This week Lizzie joined us as our new music practitioner. Here is her blog about her first week with us...
The past week has been a big one for me. I’ve started
working at Do Re Mi, as well as handing in my dissertation which marks the end
of my Masters Degree. It seems fitting that these two events have overlapped
slightly, as everything I’ve learnt and researched for the past two years is
now being put into practice. The Do Re Mi Musical Learning classes, as well as
the regular music times in nursery, are based on the very best educational
principles and based on detailed research into how little minds develop and how
music enhances this. I feel lucky to have landed a job here!
On Thursday morning, I sat in on a wonderful Explorers room
music time in nursery led by one of our talented nursery practitioners Chloe
(who, despite her own protestations, has one of the loveliest singing voices
I’ve heard in a while!). After singing hello to each child in turn, we went on
a wonderful musical shopping trip where we bought bananas, tomatoes and
chocolates – no prizes for guessing which was my favourite! We travelled to the
shops on our horses, enabling us to ‘clip clop’ to the beat, and then we
arrived home to ‘chop chop’ all our ingredients up. Most of the children were
super keen to join in the singing, but even those who were less confident were
doing the actions exactly in time to the best, showing that even at the age of
one and two they have already understood and internalised the musical beat.
This is the result of exposure to lots of good quality music making from a
young age!
There are so many benefits for little ones that come from
experiencing music at a young age, particularly the development of speech and
language. It was inspiring this morning to watch the children confidently
stating the food that they wanted to buy to the rest of the group.
Interestingly, those who were a little shy to speak in front of me (I’m not
scary, I promise, but I am new!) were happily singing the songs, showing how
music can really break down barriers to communication and develop confidence
and those all important language skills.
I’ve also loved having a chat with some of the nursery
practitioners today, and we’ve been bouncing ideas off each other to add some
new songs and activities into the mix and expand our musical learning in
nursery even further. I’m already looking forward to getting stuck in again
next week!
As well as some more music time loveliness in nursery, this
coming week also brings our new term of Do Re Mi Musical Learning classes for
0-5s and their parents and carers. We also start our brand new after school
musicianship classes for ages 4-7. There’s certainly going to be lots to talk
about in next week’s blog! For now, if you would like any more info on the
classes starting this week, on the nursery, or on anything you’ve read just get
in touch!
Lizzie x
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