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EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers

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Wonderful case studies of creative music making projects in EY settings

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The SoundWaves Network SW is a four-year early childhood music education programme funded by Youth Music incorporating a strong element of training for the current and future early childhood workforce in the South West. Starting in November 2021, the project takes place within eight Music Education Hub learning communities, located in Plymouth, Somerset, Cornwall, Dorset, Devon & Torbay, Southampton, Bournemouth Poole & Christchurch and Bristol working with early childhood settings, universities, advisory teams and Music Education Hubs.

The SoundWaves Network SW was born out of Take Art's previous Soundwaves Network project and SoundWaves Extra project, that aimed to support and engage the South West's Early Years workforce and everyone involved in the education of young children through music, so that all young children could have the very best musical opportunities to learn and develop.

We support the Early Years Music educators in their conviction and belief in the value of musical play; their knowledge of how young children play musically and their early childhood music pedagogical expertise. This is essential to the success of the project and the future of Early Years Music education.
Jane Parker, The SoundWaves Network Project Leader

The SoundWaves Network: Sounding Board
Wednesday 20 January 2021
Resources and Handouts

Lessons Learnt in Lockdown: How 'The Soundwaves Network' Early Years Music programme continued...

Tuesday 7 July 2020
Sound clips provided by Emma Hutchinson, Music House for Children

Something in knocking on the box

Our Work in Early Years Settings

The SoundWaves Network in its earlier incarnation Soundwaves Extra has been proud to support an array of high quality Early Years music projects within EY settings and music hubs throughout the South West. These projects were aimed at teaching the teachers and practitioners how to work more responsively with music and the under 5s. They have been carried out by experienced Music Leader s.

Rachel Thame working with the Armed Forces community in Crownhill, Plymouth

Joanna Harvey and Emma Hutchinson working with Special Educational Needs (SEN) groups in Taunton and Frome

Rich Hughes, St Peter's Primary School, Budleigh

Liv McLennan at Salisbury City Children's Centre

Emma Hutchinson working with Flying Start Children's Centre, Exeter

Vicky Meadows working with Badock's Wood Children's Centre, Bristol

Bill Roberts working with Knowle West Children's Centre, Bristol

Richard Hughes at Bluecoat C of E Primary School, Torrington

Richard Tomlinson at St Peter's Primary School in Budleigh Salterton

Ann Stott and Emily Garrod at Piccolo Nursery

Chessel Centre, BS3 Community, Bristol Setting project presentation due to be shown at ' Sharing our SoundWaves Network Journey - An End of Project Event'

Get Involved

Are you a music or Early Years practitioner based in the Southwest? Do you want to attend an Early Years music conference, see a really special piece of work, attend a CPD workshop?

For more information about how you can get involved, please contact The SoundWaves Network Project Leader Jane Parker: soundwaves@takeart.org

Join the digital community

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Take Art works in the villages, towns and rural communities of Somerset. Each year we bring creative experiences to thousands of people or ages and backgrounds.

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For making tas, te tes and tika-tikas

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Buy Assorted Wooden Craft Sticks 50 Pack for GBP 1.00 | Hobbycraft UK

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Buy Assorted Wooden Craft Sticks 50 Pack at Hobbycraft UK.

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Magic Acorns has grown out of a 20 year legacy of pioneering work in early childhood music and arts with families from Great Yarmouth in the East of England.

The community of artists, researchers and other professionals who have worked to develop this practice feel passionately about arts in early childhood, and strive to make this accessible, inclusive and community based.

"My child is accepted, understood and supported...really encouraging"

Parent Feedback

You can download a PDF of the
of the full report here

SALTmusic developed from an action research project between the music and arts team at Great Yarmouth Community Trust Sure Start Centre, and Speech and Language therapists (SLT) at East Coast Community Health in the East of England. This trailblazing work was celebrated in the Durham Commission on Creativity
and Education (p48).

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What is SALTmusic?

SALTmusic builds upon the idea that all babies are born with innate musical ability and that musical communication can contribute to our multiple forms of language.

SALTmusic offers musical, playful approaches which support speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). It fosters a nurturing, safe space for parents and children to play together in a supported environment.

