Impact Report - Bridlington Nursery
The Jean Freedman Music Foundation funding has enabled Bridlington Nursery School to provide a range of musical opportunities that, without the funding, we couldn’t have provided. This has motivated staff to consider ways in which music can play an even greater part in our curriculum than it already does.
The children have experienced a local musician, a music and dance professional and we have improved the amount and range of musical instruments available – both large and small. They have had opportunities to see, and use, a range of instruments that they may never have seen before and have been introduced to a range of musical genres.
Research has been carried out, and training delivered to staff, on the benefits and impact of music. As a result of this research staff have grown in confidence, feel enthused and inspired and are keen to further implement music across the setting on a larger scale.
A year-long project on music and sound was carried out. Throughout the project drumming workshops were set up, music was incorporated across all areas of the curriculum and music and sound were represented in a variety of creative ways. The result being that pieces of artwork, created in response to 2 pieces of classical music (Saint Saens “Carnival of the Animals” and Handel’s “Music for the Royal Fireworks”) were exhibited in a local art gallery.
Comments from children
“That’s my favourite music. It makes me want to run like a hamster.”
“We listened to that music before. It a Carnival for animals”
“That string is tight. It makes a scratching sound” (when listening to a violin).
“They are pings from a triangle, then it makes a long sound…called a…vibration”.
“This is a percussion instrument because I have to shake it”.
Comments from staff
“It was really interesting to watch the children when they were painting to the music. They were able to interpret and process the sensory information and this allowed them to take ownership of the music by creating their own work.”
“Over the past year I have learnt a lot about how children learn through music in the early years. The music training was fantastic and I really learnt a lot. The way the children visualised the sounds and pieces of music they listened to was very interesting and they all looked fabulous.
“We had a parent in with his drums. The children were star struck. They played along to his music with the musical instruments that they had made for homework and then they were even allowed to have a go on the drums. AMAZING!”
“After the music training I feel a lot more confident in the music area. I feel the children at our nursery really enjoy, and benefit from, the music based activities.”
“Although it's only been a couple of days, the children have really enjoyed the new music area we have started outside. Just using pans, lids, sticks and wooden spoons has had a huge impact but how amazing it would be to turn this area into a music studio.”
Comments from school governor
"The artistic results of this study were amazing. Not only did the pieces look incredibly mature (bearing in mind this is a Nursery School!), but they had verve and imagination running through them. These pictures were so exceptional that they are now on display in a gallery in Bridlington.”
Future Plans
Plans are now in place for a music gazebo to be created in the school playground. We wish to have small and large scale instruments which can be assessed at different levels.
Thank you so much to the Jean Freedman Music Foundation.
