A journey into early years music delivery
WOW! What an amazing journey I have been on in these past 18 months! I am absorbing so much knowledge, information, and experience, and it is just wonderful!
I am a professional musician by trade, playing in various musical outfits and teaching woodwind, piano, and theory to children as young as 5 years old, all the way to adults in their 80s, however, when I had a child of my own four years ago and started taking him to various groups and baby music classes, it was then that I discovered I had a passion for early years music.
I was introduced to Sue Ridyard from Note Weavers CIC through the manager of a music school I work at in Blackburn, and was invited to find out about an Early Years music project in Blackburn – ‘Shared Sounds’. The aims of the project are to:
- support families of young children through music
- support music leaders and early years practitioners to develop their knowledge and experience to lead music activities with young children
- embed an early years music programme at The Bureau Centre for the Arts in Blackburn.
I was delighted to be offered the chance to work on Shared Sounds as a trainee. I was eager to develop my understanding of how music helps develop all areas of a young child’s development and was looking forward to putting this into practise, so when the opportunity arouse, I grasped it with both hands!
Throughout this project, I have established most of my practical training from Sorrel Harty, who (to me) is utterly brilliant at delivering these sessions as she’s had tonnes of experience working in nurseries, pre-schools, and reception classes. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the guidance and support from her and Sue when given the opportunity to deliver the sessions myself.
Shared Sounds began delivery in April 2020 so, thanks to lockdowns, the programme delivery has constantly evolved. I have run sessions via Zoom and in person, worked with local partners such as family support groups, children’s centres and with local authority social integration programmes and I’ve absolutely loved it! I never imagined myself as an early years music practitioner, but I believe I have now found my calling and I am really looking forward to what the future is going to bring.
I am currently doing the CME: EC (Certificate in Music Education, Early Childhood) level 4, based at CREC (Centre for Research in Early Childhood) which is funded by the Shared Sounds project. I am thoroughly enjoying the learning process and feel very fortunate to have been able to connect and share experiences with with so many different early years practitioners and settings. My tutor is the very knowledgeable Zoe Greenhalgh, and through her feedback and guidance I can advance my own work, and all being well able to say I am a certified Level 4 Music Practitioner at the end of the year! Watch this space.
Liz Nightingale September 2021