Taking the pressure off talking, through sound rich/talk poor environments; an improvisatory approach, based on observation, has been found to increase participants' confidence and children's vocalisations through musical play. Through laughter, fun and a relaxed atmosphere we can support and nurture communication and the many languages of children.

SALTmusic sees communication as more than words and works with children and parents' abilities to create an environment that celebrates and builds upon what they can do.

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Magic Acorns has grown out of a 20 year legacy of pioneering work in early childhood music and arts with families from Great Yarmouth in the East of England. The community of artists, researchers and other professionals who have worked to develop this practice feel passionately about arts in early childhood, and strive to make this accessible, inclusive and community based.

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The SoundWaves Network 2018-2021 | Take Art

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An Early Childhood Music Programme The SoundWaves Network is an Early Years (EY) Music Network delivering in the South West, with a concentration of activity in three Music Education Hub (MEH) areas: Somerset, Bristol and Plymouth. The overarching aim has been to strengthen regional Early Childhood (EC) music practice.

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www.thefamilymusichub.org - For all those making music with families

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Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children

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MERYC England invites you to discover the world of early childhood music using research to promote high quality practice and using practice to promote high quality research - building bridges for the benefit of children.

Chair's Statement

Dr Julia Partington
Chair of Trustees
MERYC England

I am delighted to take on the role of Chair of Trustees for MERYC England, having long admired the organisation and the work it does to support research and practice in early childhood music education. I now have the sincere privilege of working alongside the most inspiring colleagues on the Board of Trustees and I look forward to collaborating with them and with all of you who join in with the varied programme of activity offered by MERYC.

This ongoing programme is designed to support those working in the field in practice and also in research, to overcome shared challenges, seeking to connect and support the ECME community and to cooperatively seek out positive solutions. It is our hope that this approach will nurture the continued growth and success of our field, build ever stronger connections between us and most importantly, ensuring that as many children as possible continue to have access to high quality music making experiences in early childhood.

I give heartfelt thanks to my predecessor Dr Alison Street for all she did for MERYC England and for the national and international ECME community during her time as Chair of Trustees. I take inspiration and motivation from her expert, warm and collegial leadership as I undertake this new role.

Diverse Inclusive Reflective

Connecting Discussing Collaborating

Dialogue Theory Support

MERYC England

Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children

MERYC ENGLAND registered charity no.1169504

PARTNER ORGANISATIONS

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MERYC England is a registered charity committed to advancing the musical education of children aged 0 - 5 years in England. MERYC England is a forum for connecting and exploring the diverse world of early childhood music.

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Sound Connections | Increasing high quality music opportunities for young Londoners

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London Early Years Music Network (LEYMN) | Sound Connections

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The London Early Years Music Network (LEYMN) is a collective of passionate and vocal members of the early years music community.

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Communicative Musicality

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Laminate these strips (or provide sets of individual hearts) for stick notation games

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Bruce (2003) Seeing play for what it is parents and professional workers together

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Young (2002) Young Chn's Spon Vocalisations in Free Play 

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Early Years (and beyond) Repertoire Database

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Early Years (and beyond) Repertoire Database

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Early Years (and beyond) Repertoire Database

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A themed song and rhyme bank

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Video examples to support the Musical Development Matters in the EY document

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Musical Development Matters in the Early Years | Youth Music Network

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Musical Development Matters in the Early Years

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Early Years Repertoire

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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FOGAWA 15Pcs Sensory Scarves for Babies Children Juggling Scarves Coloured Dance Scarves Magic Performance Props Silk Scarfs Accessories Baby Sensory Toys for Toddler Dance Games 60 x 60 cm Square

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Shop FOGAWA 15Pcs Sensory Scarves for Babies Children Juggling Scarves Coloured Dance Scarves Magic Performance Props Silk Scarfs Accessories Baby Sensory Toys for Toddler Dance Games 60 x 60 cm Square. Free delivery and returns on eligible orders of £20 or more.

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Shaky Eggs

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Engage children with these colourful, durable egg shakers designed for robust musical exploration.

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Mini Claves

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A simple way to get your whole class playing rhythms together and learning about the basics of music.

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Gathering Drum

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Celebrate, communicate and make noise with our gathering drum.

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https://padlet.com/magic_acorns/83g893vplqieboti