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Country visit - A sensory journey through the  park

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Country visit - A sensory journey through the  park

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while I walked through the park nearby it offers a rich variety of experiences that connect you deeply with the environment. The air is fresh, carrying the scent of soil, gentle breeze brushes my skin, rustling of leaves and the rhythmic hum of birds. wind blows and through bending tall trees in a silent dance, The sun flickers through branches shifting patterns on the water and ground.

When I was a child, I ran through these parks, chasing the wind, creating footprints on the soil, watching the sun dimming and the frogs croaking in the hidden creaks.

Observing the tranquil of waters, reflecting the sky, swans preening along the shore, listening to the melodic songs and calls of local birds creating a natural symphony. Hear the gentle rustle of leaves as the wind moves through the trees soothing background as I walk, soft lapping of water brings a calming effect

The land speaks, I listen and belong.

I was immersed myself in the sensory offerings of the park which cultivates mindfulness and a profound appreciation for the natural world enriching both body and soul.

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Connecting with place through Music and play

Playing with music in a natural environment deepens your connection to the environment. It transforms the place from something observed to something experienced. I imagined standing in a park, closing my eyes, surrounded by towering trees and the rhythmic movement of the leaves in the wind. I was listening not just to the sounds around me but to the hidden music with the place itself.

I was reflecting back on 'Wala is life' By Allara, and the Mutton Bird by Bangarra Education Resources.

Exploring Music - used my body as an instrument by clapping my hands to match the rhythm of the footsteps on the wooden bridge, stomp gently to create a steady beat, snap fingers to mimic the dripping water. Tap on hollow logs for a drum effect, run a stick along a railing for a Xylophone like sound to create a maraca. I was humming and singing in response to the sound scape imitating the pitch of a birds call or creating harmonies with the wind.

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Connecting with place-Playing with music

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Connecting with place-Playing with music

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Dr Baltagi emphasizes the importance engaging children with simple, accessible tools to explore sound and music. His music garden curriculum encourages activities that involve singing, movement and playing instruments to foster musical creativity.

In outdoor settings the natural environment offers a wide range of resources for musical exploration.

Natural percussion instruments:

sticks to tap together, clap stones to create rhythmic patterns, diverse texture and sounds found in nature.

wind chimes and whistles

water sounds

These activities not only cultivate musical skills but also deepen children's connection to their environment, aligning with Dr Baltagi's philosophy of integrating on music education with experimental learning and cultural relevance.

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Is your baby getting enough music? | UNICEF

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Dr Baltagi mentioned that vocal chords are the only innate instruments that are created in a human being.

How singing together changes the brain -explores the profound impact of communal singing on our neurological and social well-being.

singing in groups stimulates and engages multiple brain regions enhancing creativity and emotional expression.

Fosters a sense of community and belonging bringing diverse backgrounds and promoting inclusivity

Tania de Jong emphasizes that everyone possesses a unique voice, advocating for the integration of singing

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How singing together changes the brain: Tania de Jong AM at TEDxMelbourne

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Game experience: Echo and Harmony circle- planets

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Game experience: Echo and Harmony circle- planets

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To experience the connection, joy, and cognitive benefits of group singing, I was so excited and imagined myself as a child, jumping with Joy humming with my vocal." merry go round merry go round"

I used to first do warm up, start with deep breathing and simple exercises like humming and sighing, move slightly with the rhythm to engage the body, thinking about the planets, a theme song for planets. (Mind -Body connection)

I used to sing 8 planets in solar and listen to the echos back from wind, mimicking tone and the rhythm by adding variations like clapping or snapping, shaking hips and doing small movements with the melody. (Echo game).

inviting everyone and split into groups, hum the simple phrase, while others joined singing, listened to the chorus.

It was like experimenting different emotions -singing happily, sadly, excitedly to feel the impact of music on mood. (Social bonding & Emotional expression).

I was asking to share about how I was singing and group singing, how they felt during the experience. It makes us aware of how music activates emotions, reduces stress and enhances group cohesion Just as Tania de Jong describes.

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Language of music, movement/Dance and drama: Engaging in this game helped me to understand how language, sound, movement and drama are interconnected in fostering engagement, learning and emotional well-being. This game experience provides me valuable insights that will help me to use them in my future practice in Early childhood.

I will be embedding music into daily routines such as transition songs and playing new games with music, encouraging children to sing along with their peers.

Exposure to different sound textures like clapping, tapping natural objects which will enhance their sensory exploration. I will also introduce some sound-based mindfulness activities like humming, listening to melody sounds for emotional regulation.

Through the artefact we can listen to the voice of the planets through stillness. Each planet is unique, I was humming myself to its own rhythm and echoing can be listened through the wind swaying.

Artefact Dance movement:

Integrate movement-based- activities like action songs, rhythmic body percussion through physical engagement by stomping, clapping, swaying which enhanced my participation and enjoyment.

I was thinking " why do the trees look like dancing?", are the birds moving together as a group? why are the clouds moving

So, I will be Encouraging free movement during music activities which supports self-expression and use their vocabulary like trees move in the wind, stretching their branches.

Drama: Is one of the most important elements of child creative play. There are so many aspects of drama, but I choose dramatic storytelling.

we can choose any characters like tree, bird, Mimicking birds sounds, changing vocal tones during story telling role playing through song - use music and drama for story telling- pretend play.

I was thinking about the space explorers, who lives there, why are we on earth, how do we go to space, why stars look bright. children can play different patterns, use loose parts and create their own story.

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I was able to recollect my childhood memories of understanding how the humming voices creates a sense of calmness, felt like waves moving the air. I was able to experience the natural sounds like clapping hands, tapping feet, the difference between quiet music and movements how music lives within the body. The natural environment, rustling wind, birdsong, movement of trees.

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"There was a time when the world was a song, and the song was exciting". (Les Misérables)

Wilson emphasizes how natural environments foster creative play and learning in young children. Inspired by the connection between nature, play and sensory experiences create a sound-based artefact which captures how children interact with the environment. Collecting natural objects likes leaves, stones, twigs that make distinct sounds. This artefact transforms theory into practice showcasing how nature can inspire play based learning.

My game aligns with Reggio Emilia approach values children's natural curiosity and their ability to express themselves through different languages involves sound, movement and drama.

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(Hanna,2016) The children's Music Studio: A Reggio- Inspired approach

Hanna, W. (2016). The children's music studio. A Reggio- inspired approach. Oxford University Press

https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/vu/detail.action?docID-4747980

ISBN: 978019934808

(Wilson,2018) Nature and Young children: Encouraging creative play and learning in natural environments

Wilson, R. A. (2018). nature and young children: Encouraging creative play and learning in Natural environments (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/vu.edu.au?

url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.taylorfrancis.com%2Fbooks%2Fmono%2F10.4324%2F9781315148533%2Fnature-young-children-ruth-wilson