Now beyond the halfway point of the Taught component of the course, our students have attended weekly seminars over the Autumn term, learning how to use targeted music to maximise and support the early development opportunities of the young children in their care. Over the past seven weeks, their learning has been varied and wide-ranging; they’ve learnt about key underpinning theories to support and endorse their practice, taken part in practical workshops to play with different ideas, and completed self-directed study tasks.

Six students were granted an Interactive Music-Making Award through their application, providing a free training place on the course with contributory travel and staff cover costs and a full set of musical instruments to equip them for the music-making practice.

Signing up for IMM was something I was very curious about and I thought it would be something amazing I could bring into my nursery setting. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to attend! Even though the practical side of it doesn’t start until January there are already so many things I have done differently with my children at nursery and so many things that I was already doing but now I understand why I was doing it. I am looking forward to the rest of the course and putting it into action when I know enough.

Interactive Music-Making Student 2023/24

Next week will see our students carry out their first ‘Taster Session’, each trying out a mini Interactive Music-Making session with a small group of children at their respective settings. They’ll then have the chance to feed back on their learning to their peers the following week, setting them in good stead for the start of their Practical Assignments in January, when they will each plan and deliver 8 weeks of Interactive Music-Making sessions in their own settings.

For the second year running, the programme has been delivered in partnership with our Associate organisations, Nordoff and Robbins, North London Music Therapy, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, and Quaggy Development Trust. Guest teaching contributions from our Associate Music Therapists have enriched our students learning and we are grateful to Quaggy Development Trust for providing the venue to host this year’s course.

Sign up to our IMM Mailing List for news of next year’s applications!

Are you an early years practitioner or manager keen to bring Interactive Music-Making into your setting? Sign up to our mailing list (scroll to the bottom) to be first to hear when applications open for our 2024/25 programme next year. Fully-funded Award places and subsidised places are available. For more information, you can always contact us!