Musical abc - Music groups for pre-school children in Kenilworth, Leamington Spa and Southam.

Musical abc is an independent pre-school music experience offered uniquely within Warwickshire. Through enjoyable and multi sensory activities children absorb the basic musical elements: the abc of music. The sessions are planned to promote development in music and other areas, guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage (as set out by the DFES which sets the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five).

LIVE music is incorporated in every session: most songs are accompanied by a guitar, and the clarinet is sometimes played to accompany songs and movement activities.

Fun new topics are introduced each term to engage the children (and adults!), e.g: Animals, Weather, Colours, Transport...

Each session offers activities appropriate to the development of the children attending through singing, movement, listening, sharing, taking turns, fun and familiar routines.... and the use of many instruments and props:

"It is believed by researchers that infants are born with the ability and longing to compose music. By the age of nine, children can produce original compositions naturally, using the same processes as professional composers..."

"...Using real instruments and the humman voice is optimal, beacuse they energize us and provide the full spectrum of sound. Our bodies are living bio-oscillators, and vibrating them with our own voice or real instruments should be an intergral part of our daily life."

Carla Hannaford Awakening the Child Heart

Traditional percussion and other instruments.

Older children have the opportunity to play percussion instruments in every session. The instruments are grouped each week according to the timbre (quality of the sound).

The children also explore other instruments in the many different topics: a children's electric guitar, a trumpet, a trombone, a violin...

Puppets

Finger and hand puppets are used during some songs. Every child has their own puppet to explore: babies engage with the visual stimuli and older children can act out the rhyme as they sing.

Puppets and songs are also used to explore musical elements e.g. tempo is explored through the song "Slowly, slowly, very slowly moves the garden snail... Quickly, quickly, very quickly moves the little mouse..."

Baby instruments

There are baby safe instruments available during every session. These are grouped according to the instruments timbre (quality of sound).

Other props

Many props are used during the different sessions:

• scarves
• coloured streamers
• mirror (during the 'hello and goodbye' song)
• bubbles
• mobiles (during Baby Bass listening time)
• printed and musical voiles
• parachute and lycra
• hobby horses....

Bonding

Sharing musical activities is an excellent way to bond with your child.

At Musical abc the range of songs and activities facilitate the bond with a child and their carer. Young babies gain early communication skills by watching and copying their carer's face as they sing. All children interact with their carer through songs that involve rhythmic jigging, tickling, cuddling, props...

All songs and actions can be reinforced at home to further enhance this bond.