It was great to reconnect with two of our Interactive Music-Makers last week for the first of this year’s CPD events.  These termly online meetings are offered to all the early years practitioners who have graduated from our Interactive Music-Making training as a space to come together, share experiences, be inspired by others’ ideas and troubleshoot the inevitable challenges of keeping music sessions meaningful (or simply keeping them going!).

At this term’s session our focus was on rebuilding confidence in one’s instincts as an Interactive Music-Maker, after breaks from running Interactive Music-Making sessions and we discussed the different groups both Interactive Music-Makers were running.  How do you keep children focused in one part of a large room, when there are activities and distractions going on around them?  Is it appropriate to invite one child into your group as a role model?  What does this mean and how can it be valuable to the child themselves as well as the group more widely?

In terms of specific music-making activities, we thought through how you might create distinct experiences when using familiar nursery rhymes:  Perhaps the Grand Old Duke of York is a cue for some vigorous stamping, whereas Twinkle Twinkle Little Star might be a moment to see how quietly you can whisper sing!  Or might the drums mean an energetic rendition of the Grand Old Duke of York is coming, while the bells can accompany the twinkle of that little star?  And then would the children enjoy having the agency to decide which song and which experience they want?

Thank you to Lisa and Kristi for sharing their work and for inspiring commitment to reintegrating Interactive Music-Making into the opportunities they have available for the children in their early years settings.

We are looking forward to connecting with more interactive music-makers during this year’s CPD series but if you’re an interactive music-maker who’d like support with your sessions in the meantime, please email elsahariades@musicastherapy.org to get in touch.