Babigloo Music for Babies (0-12 months) Independent Case Study1 :
This is the one of four pages highlighting an independent evaluation by Nell Farrally case study of one family's experience of a 9 week Babigloo Music for Babies programme. Jess highlights some of the outcomes of her and Freddie attending the Babigloo 9 week programme:
- supporting music making at home,
- increasing access to music,
- relaxation,
- development,
- sensory stimulation and
- communicating with her baby
The full case study available at Babigloo Case Study 1
Background
Freddie was 3 months old when he first came to the Supporting music making at home Babigloo music sessions at the children’s centre. His mum, Jess, decided to try Babigloo after it was suggested by her support worker during a regular visit*. Jess was asked what she thought of Babigloo:
Honestly, the best group I’ve ever been to. It’s so different and unique. The first week I went I wasn’t expecting it. I thought it was a bit strange. It shocked me, but seeing Freddie enjoying it so much, was just really nice and was like a great bonding opportunity for the two of us.
* As Jess was under 18 when she became a parent, she was offered a support worker, which she described as, ‘rather than being a basic health visitor she helps us out with personal growth as well’.
Jess continued:
He loves it. He really seems to like music and making a lot of noise with the instruments I think that was one of the best parts of it for him.
Communication
Jess was asked what she thought of the aims of project – to help parents to enjoy music making and communicating with their babies.
Did she think that had happened for her?
Yeah, definitely. Before we went, all we really sung was nursery rhymes but now it’s great because I’m more confident making a load of noise with him really. We try to make as much noise and babbling as possible.
Supporting music making at home
Babigloo has helped Freddie to love music in so many different ways, watching him interact with the live musicians and their instruments especially has shone through in our home life as he is now far more interested in different sounds and noises that every object plays, he particularly loves bells and anything that he can shake!
Babigloo is a great way to expose him to new things that otherwise we may not do at home, with a new theme every week Babigloo never fails to entice and entertain our babies.
Development
Jess had an awareness of how music and Babigloo helped Freddie’s development:
Babigloo has helped Freddie in so many ways, watching his development over the course of the 8 weeks is amazing. I can see he is far more interactive and confident when with other people, something which I was worried was holding him back before. And just watch his growth, his development, it’s really improved.
Sensory stimulation
Jess felt that the sensory elements of Babigloo were important.
The programme has also helped him to become so much more aware of new sensations. There are so many new things for him to hear, touch and look at and watch every week and his reaction to them is always different.
When they had like the props and stuff out, so they have things like bubbles, they had a big bird, a moon, different sheets and stuff, and just like the sensory type of play that they get the babies involved with, that was something which stuck with me because he was so interested in it and just watching him take it all in, was really nice. He loves like when they hold things over his head and he can lay there or just sit and look at it, watch what they’re doing and listen to the music.
Relaxation
Babigloo has also helped Freddie to just relax in general, it’s such an amazing break from everyday routine, it’s a chance for him to learn, play and explore in a new environment, with new people, in ways he normally wouldn’t, it’s lovely to see him joining in, smiling and giggling so much, he’s a completely different child when we come home. He’s so busy enjoying the time he gets to spend with everyone at Babigloo he tires himself out so much he needs a nap the whole way home. Well obviously, with how calm it makes him, it’s a lot easier on me. It’s just a nice opportunity for us both to get out of the house and have a chance to do something which is more out of our daily routine rather than just playing at home on the floor with a bunch of toys. It’s a chance for use to go out and have fun as well.
Babigloo has built an even stronger bond between my son and I and has been such an amazing, eye opening experience. It’s certainly a memory parents can look back on and smile!
Access to music
Jess hadn’t taken part in other music making opportunities, other than during the Under One’s group at her children’s centre.
I’ve really liked the live musicians towards the end that was really interesting because obviously it’s something the babies haven’t really had a chance to see before. At the end once the group had finished we walk around and can take the babies over to the instruments to touch them and stuff and it was just something really different for them to do.
A call for more
Jess recognised the value of music making to young children.
A programme that continues past 12 months would be brilliant and so beneficial to babies and parents! As babies are learning and growing every day they are constantly building their knowledge and new associations, so see a child over one year old listening, learning and enjoying music in the way Babigloo is set up would help so much with their growing knowledge of the world, and hopefully encourage them to experience and enjoy music so much more as they grow into children, teenagers and even follow them into their adult lives.
The musicians’ perspective
The commitment of this young parent was amazing – taking two buses to get here and two back. She brought her partner a couple of times. She visibly matured over the nine weeks. By five sessions in, she was so much more confident. Of all the parents, Jess seemed to embrace and 'apply' the techniques. She and Freddie shared the provocations between them. Jess was eager to learn and apply the fact that the most everyday resources/materials can be used for play and to interpret music.
I felt that we had really achieved something if a teenager was engaged enough in classical music to travel so far on buses to attend every week. She literally never missed a session. Often by the time she reached us she was tired and stressed. The power of the music and method always transformed her whole appearance. I think the method works well with teenage parents as we have no conversation, so they don’t feel intimidated or judged. It was a privilege to see Freddie blossom and eventually trust us to hold him. The pleasure he got in seeing his mother dance from someone else’s arms was immense. Personally, my whole perception of teenage parents has changed irrevocably – they amazed and impressed me. Classical music can touch them too.
Project outcomes for Jess and Freddie
Jess and Freddie’s experience of Babigloo demonstrates how the project outcomes can be achieved for families. Jess had a good awareness of how making noise, babbling and interaction helps communication with her baby.
Babigloo helped Jess to develop her own musicality beyond nursery rhymes. She appreciated the multi-sensory aspects of music making and noted how Freddie loved music, sounds, bells and shakers. Although initially ‘shocked’ by Babigloo’s unique approach, Jess came to value the relaxing effect of Babigloo on Freddie, which she recognised helped her parenting. She showed a great deal of pleasure in how Babigloo’s music supported her relationship with her baby.
Thanks to the Youth Music funding Babigloo was privileged to work with musicians: Richard Hughes Accordion/Tuba and composer, Jane Saunders -Harp/Sax/Keyboard Mark O'Brien Bass Clarinet/Contra Bass/Clarinet/Sax (CBSO), Christine Roberts Clarinet (ex BSO), Helen Jenner -Flute, Rob Lee Viola/Multi.
The Babigloo Music Leaders are: Jenny Gordon, Michele O’Brien and Colin Phillimore Babigloo-Music for Babies
T: 07751525200
FB: babigloomusic
Twitter/Instagram: @Babigloo
Photograph Credits: Jaz @ The Arts Development Company and Babigloo
