Musical Play

Please note the project has now finished.  There is a parent run toddler group on saturdays 12-2pm which has access to the music resources.

We are currently running our Baby Music project, primarily funded by Youth Music, which provides musical activities for children aged 6 and under in Keighley and the surrounding area. Our music rooms are outfitted with a wide range of instruments and equipment designed for young children, and we use a number of different techniques to encourage musical development from a young age. With the younger group (0-3) we do some group singing and encourage the children to interact with the instruments alongside their parents, mostly allowing the group to run as a free play session. This gives them the exposure to music in their lives that will lead to them being able to choose to pursue it further as they grow up.  The older group (3-6) is a little more structured, going between basic instrument tuition, group drumming and singalongs, showing the group the importance and value of ensemble playing, and we also give them opportunities to compose their own melodies and rhythms so as to really engage with music as a creative art form.  

By giving the participants of the Baby Music project this level of exposure to music from a very young age, we hope they will have the opportunity to pursue music as an interest in later life.  Previous music related projects have shown an astounding amount of emotional growth among the participants. The self-confidence that came from developing a creative skill and working in groups helped the young people we worked with to feel more positive about themselves and their ability to succeed in other aspects of their lives.  Engaging in group music is important for developing social skills, self confidence, language and maths. The self-confidence that comes from developing a creative skill and working in groups helps young people to feel more positive about themselves and their ability to succeed in other aspects of their lives.  Through exploring musical concepts that relate to other subjects, we can support babies’ cognitive, social and educational development. In this way, even something as simple as an infant grabbing at the strings of a ukulele or the keys of a piano is a valuable part of their development.