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I decided to sing the "Acknowledgement of Country" in my own way. I created music using wooden sticks, rocks, and clapping hands, adding actions to make it more meaningful.

This reminds me of what Tania de Jong said in her video about how singing together changes the brain. She explained that singing in harmony can calm the mind, reduce stress, and help us feel more connected to others.

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When I entered the park early in the morning it looked very quiet. I felt so happy and could really listen to the sounds of nature. The atmosphere was amazing. I noticed the tall trees swaying gently, as if they were welcoming people. The green grass looked like a soft carpet. Because of the rain the day before, it felt like the grass and trees were smiling, their leaves full and refreshed. I also saw raindrops falling from the trees and grass to the ground.

Then I could hear the sounds of different birds, like crows, parrots, and ducks. The crickets were chirping in a high-pitched tune almost like they were singing. I saw beautiful flowers and next to them bees made sounds like background music for the park. As I walked further I began to hear the sound of water. When I got closer I automatically sat on a rock and listened to the different rhythms and harmonies. The water touched the rocks creating unique sounds almost like a drum. I remembered that the famous composer of Water Music is George Frideric Handel. I closed my eyes and listened to the calming sound. I felt that nature is the best doctor for stress relief and my body slowly began to relax. I touched the water splashing it with my hands. As I got even closer I could taste and smell the freshness of the water.

Then I took a few steps trying to walk slowly. As I walked, I heard the sound of dry bushes. When I walked faster they made a rustling sound different from when I moved slowly. This experience reminded me of Pauline Oliveros video, What’s the Difference Between Listening and Hearing. As I listened more deeply I began to notice the various sounds and movements around me. I slowly walked to Jackson Creek and closely looked at the water. I saw the reflection of the trees on the surface. The trees moved in sync with the wind dancing slowly, twisting, wiggling, and turning up and down like ballroom dancers following the rhythm of the breeze.

Recently I went to a concert at the Hammer Hall Theatre to hear the "Home Alone" Symphony Orchestra. There were so many musicians each playing a different instrument and making unique sounds. When I walked through the park that morning it felt like I was listening to a natural orchestra. The birds, the wind, the leaves, and the flowing water all seemed to make music together. It was a peaceful and refreshing way to start my day. As the sun came up the park became busier. People were walking their dogs, jogging, and exercising. Some families had come for a picnic, and their laughter added to the lively atmosphere of the morning. It felt like the whole park was part of a big, natural performance.

Reflection

After reading the article by Ruth Wilson on children's creative play in natural environments I feel more confident in discussing the importance of outdoor play. The article highlights how important it is for children to have time to play in nature as it helps them develop social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Through creative play children learn to solve problems, interact with others, take turns and understand the real world better. While some adults may worry about the amount of time children spend outdoors the article shows how valuable this play is for learning and growth.

The article also shows that some adults see play as less important compared to more traditional learning like reading and writing. Some parents even mention when they visit childcare that they think pretend play is just cute but not truly educational. However, this article has helped me understand how play especially in nature teaches children essential skills like critical thinking, social interaction and physical development. I now feel more confident in talking to parents about the true educational value of creative play (Oliveros, 2015).

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After watching Murray Schafer’s “Listen” video, I learned about deep listening. I started thinking about how I can practice this. When I entered the park I first heard the sound of water. I walked toward the sound and found the creek. I sat down next to it closed my eyes, and focused on listening. I could hear the sound of water falling, and I could smell the freshness of the water. When I opened my eyes, I saw the water flowing down, making different rhythms and patterns. I touched the water, and it was a little cold. Being there by the creek made me feel calm. In our busy lives, we often do not take the time to relax and listen to nature. I felt peaceful and I realised how important it is to take time to really listen and connect with the world around us (Canada, 2009).

Future Practice

Usually the children meditate indoors while listening to calm music. After reading “Nature and Young Children” by Ruth Wilson, I learned how important nature is for children's development. It provides many opportunities for learning and growth.

So, I plan to take the children on an excursion to a small creek near our childcare centre will organise section meditate there, listening to the natural sounds. This will help them connect with nature and practice mindfulness in a peaceful setting (Wooten, 2013).

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I watched the ducks moving around the water splashing and swimming toward the creek almost like they were dancing. Their 'quack, quack' sounded like music in the background. Sometimes they chased each other playfully and at other times their movements made different sounds and rhythms. They floated in a gentle rhythm flapping their wings smoothly like they were performing a dance.

When they walked on land one duck would lead and the others followed like a band moving together. This reminded me of when I was in the Western Band at school following our band leader. The ducks movements were like the way we followed our leader, showing how nature and music can be connected.

The ducks graceful movements and sounds also made me think of a Bangarra video clip, where movement and music come together to tell a story. Just like a dance the ducks created their own rhythm, blending nature, sound, and memory into a beautiful performance.

Future practice

After reading Creative Dance in Early Childhood, I learned that dance, singing and drama help children be creative and express themselves. We usually do these activities inside but I think this keeps the idea professional and focused on the value of outdoor play. Children can move freely and use nature for inspiration. I want to try different types of dances like freeze dance, scarf dance, and dancing with musical instruments to make it more exciting. Learning creative dance in early childhood helps children develop their imagination and body awareness. In our busy world children also need time to relax, so I plan to add a calm activity after playing. This will help them feel balanced and ready to rest after moving. I want them to enjoy creative play outside, explore different dances and then have time to relax (Creative Dance for Early Childhood |, 2020).

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I was at home when I suddenly heard a loud bird squawk. Curious, I stepped outside and looked up at the sky. I was surprised; over five hundred birds were flying together, moving in perfect harmony, like an organized performance. It felt like a symphony, with each bird playing its part. I felt as if they invited me to listen to their performance

In that moment, I practiced Dadirri deep listening and quiet awareness. As I watched the birds, I became completely still, paying close attention to the rhythm of their wings. It was like the sky was filled with music, and I was quietly listening to it. I felt connected to the birds and everything around me, as if I was part of this beautiful, peaceful moment. It reminded me of Dadirri taking time to listen deeply and be still, allowing nature’s music and drama to fill me with calm and understanding (MiriamRoseFoundation, 2017).

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References

Canada, N. F. B. of. (2009). Listen. Www.nfb.ca. https://www.nfb.ca/film/listen/

Creative Dance for Early Childhood |. (2020, June 7). Dance Teaching Ideas. https://danceteachingideas.com/creative-dance-movement-for-toddlers/

How singing together changes the brain: Tania de Jong AM at TEDxMelbourne. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. https://youtu.be/I_HOBr8H9EM

MiriamRoseFoundation. (2017). DADIRRI (Official Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Video) :: 3 minute promo. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tow2tR_ezL8

Oliveros, P. (2015, November 12). The difference between hearing and listening | Pauline Oliveros | TEDxIndianapolis. YouTube. https://youtu.be/_QHfOuRrJB8

Wooten, V. (2013, May 29). Music as a Language: Victor Wooten at TEDxGabriolaIsland. YouTube. https://youtu.be/2zvjW9arAZ0