Thought, tunes, fun...

...because we want children to experience music as a social, collaborative, expressive thing to actively do.

Each of the elements below support useful communication skills. For example, a Hello Song helps us know each other’s names and Placement Songs help us practice “Voice On and Voice Off” Sounds.

As the project progresses we will add links to repertoire that works really well in our groups.

WHAT’S IN A

PLAYING AROUND SOUND

MUSIC SESSION?

Hello Song

Knowing everyone’s names helps us to communicate with each other.

Hello, welcome and let’s start a group session with everyone’s name in a song. We use a simple, easy to learn tune or a tune that everyone knows already.

Letter signs for names
Listening and watching
Taking tunes, being patient

Placement songs

Placement of the sound in the mouth is an acquired skill.

Silly songs like “Goat in a Coat” or “Pepper is Best” permit us to play with where in our mouths and throats sounds are made. A workout for the tongue!

Voice “on” and “off”
Vocal play
Experimenting with sounds

Expressive songs

Matching a movement with a vocalisation to reinforce meaning.

Songs that demand more than an abstract sound - they need an expressive movement too to add to the intensity of meaning.

Stretching the vocal pitch range
And the vocal dynamic range
Experimenting with sounds

Story Songs

Moving stories need movement to add meaning and purpose.

A story song takes place around a room or outside, using the space and children’s bountiful imaginations.

Story shapes and types
Group engagement
Singing and instrumental play as performance

Sign-learning Songs

Our sessions use sign-supported English - the spoken or sung word is supported with signing.

Songs and song-introductions will be supported with SSE.

Learn signing in context
Signing expressively
Singing expressively

Breath Play

Breath control is an important part of speech.

Awareness of and control of breathing during speech is important for voice production. Use of breath games and wind instruments help with control and power.

Breath control
Anticipation
Community in breathing

Musical Play

It’s not all about the voice. Carefully chosen musical instruments help us communicate without words.

We have carefully selected a number of musical instruments that promote curiosity and playful behaviour. They all sound and feel great to play and most need two people to play them well!

Joint attention
Community in music making
Joyful expression

“Shape singing”

Llimited-range tunes that you can get your head and voice around quickly. The tune is supported by visual cues.

A simple tune at this stage allows us to all join in together with confidence and lets us focus on other things.

Pitch-matching the voice
Critical listening
Working as a group