How This Music Project Supports Developmental Learning

I’m currently running a great music project with 3-4 year olds at Hester’s Way Children’s Centre in Cheltenham. The cyber equivalent would be open source-type projects I suppose. We began with a basic overview and invited staff and children to contribute ideas as we go along, thus building the project together organically.

I adapted Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Little Fir Tree’ story and turned it into a song that becomes a mini-play for Christmas. On the way, the children are learning some motor skills, instrument playing skills, singing, focus, and even self-discipline – at age 3 & 4!

Using staff evaluations, and monitoring the participation levels of each child to see what works for them, we’re creating a music project that serves the needs and ideas of the participants.

We begin with a very tight structure to engender confidence, self-esteem, and to enable the quick uptake of new knowledge and skills in order to progress quickly. Importantly, we’re addressing two major areas -Listening and Beat Competency. Both of these areas in my experience provide an enormous impact on children’s ability to learn through experiencing and integrating quickly, providing lasting golden nuggets of self-esteem and competence. the song and sound play activities are providing a context for these experiences as well as a goal to help develop a linear approach.

Above all, the children are having a great time, so are we grown-ups. The children are enjoying the music and the activities which go with running music and sound-supported learning.

At the beginning of the week I was lucky to be invited to go to Uni-Tots in Worcester University to run a training session for the nursery staff there. We began with a two-hour introductory format to experience and explain some of my music and sound-play methods. Next, I’m going into three different age group classes to do hands on sessions with the staff and kids. We’ll finish off with another two hour session to discuss and work around any matters arising and to add more tools so that by the end of the training they shouild be able to happily run their own music sessions for a whole year and more using their own creative ideas. Can’t wait to see the results. Watch this space.

Coming up to Christmas I’m busy preparing my ‘Ear Comes Christmas’ CD Rom. There are ten silly Christmas songs including a Story and Song that become a mini play – The Lonely Christmas Tree referred to earlier. And, I’m including song sheets, chords and printable, photocopiable materials for colouring in and enjoying further the ‘Ear Comes Christmas’  experience. Have a look at www.earlyearsmusic.com if you want further info on this one.

Back soon

Craig