Bongo Club Interview: Playmusicplay
Linda Bance, founder of 'Playmusicplay', specialises in early years music making. Here, Linda tells Bongo Club about her background, her views on why involving young children in music making is so important and offers some advice to parents.
Tell us what Playmusicplay does as an organisation?
Playmusicplay aims to communicate, share and inform people about community music in the early years happening locally and beyond. We provide a great deal of quality music workshops, music sessions and training concerned with music in the early years.
What is your current role and what does it involve?
My current role involves a mixture of teaching, and leading projects that encourage music making activities with families and their young children.
How did you first get involved with early years music making?
I started using music with young children when I was 16 working in a nursery as part of my National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) training.
What specific training have you had?
My training began with school music education, learning to play the violin, piano, guitar and an early childhood training gaining an NNEB. Later, I returned to Trinity College of Music to pursue further training, and received an MA in music education. My research was dedicated to music in the early years.
Why do you think it is so important to involve young children and their parents in music making?
My philosophy is that music is for everyone. Using music as an everyday activity has a great deal of value. It helps improve relationships and bonds between parents and their children. Singing helps develop language, communication, concentration, listening and numeracy skills. Our activities aim to encourage creative minds and heighten musical awareness for both parents & children.
What are the children's reactions to music making when you first work with them?
Children and babies respond well to singing and playing with sounds. Both children & their families develop a repertoire of songs/games and experiment with new ideas. Children's positive reactions to music making are what make me so passionate about this whole idea.
What advice would you give parents when assessing whether to take their children to a particular early years music making project?
There are many musical opportunities available for parents, carers and their young children. Check out activities which allow both creativity and spontaneity, and recognize the importance of both child & adult led sessions.
How do you see early years music-making fitting in with other arts activities?
Music, art, drama, role play and dancing are all interlinked when it comes to young children and we should make provisions for all of these. I would like to see music play being encouraged and as accessible as the art easel.
For more information visit www.playmusicplay.co.uk.
Information
- Music & early years
- The Wiggles interview
- Introduction To Early Years Music Making
- The Impact Of Early Years Music Making
- Your child's hearing
- Music therapy
- Why music?
- Music For Little People
- Interview: Playmusicplay
- ‘Crying to get the music back’
- Megan's Musical Journey
- Music & pregnancy
- Music at home
- A parent's view
Resources
In Your Area
Youth Music
Youth Music exists to facilitate and fund high quality and diverse musical experiences for young people up to the age of 18, particularly those living in areas of social and economic need.
