Inspirational practice

Continuing my DYCP research journey over the last few months I've been delving deeper into Early Years music practice and been fortunate enough to make contact with some amazing practitioners doing a range of inspirational work with families in the community.

I was introduced to the wonderful B'Opera who are a Birmingham based company creating immersive musical experiences for babies, toddlers, and their grown-ups through a blend of weekly workshops, relaxed concerts, and original baby operas. I was able to visit one of their early years music workshops, attend their christmas concert and watch one of their library shows, Alice and the Library Tree.

Alice and the Library Tree by B'Opera

Both Alice and the Library Tree and the Christmas concert were attended by families with babies and upwards. The singing was accessible and peppered with invitations to interact and lots of props were available to play with. The storytelling was driven by the music and text but essentially very much in the same vein of my own practice but with music being the central focus.

The workshop was really busy with mostly very young children under 2. I really enjoyed the way that children were encouraged to make creative choices, eg with the use of a song bag, they could guide the order of the songs explored. There was also a clever use of a song where the lyrics were composed about what the families had been doing that week. My take away moment was witnessing Jac who led the session supported by Aliyah perform a song at the end of the session for the families. She felt this was important for families to be able to see professional perfomers doing what they do and I agree! I wonder how this translates in a dance setting?

In December I travelled up to North Shields to visit Cocoon a movement and music playspace led by early years music specialist, Kate Maines-Beasley. Cocoon is a unique project in a purpose built space for creative playful movement and music exploration, currently located in an outlet shopping centre unit. Kate works very specifically with 2 year olds and only one family at a time in the space. There is a focus on the adult as much as the child and the session is completely child led. Invitations are given through the props, play materials and instruments laid out in the space for the child to explore.

I felt privilaged to be able to witness a session with a family and noted how completely relaxed the parent and child were in the space, the environment creating the perfect atmosphere to support this, with lots of soft drapes, cushions, blankets, toys and instruments all in muted colours and specifically designed to support the space. The family that came to the session had been coming for a long time and relationships were established. I observed a really clear play structure led by the child which started with a exploration of what was in the space, sliding, crashing, falling and hiding and gradually a narrative evolved which included animals, a band, a train and going shopping. I stayed quietly observing at the side of the space but was invited in by the child on a couple of occassions to join the play which was lovely.

Cocoon Music Space

I loved the way that Kate had implemented an 'arrival window' something I will definitely take forward into future projects and instantly takes the stress out of families needed to arrive on the dot. She also continued the child led approach right to the end where the child could choose how to say goodbye, a high five, a hug or something else....

This feels like a really brave and innovative project where quality is the driver. Kate has really honed her skills in observing, listening and responding to the child and there is no sign of an ego interfering anywhere. Sometimes music happens and sometimes it doesn't, it doesn't matter. My question to her was, how is this different from therapy? My guess is it probably isn't, but it's certainly therapeutic.

It's been an exicting few months and I'm learning loads to take into my own practice, so wonderful to see so much rich arts practice for Early Years.