The article discusses the opposite views of the role of the teacher in the management of the play activity of primary schoolchildren in the Ukrainian context. A review of modern international educational trends for the development of a framework model of play and musical and play training of schoolchildren is carried out, taking into account modern educational and social conditions, destructive and accumulated relevant views of domestic methodologists are highlighted. It has been proven that the modern style of group management is characterized not so much by the leader's leadership and team qualities as by his involvement in the general dynamics of the group. In the case of managing the musical and play activities of lower schools, this requires a fundamental reorientation of the teacher. Moreover, separate management will not be effective within the classroom, including if it falls out of the general weigh with the pupil outside of school. We recognize that within the framework of the theoretical model for the effectiveness of the management of musical and play activities, the future teacher must adhere to the appropriate stages, develop an organizational and methodological matrix of the game, take into account the pedagogical conditions for the use of musical games in educational work with younger students. The international significance of the article lies in the possibility of using international experience, which is adapted to the changing conditions of post-totalitarian countries, which requires testing authoritarian approaches to the management of education in primary schools.