Conference programme
09:30 Welcome and Introduction - Charlotte Gibbs, Devon Music Education Hub and Jennie Loader and Jane Parker, Take Art
09:40 Musical Play - Dr Susan Young, Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Early Childhood, Birmingham
When children play they jumble everything together – language, story, role play, movement, dance, singing, drawing, mark-making, constructing and more. Skilled early years professionals provide for and encourage this richness of play. They observe, respond, extend and enrich. Just as language is much more than reading stories to children, but is woven into playful environments, so music is much more than singing songs.
This session will focus on musical play and will broaden to cover topics of creativity, imagination, slow pedagogy and give explanations as to why, particularly for today’s children to flourish, fostering imaginative play is so important.
10:40 Refreshments, networking and exhibition
11:00 Rhymes, songs and movement with very young children - Jane Parker and Rosie Walton
Learn rhymes, simple songs and experience music through movement to support children’s innate musicality. We will also consider the use of simple technology to capture children’s voices. This workshop will leave you with ideas and activities to use with very young children.
12:15 Lunch, networking and exhibition
13:30 Exploring Musical Play: Creative Approaches for Early Years - Charlotte Gibbs, Strategic Lead for Early Years at Devon Music Education Hub
This session will be engaging and hands-on, designed to explore the integration of musical play into continuous provision. This interactive session will give you the opportunity to discover a wide range of resources and practical strategies, empowering you with fresh ideas and creative ways to incorporate music into everyday learning experiences. By the end of the workshop, you'll walk away with a wealth of inspiration to enhance your teaching and provide enriching musical opportunities for young learners.
14:45 Comfort break
14:50 Panel discussion - facilitated by Take Art and Devon Music Education hub
Contributors from the day will reflect on all sessions, provide an opportunity for further questions and discussion and share where next and what now, including exciting upcoming projects to get involved with.
15:30 Close of conference - a continued chance for networking and discussion with the exhibition
Sessions and timings are subject to change
