What I’ve learned on Quench Arts’ Musical Wonderland project by Nicola McAteer (Shadow Artist)
This was the first literacy-based project I have worked on and I was really intrigued to learn more about the relationship between music and literacy within an early years context. The chosen books have all been brilliant with huge variation and themes between them giving space for a lot of different musical styles to be used. I have been based in Handsworth Library for whole duration of the project which I have really enjoyed as I have been able to get to know the library staff, children who attend and staff and parents really well. I have seen the same children attend throughout the project and it’s been amazing to see how the children’s engagement has developed.
Shadowing on the project has given me the opportunity to work alongside different Lead Artists which has exposed me to a huge range of approaches and styles of practice. Being a cellist, my own style of practice is deeply dictated to by my instrument and I love to include this in most things I do. I was able to bring my cello to many Musical Wonderland sessions and lead instrumental based activities that are in-keeping with my own practice style. On the other hand, I was also able to develop a less refined skill I had which was ‘story telling’. As most of the music practice I work on is based around non-verbal communication, the idea of verbal story telling did make me a feel a little nervous! Using the set children’s story books gave a really easy way into this and the more I did it, the more I relaxed and naturally incorporated musical approaches along the way.
The training sessions have been great in how to involve story books into a music session. I really benefited from the range of different people attending the training which included other shadow artists as well as parents and nursery school staff which gave a diverse and interesting knowledge and skill base. The set texts and plans given at the training sessions have made it really easy to go out into the community and deliver a session. The explanation and approaches behind them have also made it simple in how to develop other children’s books into a musical context. My understanding of early years is so much deeper from working on this project and I feel very comfortable with delivering music sessions based around children’s stories and imaginative play.
As I am also a mom of a 6 year old little boy who has consistently struggled with his reading since he began nursery school, I have seen first-hand how his interest and love of reading has at times diminished due to these difficulties. Musical Wonderland is such a wonderful project, engaging young children, early years staff and parents in a really joyous space to nourish the love of books and reading. I’m really going to miss the project but hope to have the chance to incorporate many elements into my work in the near future and at home with my son!
