Our children have always enjoyed playing instruments together to accompany their songs and music tapes during circle time. However, we decided that they should have regular access to musical resources throughout the session so that they could explore them freely, either alone or with friends. We talked to the children about setting up a music corner and consulted them about what to include.
Once we had taken account of the children's ideas, staff then discussed the learning objectives to ensure that these could be covered by free play and adult- focused activity within the new area. We consulted the early learning goals for music and discussed how we could promote these through the stepping stones. For instance, we decided that the children would need to experience a wide range of different sounds. To do this we provided pitched instruments, such as small electronic keyboards and wood blocks, and more unusual instruments such as rainmakers and frog sounders. We also encouraged the children to include their homemade instruments, and everyday sound-making objects such as plastic bottles and wooden spoons. As funds allow, we are extending our collection to include a wider range of instruments from other cultures.
We positioned the area away from quiet activities and displayed the resources on low tables covered in attractive gold paper. We added cushions for comfort and a low display board.
We plan to vary the content of this board according to our focused stepping stone. At present we are exploring how to create sounds with the instruments, for example by plucking, blowing, striking and shaking, and so staff have created their own display to refer to when working with the children. In future, the children will create displays, for example by painting to music, and we will develop specific themes in the area, such as listening to and recording music.
Teresa Sweeney is the supervisor at St Oswald's Pre-school Learning Centre, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.