Learning is fun at Little Music Makers

Activities at Little Music Makers, organised by Chesterton Parents' Group and funded by a grant from theYouth Music Trust, are open to children of under school age. There are two sessions each Tuesday morning, usually with a total of 50 youngsters with their parents/carers. This description is written by a parent who had been attending the group since September.

Every Tuesday morning, children and their carers flock to Chesterton Methodist church for one of two musical sessions with Sonia.

She begins with a warm up. She takes us around the 'mulberry bush' whether it be a warm sunny morning or a cold windy one. We sit in a huge circle, children on laps and tiny ones in arms, in anticipation of the hour ahead. First we follow Sonia's lead in nursery rhymes with actions and sing-along songs, all designed to explore the senses. Children giggle as fingery spiders and warm breath tickes; they hold hands in rowing simulation; they cuddle Old MacDonald's animals and entertain us with associated squawks and moos.

A hush descends as the children realise that Sonia's got a bag and is looking at it with excited eyes. They creep forward to help her investigate its contents. Out comes a sewn-on shoe. Then another. 'It's Emily', they whisper. Out she comes to greet them all with a pat on the cheek and a big hello. The little ones love being led in Emily's songs - among them the grumpy pirates and, of course, sleeping bunnies.

Once Emily's gone to bed ready for next week, the parachute emerges. Balls are counted as they bounce in its centre and 'Jack' the dog is sent into the air as he 'jumps over the candlestick'. With the parachute packed away, Sonia hands over to the stereo for something classical. We create our own version of 'Fantasia' with swooshing scarves, bubble machines and anything else she magics up to animate Mozart. A final contrast arrives with Mrs Bunny, who loves twitching her nose and wriggling her toes before telling us all to stop staue still and see who falls apart in giggles first.

The last treat of the early session is the emergence of two huge boxes of instruments for up to half an hour of free play before the next group begins. Invariably, this is a noisy time as children beat drums, shake shakers, ding bells and make musical mayhem together. Not only does Little Music Makers entertain its attendees but it also teaches: our little ones learn about listening carefully, singing tunefully, counting, signing, following a leader, how to co-operate in a large group, being patient and taking turns.

Sessions run 09:30 - 10:15(Sonia led), 10:15-10:45 (free play with instruments), 10:45-11:30 (Sonia led). There is no charge for this group.

Rosemund Humphrey