Janez Bitenc – Nestor of Children’s songs and Musical Fairy Tales

Abstract

The paper presents Janez Bitenc, composer of songs for children and musical fairy tales for young children, as the person responsible for the development
of pre-school music education. As a music editor and educator, Bitenc was convinced that singing in family circles was declining, which was why he became a strong advocate of placing greater importance on music education in kindergartens and early-stage elementary school classes. Bitenc wrote lyrics, melodies and fairy tales, and, what is more, devised an original method of how to teach children’s songs.