by Author Sightlines Init...

Published on

You are here:

The Drama of Sound: Review and Development 2014: musicality as a language of expression in early childhood education

Are you interested in developing creative music practice with young children?

We are inviting educators, musicians and others working in early childhood education to review and take part in professional development, building on the approach outlined in our ‘Drama of Sound’ work.

The Drama of Sound DVD explores ways of working with children’s creativity and imagination through music and dance, within a culture of collaborative, reflective practice. Sections of the film are available to watch free online (http://bit.ly/1e92aRf). The DVD with additional CPD materials is available from our website, www.sightlines-initiative.com

We would like to work with people interested in the Drama of Sound to find out about the effectiveness of the DVD and other CPD materials, and to support further professional development.

Overall aims and intents of the Drama of Sound work

We aim to

  • enable young children to become competent, enthused and empowered to use music as a way of expressing their ideas and communicating with one another.
  • encourage young children to respond to sound and to see the language of music as a tool for interpreting and understanding the world.
  • encourage parents to develop enthusiasm for participating in musical activities with their children, and to understand the importance of music as a way for children to express themselves.
  • enable early years educators to develop high levels of competence in working with children’s musical ideas

What happens?

Children develop understandings of the expressive qualities of musical sounds and acquire skills equipping them to use music as a communicative tool. This has a positive impact on the children’s confidence, self-esteem, and their ability to communicate with others.

The adults explore and draw out key interests and dispositions of the children, creating new opportunities and contexts for musical exploration and expression. The children explore musical ideas using a wide variety of instruments and materials, their bodies and their voices.

Each group works towards a co-constructed composition to be shared and celebrated at the end of the project. Parents are encouraged to exchange knowledge, thoughts and ideas as the work progresses, and are kept informed of the children’s work through letters, meetings and project sharing sessions.

The learning of the children and the adults is made visible to a wider audience through professional development activities such as meetings, project celebration events and conferences.

Get involved!

During March - July 2014 we will be

  • supporting new groups who are working with the Drama of Sound material to develop their work
  • raising awareness of the Drama of Sound CPD materials, and associated UK projects
  • reviewing the effectiveness of the DVD as a professional development tool and developing additional support materials.

The invitation: how to respond and when 

You will have seen a presentation of the project, or have viewed the film: If you…

a) would like to know more, b) would like to give us feedback about the material, c) have worked with the Drama of Sound materials in the past, or d) have decided that you want to focus on professional development in or with your setting(s) considering and using this material as a frame of reference,

..then get in touch directly.

We want to begin with a defined group after February half term, being in periodic connection, giving occasional suggestions, offering a project exchange facility during the Spring and Summer.

At the end of this period we will produce/publish a synthesis of yours and the whole group’s changes, achievements, findings and aspirations.

 

About Sightlines Initiative

Sightlines Initiative supports creative thinking and practice in early childhood services in North-East England and across the UK and is the UK reference point for the Reggio Children Network founded in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

The musicality project The Drama of Sound is grounded in our professional development framework for early childhood education: Developing Environments of Enquiry, about which there is more on our website. Your Drama of Sound CPD work will therefore progress most fruitfully in connection with the characteristics of this framework.

In the first instance please contact us on: catherine@sightlines-initiative.com, or if you want to ask more, please ring Robin Duckett on 0191 261 7666 .

We look forward to hearing from you!  Catherine Reding & Ben Sandbrook, Drama of Sound Review Leaders