Youth Music - BongoClub.org.uk

This inspirational music project was piloted in 2005 & 2006 in parts of Lincolnshire, and has since been successfully rolled out across the county. 'Music Sounds Inclusive' is a project dedicated to giving childminders additional skills, so they can open up access to participatory music making for the children in their care.

What is 'Music Sounds Inclusive'?
This unique programme devised by the county's Youth Music Action Zone sound52, and managed by music development agency soundLINCS, combines accredited training for childminders. It also gives pre-school children in their care, the chance to explore participatory music-making within a creative and socially-inclusive environment.

Developed in partnership with the National Childminding Association (NCMA), the programme builds upon the framework established by soundLINCS' pioneering sound52 'First Notes' music workshops, which have been running for four years in pre-schools across Lincolnshire. Music Sounds Inclusive pilot schemes were rolled out during 2005 & 2006 with groups in 7 locations: Sleaford, Spalding & Lincoln, Grantham, Horncastle, Boston and Stamford. The project is now rolling out across the county.

How does 'Music Sounds' Inclusive work?
At each venue, up to 12 childminders and the youngsters in their care, are assigned to two experienced sound52 Music Facilitators who are equipped with instrument kits designed to meet specific Early Years needs. The youngsters range from infants of just a few months old to rising fives, with each childminder invited to bring up to five participating children. The groups participate in two structured daytime music workshops, usually set a week apart. These are separated by an evening training session solely for the childminders, where fundamental musical concepts like rhythm, pulse, dynamics and pitch are explored alongside the wider social and educational benefits of creative music making within a group environment.      

How was the programme devised?
The Music Sounds Inclusive programme has been devised in line with the career development framework of the NCMA Gold Star award, which stipulates that registered childminders must undertake at least 12 hours of training to qualify for the award. By attending Music Sounds Inclusive, each participating childminder accrues two hours towards this goal.

Are any resources created throughout the programme?
During the pilot scheme, all delegates were given a starter pack of percussion instruments funded by the NCMA to enable them to continue to cultivate their musical activities. Subsequently, however, sound52 has developed the programme in response to feedback from the pilot scheme and the NCMA, and the childminders are now actively encouraged to create their own songs during their training session. The results are recorded and mixed by sound52 music production facilitators, with a compilation CD presented post-project to all the contributors, thereby creating a permanent resource on which the childminders can draw during their own music-making sessions. A certificate is also given to the participating children and childminders.

What are the main aims of Music Sounds Inclusive?
One of the keys to the universal nature of Music Sounds Inclusive lies in the identification of appropriate venues. Ranging from town centre Arts Centres to rural village halls, venues are selected in collaboration with the NCMA, with a specific brief to make them accessible to groups of childminders who may be considered hard to reach. Childminders may be considered hard to reach due to geographic, social or cultural isolation. "On reflection, we would really like to spend more time sourcing venues," says sound52 Early Years Programme Development Officer, Allison Burrows. "In rural areas in particular, there is often not much choice when it comes to finding a local facility large enough for the group of potential participants, and it has sometimes proved a challenge to locate venues suitable for those with small babies or children with special physical needs." 

The project is focused heavily on training and empowering the childminders to build on their existing musical skills. However, it has also helped sound52 to develop a heightened understanding of how childminding works, particularly in rural communities. Additionally, the Music Facilitators involved had the opportunity to enhance their experience of working with children in the 0-5 age range. As part of the pre-project planning, all facilitators attend a sharing event in order to meet their co-workers, plan their sessions and exchange ideas. "The team finds these events very valuable," says Allison Burrows. "So we consider them to be an intrinsic part of the Music Sounds Inclusive package." 

How is the project funded?
Places on Music Sounds Inclusive courses are offered free of charge, thanks to funding through sound52 and a raft of project partners, including Youth Music and Lincolnshire County Council's Transformation Fund. Indirect funding from the county's seven district councils, the Early Years Development & Childcare Partnership, Children's Links, the Pre-School Learning Alliance and the Arts Council is also received through sound52 itself. 

How was the response to the project?
Take-up has been excellent and in some areas has exceeded expectations, with several participants keen to point out the benefits of being able to work with their children within a creative and positive environment whilst developing their own ability to participate in, or even instigate, musical activities. Offshoots currently under consideration by sound52 include a project to work with childminders and older children during school holidays.

The childminders that took part in the project, had this to say about Music Sounds Inclusive: 

• "It gave me a basic idea of songs to make up with
  existing melodies."
  
  
• "It made me more aware of ways to bring music into
  the daily routine."
  
  
• "It gave me ideas for home made instruments and a range of
  'bought' instruments to try."
  

How to find out more:
Childminders in Lincolnshire interested in registering for Music Sounds Inclusive, or those outside the county wishing to find out more about the scheme, should contact soundLINCS, Lincolnshire's music development agency which manages all sound52 programmes, by telephone: 01522 510073, e-mail: info@soundlincs.org or visit: www.soundlincs.org.