The Early Years Music School Family Blog
Welcome to TEACHABLE MUSIC Led by ruth thompson
Teachable Music is the PD arm of my profession as an early years music specialist. With over 30 years teaching experience, training in Early Childhood Education and Music Education, and a creative bent, I have written and delivered countless workshops designed for teachers who need musical inspiration, guidance, ideas and repertoire that WORKS.
Sadly, not many teachers and educators, after spending years studying, leave feeling equipped to deliver sequential, developmental, joyous musical experiences for the children in their care. The digital world is infiltrating children's learning at an alarming rate, and teachers are feeling less and less empowered to press "PLAY' themselves. The singing voice is rarely used and teachers lacking confidence, instinctively know there must be more.
I am old school..........music for me needs to be hands on, interactive, planned, meaningful, child-centred and led with joy and enthusiasm. It is privilege to be welcomed into Pre schools and Early Childhood Centres, to work with teachers and hear their inspiring testimonies. (See below)
The following workshops have been tried and tested in early childhood settings and conferences around NSW and QLD (Australia).
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOPS UNPACKED
DURATION: 90 mins
(They can be combined or lengthened)
COST: $60 p head up to 30 participants.
Travel & accomodation costs additional
INCLUDED: Detailed notes
Teachers, the list below is incomplete. I write new workshops regularly and am happy to discuss the needs of your staff.
The Early Years Music School Family Memories
SEQUENCING MUSICAL EXPERIENCES IN THE EARLY YEARS
ising imove iplay - using music to develop a strong sense of identity
ising imove iplay - using music to develop a strong sense of identity
This workshop offers musically challenged teachers the skills and confidence they need to create engaging musical experiences for children aged 0 - 5 years.
I will demonstrate how to take songs, rhymes and carefully chosen recorded music, use this repertoire in a variety of ways across this span of 5 years. Each activity will match the developmental level of the child.
ising imove iplay - using music to develop a strong sense of identity
ising imove iplay - using music to develop a strong sense of identity
ising imove iplay - using music to develop a strong sense of identity
Circle games and singing games are some of the principle sources of joy in early childhood, especially when played with a group of friends. Whether its Farmer in the Dell, or Doggie Doggie, games provide fun, relaxation, a complete musical experience, opportunities for language development and improve motor skills, to name a few.
Learn a swag of new games and discover how singing games can contribute to a child's sense of self.
PERCUSSION PLAY
ising imove iplay - using music to develop a strong sense of identity
Every Early Childhood centre has a mixed bag of percussion instruments. Teachers are often reluctant to bring them out to do the same old thing - so this workshop will definitely enliven your use of handheld percussion.
I demonstrate creative ways to distribute and store percussion, a developmental approach to introducing percussion, how to share percussion, how to use percussion to add atmosphere to a story or rhyme, whilst teaching you songs and rhymes that support your musical goals.
using recorded music in the early childhood setting
Many early childhood educators lack confidence using their singing voice; so I have designed this workshop with you in mind. I take ten carefully chosen pieces of recorded music, of many genres, and demonstrate how to engage with the structure of the piece using props, without props, we add movement strategies, dance and listening suggestions. We listen for the form and patterns in the music.Included in this workshop is a Spotify playlist with all the piece used in the workshop.
twinkle twinkle little neuron
orchestrating joy - planning musictime
From the time a child is born, they are 'wired for sound' spending their alert times making sense of all the sounds around them.
But what do we do with an infant musically???
In this hands on workshop I answer that question with tried and tested songs, rhymes, bounces, wiggles and tickles that's serve to engage childminder in this critical window of development .
orchestrating joy - planning musictime
orchestrating joy - planning musictime
Developing musical skills in the early years is most effective when approached through sequenced teacher driven instruction. In this workshop, we will explore how to plan and coordinate the elements that can make up music and movement experiences in the pre school setting eg use of props, movement strategies, incorporating percussion.
We also learn what musical outcomes are achievable and how to make connections to the Early Years Learning Framework.
I offer 5 tips for successful planning and learn new tried and tested repertoire to add to your song bank.
"While play based learning is a cornerstone of Early Childhood Education, music learning occupies a unique space that calls for more than just exploration. Developing musical skills in the early years is the most effective when approached through sequenced teacher-driven instruction."
Dr Anita Collins - Neuromusical Educator
