer, Eleanor Winship, Jill Taplin, and many others.

“To create an environment that nourishes the young children in our care . . . an environment filled with beauty, warmth, and joy. . . an environment that supports the child’s growth in body, soul, and spirit: This is our goal as adults inspired by Waldorf education. And music is part of that environment!

Rudolf Steiner tells us that “song is an earthly means of recalling the experience of pre-earthly existence.” How can we joyfully do honor to this inspiring thought?

“…After many years of experimenting with the mood of the fifth, I am so glad to be able to offer this collection of articles by our colleagues in the Waldorf movement! Many teachers find the journey into mood-of-the-fifth music a bit daunting; and many may share my resistance to making such a journey just because “we are supposed to.” The authors in our collection present a wide variety of approaches to this topic, sharing their own experiences and research into the “what, why, and how” of mood-of-the-fifth music.” –Nancy Foster, from the Introduction

About the Author

Nancy Foster taught kindergarten, nursery, and parent/child classes at Acorn Hill Waldorf Kindergarten and Nursery in Maryland for over thirty years. She continues to be active in teacher training, and serves as Membership Coordinator of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America. Nancy is the author of Let Us Form a Ring and Dancing as We Sing, collections of seasonal songs, verses, stories, and rhythmic games, as well as In a Nutshell: Dialogues with Parents at Acorn Hill. She previously edited The Seasonal Festivals in Early Childhood: Seeking the Universally Human