Daisi's MusicStart Early Years Music Resources
As part of Daisi’s MusicStart project, funded by Youth Music, we produced resources in the form of a series of 18 short film clips: vimeopro.com/user29675546/daisi-cpd
Created by professional Early Years Music Leaders: Helen Wilson, Hugh Nankivell, Jane Parker, Rachel Thame and Karen Eaves -the films are not intended to be a comprehensive guide to the music leaders’ practice, but as suggestions of songs, exercises and approaches that can be used to engage Early Years Foundation Stage children in child-centred music activity.
Daisi’s MusicStart project was a professional development program, working across 10 settings in areas of deprivation across Devon and Torbay in 2016. Professional Early Years Music Leaders Helen Wilson, Hugh Nankivell, Jane Parker, Rachel Thame and Karen Eaves worked with EYFS staff across 5 half day sessions of supported leadership to develop their skills and confidence in facilitating child-led music making. The individual approach – with the music leaders being able to tailor make a development programme specifically to the needs of individual staff and settings – led to significant gains in staff skills and confidence, and fundamental shifts in how children can access and experience music in the settings.
“I have applied the ideas to my circle time at the end of the day. It has become part of my everyday practice,” Julie, Yeo Valley Primary School EYFS Unit
“We discussed ideas together, we devised together and then I have just got on and used them. I can really see children thriving in the musical environment. Its more intimate without as much pressure from other areas, its opened up doors for them, its really nice, some will even sing with me and join in now,” Jordan, East The Water Primary School EYFS Unit
The films were created as reminders to the staff who took part in the supported leadership programme of some of the activities they had seen delivered, and to provide a broad range of approaches and ideas to help them plan further provision. They demonstrate activities that allow children to develop their inherent musicality as well as encouraging communication, language and number understanding. Several of the clips emphasise children’s social, emotional and physical development through music.
We hope others will find the resources useful too!