Children's musical experiences at home and how practitioners can build on them in an early years setting are explored by Susan Young in an extract from her new book, Music 3-5.

Kristy, aged five, has a karaoke set in her bedroom. Every morning before she goes to school, she plays a CD of her favourite boy-band and sings along with some of the tracks using the microphone. Her singing can be heard throughout the house. When I interview her parents, they tell me how well she can sing and how much they enjoy hearing her.

Aadesh, aged three, is looked after by his grandparents each morning, before he attends nursery school for afternoon sessions. At their house he watches a religious programme first thing in the morning and there are often Bollywood movies playing during the day. He has a small dholki (a barrel-shaped drum that is held horizontally) among his playthings.

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