This time of year always marks a leap of faith for our Interactive Music-Making students as they undertake the Practical Assignment element of the course, transferring the previous term’s learning and theory into practice in their respective early years settings. Each of the early years practitioners who started the course in September have embraced the challenge of devising and leading weekly IMM sessions with a small group of children in their care, while also documenting the impact the sessions have for the children and their own learning from the experience.

It is an understandably daunting prospect: Grappling with new theorists and concepts whilst carefully considering individualised developmental aims for each child in their group. Inevitably there are surprises along the way and a range of different challenges to navigate! So to support our course participants and evaluate their practice, one of the course tutors visits each of our students halfway through their Practical Assignments. This year all the visits have been undertaken by Alexia who has relished the opportunity to see the different nursery settings for herself, to understand exactly where and how our students are using music and meet the wide range of children who are exploring new music opportunities.

I take huge pride in seeing these Early Years Practitioners establish themselves as Interactive Music-Makers.

Alexia, IMM Course Leader

With ten students enrolled onto the course this year, Alexia has had a busy few weeks travelling around London and beyond. And last week marked the final observation visits, from North London one day to a final stop in Crewe the next!

All our IMM students have really found their feet with weekly sessions and have embraced many key aspects of the Interactive Music-Making approach. We’ve seen tambourines, cymbals and shakers used to explore non-verbal connections; we’ve seen practitioners trust their children to lead activities and reveal more of themselves through musical self-expression and creativity; and within their music-making, practitioners are using a rich palette of dynamics, speed, intensity and improvised song to respond sensitively to the ways children engage with activities. It’s been great to hear of the progress they have noticed in their children and the professional satisfaction they are taking from leading their sessions, as well as the ways their sessions benefit their wider work in their early years settings.

I’ve built more of a connection with each of the children in the session and it goes out into the room as well because we’ve got that bond.

Interactive Music-Making Student

As our students near the end of their Practical Assignments, the progress they have seen in their groups is leading them to adapt and extend their initial developmental aims for each child. For some, this might be considering how to build peer awareness in their group, moving from focusing on encouraging turn-taking, to focusing on helping the children really listen to their peers or choose who they make music with. For others, growing confidence to participate can develop into an opportunity to explore taking a lead within activities, with incorporating new opportunities for children to direct or influence musical activities to increase their sense of agency.

I can’t wait for Friday – to see what the children are going to do next.

Interactive Music-Making Student

We are looking forward to getting our students together one last time for their Presentation Day in April, when they will each report on their experiences, evidence their learning, and celebrate each other’s successes.

But our support doesn’t end there. After graduating, our students will join our growing community of Interactive Music-Makers, with ongoing access to our termly CPD events and wider opportunities to support them in their music practice for years to come.

Sign up to our upcoming Interactive Music-Making CPD Event:

Are you a practicing Interactive Music-Maker? Would you like to connect with your peers, hear what has worked for them, or receive guidance on any specific scenarios?

Join Alexia for our next CPD event, online on Zoom, on Wednesday 22nd March, 4.30-5.30pm. Click here to sign up!