Free music classes for babies, training for children’s centre staff and bespoke song-sheets, recordings and other resources help to improve access and increase music-making for young children in our Musical Beginnings project.

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“Now I realise the value of my singing voice for my baby”

‍— PARENT

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The first phase took place between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, through a close partnership project with Quaggy Development Trust children’s centres generously supported by Sound Connections with funding from Arts Council England.  

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“I’ve learned that you can improvise words to song to describe you are doing – it’s really great for bonding as well as language”

— EARLY YEARS COMMUNITY COORDINATOR

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Musical Beginnings aims to solve the issue of unequal access to music education by addressing access at the very earliest stages, which have so much impact on later learning.

“It’s helped me to incorporate music into everyday activities and make up songs/lyrics”

— PARENT

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The first phase of the project was shortlisted for a National Creative Learning Award, with awards Judge and Lego Foundation Research Specialist in Creativity & Learning Elisabeth McClure commenting:

“This pilot program, which brings the joy of everyday musical interaction to very young children and parents, has great potential to impact many families in the coming years. By offering this wonderful opportunity free of charge to vulnerable families, this organization is providing not just a music intervention, but an opportunity to inspire and support parents and children at the earliest point possible, nourishing and supporting those critical relationships right from the start. It will be a joy to see this program grow!”

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“I learnt that the simplest of songs can have a big effect on children’s behaviour”

— STAFF MEMBER

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Read our case study about the pilot phase.
See our partnerships page.
Support us to carry out more work like this.