“I enjoyed the fact that everything was explained simply so that if you were learning about music for the first time you could understand everything.”

Jenny Hughes

“I now have a much greater understanding of Dynamics, Tempo, Duration and pitch. Thank you for giving clear examples.”

Jo Mursell

Bournemouth Early years

“How to incorporate the musical elements within the nursery rhymes you are singing with the children - so they are learning the "basic music skills" e.g. beats, without even knowing it! This will definitely help them as they get older, as I teach adults who cannot even do this!”

Liz Nightingale

“The variety of ideas was useful but also to confirm my approach is what other practitioners are doing. I would really like to implement listening to music in my sessions, I haven't done this due to going into different schools but I think it would add something new. I liked the idea f the children learning to recognise the sound of the instruments and introducing the instruments through their timbre. I tend to group the instruments by like/kind but for my session on timbre I could create an activity in which the children listen to and group the instruments to timbre.”

Lesley Mathison

Gateshead Music Service Early Years Lead

“I really enjoyed this training especially Module 4.”

Sharon

“It was broken down well for each element and new topic.”

Lindsay Kaufmann

Early Years Practitioner

“The basics in the first module was a good refresher as I haven't learnt about musical elements since secondary school! Finding out which instruments have the same timbre was interesting, I had usually grouped them by 'bang' or 'shake' which I can see now isn't the most useful way to help children identify sounds. It was also nice to hear new songs and rhymes I haven't used before as after 11 years teaching nursery and reception my repertoire feels a bit stale. Focusing my music sessions on familiar songs seemed almost too simple when I first heard you say it, but then after watching the videos I can see how it's much easier to teach new ideas using familiar content than trying to teach lots of new songs first.”

Jenny

Reception Class Teacher, Swindon

“Great short clips of videos
Lovely ideas”

Liz Lingard

Springfield Primary Burnley Lancashire

“I really enjoyed the clear films and demonstrations. It has given the confidence to take into my Nursery and share with the EY team.”

Dalby

“Very easy to follow and loved the songs very informative”

Elaine Thompson

Littlehands preschool

“I enjoyed the videos of you talking through and explaining each individual module and how they were broken down. I also liked that there is a starting point and then how to move on from that very good for someone who has no music background. This has really inspired me into delivering music time and giving the children knowledge and confidence to why music is important in early years.”

Lynn

Early years practitioner Local authority Scotland

“I really enjoyed the training as I am not very musical, it started off with the basics which I needed, to grow my confidence in exploring music with the under 3’s I work with, thank you!”

Susan Holmes

East Dunbartonshire Council

“Its a great course that has you imagining the groups you would work with and what they would get out of it. I like how you identified that EAL children will also get something out of the sessions as we have quite a few in my setting and i think it will be a great way to welcome and include those children and get them involved.”

Suzanne Coleman

T.A at a local authority school in reception class.

“It is always good to re-visit things we have been 'doing for years'. I liked your suggestions on how to introduce children to music in stages as this is something we often forget in schools. For example, listening and understanding beat, tempo etc is as important as the words.”

Hayley Smith

Pre-school leader. Everton Heath Primary School.

“I like the ideas for rhymes and songs already known, and also the new rhymes exploring the musical elements. I also enjoyed listening to all the different types of music in Module 5.
I am looking forward to going back to nursery after this lockdown and trying out some of the ideas. One of two things added to my wish list, a thunder drum, ocean drum, possibly some speakers to go outside.”

Angela