Finding My Feet
One day, two groups, lots of children and tons of fun!!
Meeting a new WILD group is often more than just gathering everyone in a circle and beginning by singing our hello song; if only it were that simple. A new session one with a new group can sometimes feel like my first day on the job all over again. When I feel like I have no control over the session and little engagement from participants, it can seem rather chaotic. I calmly reassure mothers and creche workers, that it's ok that we're the only people singing and children are playing elsewhere. I then encourage them to bring the children back to the circle but watch every time children disengaging with the music. Yet all the while, I'm slowly imploding and losing confidence by the second. I take a step back and take everything in, and I offer the children full reign of the musical instrument box to try and encourage some to engage with the music. There are already tons of distractions for children (IN A ROOM FULL OF TOYS) - I am competing with the giants of children engagement. How can little old me compete with such established, well-loved, interesting toys which the children are used to engaging with when attending the group?
Fortunately, by a second visit, a familiar face, the routine of me being there allows me to at least gather some into a circle and begin singing our hello song. I can then hope to get further in the lesson plan as the weeks go by. Routine and familiarity are my best friends, with these two words each week with the mothers and children, I can defy anything (well not anything however I can defy lots more than the week before). They know why I'm there, the children know I have lots of interesting instruments for them to play with, they laugh at the silly songs that we sing and at some point during the session all mothers and all children are engaging with the music however long or short that interaction may be. Every interaction is important to their development.
There are two parts to the five music sessions, a practical music session with all the mothers and their children, followed by a separate session with just the mothers exploring their relationship with music. We also explore how music can be used to improve personal, social and emotional development, improve communication and literacy development, and improve the relationship and attachment between mother and child. After the five weeks, two more sessions are dedicated to allowing the mums to learn and develop skills to deliver their own music sessions. These are delivered by another music worker and as of yet I haven't been able to attend but listening to the stories from the mothers has been particularly inspiring for my development. When they thank me, when they comment on how they don't understand how I have all the energy, when they say they've had to pretend to be me and couldn't understand how I did five weeks. I realise I should never feel nervous to deliver, to talk, to lead, to share, to be creative, to communicate with any of the mothers, children, creche workers, project workers or anyone associated with WILD when I'm faciliating music. Music isn't my first language, that doesn't matter. There will always be learning, I suppose I don't really need mention that. I am learning in every second I am breathing. I am learning the most when I'm with the mothers at WILD.
With two more groups under my belt, I am certainly finding my feet at WILD. Everyone who has been a part of my music sessions so far have been incredible, demonstrating just how much I love being a part of 'Music Makes Me Happy.' Because although a project dedicated to our mothers and children, it is apparent that music makes me happy as well.
The new year brings three more groups for me to meet and explore music with. But for now, I would like to wish everyone of the Youth Music Community a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year for all things creative.