Music for Early Learning

Songs and musical activities to support children's development

Linda Bance

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781136657085
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Didattica
• Subtopic: Didattica generale

Is my singing good enough? What should I do with instruments? How can I create a rich and exciting musical environment which will allow for both child and adult led musical activity?

Singing, dancing and music-making comes naturally to young children, but we as adults often lack confidence in our musical ability. This easily accessible book will help you to realise that everyone can be a creative music-maker with young children. It aims to inspire you to take young children's enthusiasm for music and create a musically rich environment that supports all areas of learning and development and at the same time celebrate music for music's sake.

Packed with activities, songs and musical games, this book includes:

• Recognising musical development in young children and the benefits of music-making in the early years
• Advice on inclusive practice
• Guidance on using musical instruments
• Ways to develop your own musicality
• Help with planning and assessment
• Chapters linking musical activities to each area of learning and development
• How to create a balance between adult-led and child-initiated activities

Music for Early Learning also includes downloadable resources containing 23 songs and listening activities linked to each area of development which can be used as a standalone resource or alongside the music manuscript and Guitar and Ukulele tabs provided, as well as lyrics to each of the songs.

This practical text will help you to realise the wonderful opportunities that music can offer young children and is an ideal resource for Early Years Practitioners, Early Years consultants and trainnee teachers, as well as those on Nursery Nursing and Childcare courses at Further and Higher education levels.

Section 1

Introduction

During my career of making music in early years settings, there has been so much to learn from children. Most adults tell me how their children ‘love music’ and that when all else fails a good song soothes, comforts, distracts or focuses them like no other activity. Many acknowledge the focus and effect music-making has on children with special needs, whilst others delight in telling stories of surprising behaviour changes it has had on some individuals.

Singing, dancing and music-making comes so naturally with young children and could be one of the most effective and rewarding activities we as practitioners encourage.

Dr Sue Hallam (2008) suggests that ‘there is growing evidence that active involvement in music-making can have positive benefits for children’s intellectual and social development’. With this knowledge and the enthusiastic singers, dancers, movers, players and composers in our daily care, let us expand on what we mean by music in the early years. Let us use the playfulness, eagerness and curiosity that our children display for all things musical to develop a natural feel to music-making; one that threads its way through daily life in the nursery, playgroup or reception class, allowing it to embrace all areas of learning and wellbeing.

If you seek to encourage young people to develop themselves in a way that fortifies their natural curiosity and leads to a refinement in physical and mental ability, why not provide opportunities suited to the gifts granted by our biological heritage? Music is not only the effective primer for developing mind and body, but it is [also] an exciting and progressive blend of scientific, artistic and physical disciplines that can be enjoyed at an early age, and it is one whose long-range value will not depend on the pursuit of a musical career.

(Wilson, 1985)

So, lets ‘do music’ now.

Music for Early Learning has been written for everybody working with young children in their care. Its aim is to inspire adults to use songs and music in a creative and playful way, allowing children to enjoy music as a natural part of their day. Using songs and offering frequent opportunities to explore and play musical instruments, music will touch the lives of everybody around them and embrace all areas of our children’s development and wellbeing.

Music for Early Learning has two sections:

Section 1 will look at children’s musical development. Some short excerpts from observations will highlight how children demonstrate musical behaviour in the early stages of their development. Our musicality as adults will be discussed alongside ideas of how we can improve our own skills and dispel the idea that we or the other staff around us are ‘not musical’.

The chapter on musical instruments will investigate what we could offer in terms of resources and, in addition to adult-led circle-time activities how we can provide and support a ‘free play’ music area inside and outside that allows children to take the lead with their musicality and express themselves uninterrupted by adult ideas.

Other chapters in this section include ideas on how to make the best use of a visiting musician, how to offer listening activities and discover uses of ICT with music.

Section 2 offers a wealth of songs and musical activities that aim to reach out and support all areas of our children’s learning including language and communication; personal, social and emotional development; number and pattern; understanding our world; and physical, creative and musical development.

You might well recognise some of the traditional tunes but new tunes have been added, which I hope you will find fresh and inspiring. These songs are supported by written music, guitar and ukulele chords, and a CD for easy learning.

A balance of child-led and adult-led activities is encouraged throughout the book, so whilst many of these songs and games are adult-initiated, room is always given for the children’s voices, and sometimes these are just starting points for what could develop into an activity led purely by the children themselves.

I hope that this information will help you develop confidence to deliver a rich tapestry of songs and musical activities that provide a good balance of adult-led and child-led activities, ensuring a musically rich environment that not only supports learning and wellbeing but also celebrates music for music’s sake.

Who is this Book for?

Music for Early Learning has been written for all those wishing to broaden the amount of musical activity in the workplace and who are concerned with the care, development and wellbeing of our young children in their early years. For example, it hopes to inspire a parent or play leader to sing songs or provide a music-free play area, a reception teacher working in a circle-time situation, a nursery nurse with a family group, or a musician working at children’s centre.

What if I Cannot Read Music?

Whilst the guitar and ukulele chords have been added to each story for those who can read music and wish to expand on the accompaniment of the songs, the CD will give you the tune. The CD also offers some percussion ideas, so alongside the clear guidelines on each activity page, these should help your activity run smoothly.

Is my Singing Good Enough?

This is a common question since many people ‘think’ they cannot sing. Most of the activities in Music for Early Learning require our voice, either speaking or singing, as a starting point. The accompanying CD will allow you to learn the so...