After delivering an introductory training earlier this year, Tako will be returning to Open House on Monday for a follow up visit to see how the five staff she trained have been using music independently since their initial training.

Some participating staff have recently told us that they are engaging in a range of music activities as some are carrying out regular individual or group sessions whilst some are not yet running their own sessions independently. One staff member, who is the lead music practitioner, shared with us that their music sessions have been going very well and over the course of their regular sessions noticed a particular child who has become calmer and is able to do an activity for longer. The parents of this same child also told the staff member how they have noticed an improvement in the child’s verbal and fine motor skills!

Another trained staff member told us how a particular child came to enjoy the sounds of all types of instruments after multiple individual music sessions twice a week, and is exploring to play the instruments themselves. This staff member reported how easily they can see music sessions are pleasant and interesting for the children and has a positive effect on them.

Since the introductory training, some staff have asked for additional theoretical information, direct supervision of their work and more guidance on planning group sessions. The follow up visit will be an opportunity for participating staff to discuss this with Tako and discuss any other challenges that they have faced during their music sessions.

We are looking forward to catching up with Tako after her visit, to hear more about how the participating staff are getting on and identify how we can further help them with their music sessions.