The ingredients for an Early Years Music Project
This workshop explored the ingredients you need for a successful Early Years (EY) music project and gave insight into what Youth Music is looking for in Early Years grant applications. This blog gives an overview of what was covered in the workshop.
You can watch the full workshop above. You can also download the PowerPoint presentation, and summaries of the discussions about the qualities of project leads and music leaders.
The workshop was co-delivered by Jane Parker (SoundWaves Network Project Leader at Take Art, Artist Mentor for their Making & Believing project and CME: Early Childhood Course Director) and Zoe Kilb (Programme Manager at Youth Music and their Early Years lead).
Suggested ingredients for an EY music project
We suggested that the key ingredients are the different people involved in a project.
- Project lead /programme manager
- Music leaders
- EY partners (settings/ families /EY advisory teams)
- Other partners (e.g., Music Education Hubs, arts organisations – depending on the project)
It’s the qualities of these ‘ingredients’ that will make the impact.
Qualities of a project lead/project manager
Workshop participants discussed the desirable skills /qualities of a project lead/project manager. These fell into these broad categories.
- Knowledge and experience of the Early Years
- Partnership working/collaboration/networking skills
- Evaluation skills
- Able to support project team
- Communication skills
- Has an overview of the project
- Financial skills
- Flexible and adaptable
- Pro-active and motivated
- Good listener
- Admin skills
- Problem solver
- Capacity
- Knowledge of relevant legislation/statutory requirements
- Research skills
Download this document to see the full list of project lead qualities.
Jane gave her suggested ingredients; it was positive to see that these aligned with the group discussions:
- A funding application writer, an interim report writer, a final report writer
- Excellent knowledge of early childhood music education
- Early childhood music practitioner
- Speaker / Presenter
- Trainer / Mentor / Counsellor....
- Be open to a wise sounding board
- An understanding / appreciation of the worlds of their partners
- A recruitment specialist
- Project manager skills
- Personable
- Flexible
Time
We discussed the importance of giving yourself enough time at the start of a project to find, connect, and collaborate with your partners and listen to their needs, and to recruit your music leaders. We encouraged organisations to think carefully about who they need their music leaders to be. To think about which skills and experience are most important; this being relevant to where you are working, who you are working with, your project aims and your organisational aims.
Ingredients of a music leader
Workshop participants discussed the desirable skills /qualities of a music leader. They fell into these broad categories:
- Flexible
- Playful
- Enthusiastic
- Communication skills
- Resilience
- Musical and creative skills
- Child centred practice
- Team worker
- Knowledge of child development and musical development
- Sensitive to the needs of the group they are working with
- Reflective and constantly learning
- Evaluation skills
- Organisational and admin skills
- Multi-skilled /jack of all trades
Download this document to see the full list of music leader qualities.
Jane gave her suggested ingredients; again, it was positive to see that these aligned with the group discussions:
- Has a knowledge and skills of child-centered practice.
- A willingness to learn.
- A skilled musician.
- A researcher.
- A trainer.
- A collaborator.
- Know WHY they do what they do.
How do you create an effective partnership with your ‘settings’ that gains the biggest impact?
We asked participant to rank the following three options:
- A setting with an effective respected gatekeeper who will shout about your project amongst their EY community
- A setting who has chosen a creative champion who will work alongside your music leaders as equals and share their learning together afterwards at a network event
- A setting that understands your expectations re the aim of project – this is action research and is not about an end product – but about noticing and responding appropriately to the children’s musicalit
The overall takeaway was that we should think about all three when developing partnerships.
Overview of what Youth Music is looking for in Early Years music projects
Zoe presented the features of EY projects that are likely to have the most impact. These were based on Youth Music’s own reflections on its funding programmes and consultation with grantholders and other stakeholders. Zoe highlighted the 3 key things to focus on when applying for a grant from Youth Music.
- How your project addresses Youth Music’s Early Years priority area.
For children aged 0-5 who face barriers to accessing music-making because of their circumstances or where they live. We encourage programmes that promote:
- Access to quality, creative musical experiences that support children’s developmental needs.
- Shared learning between early years specialists, music specialists and parents, so that all become skilled, confident, and engaged in encouraging young children’s musicality.
- Workforce diversity.
- How you will incorporate Youth Voice into your Early Years project.
- How will you consult & co-design with Early Years children and the adults surrounding them (e.g., families, EY practitioners, community leaders, EY advisory teams etc.)
- How will you ensure your delivery is child-led and does not offer a top-down or set curriculum that does not enable you to respond to the children.
- Your commitment to improving Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in your organisation
- This should be relevant to your organisation and your community.
- Do you know what your EDI priorities are?
- What are you actively doing to change things?
Useful Links
The Soundwaves Network is an Early Years Music Network delivering in the Southwest. It aims to strengthen regional Early Childhood music practice. Visit the Soundwaves Network website to learn more.
To understand more about Youth Music’s approach to ‘Youth Voice’ in the Early Years read Youth Music Quality Framework for use in EY settings and Musical Development Matters (by Nicola Burke).
The Tune into Listening resource (by Nicola Burke) provides practical approaches to delivering child-led music-making and valuing children’s music-making.
Information about Youth Music Funding
Contact Jane Parker about the Soundwaves Network on jane@takeart.org
Contact Zoe Kilb about making an application on zoe.kilb@youthmusic.org.uk