The Music Nest visits nurseries in and around Chichester, Selsey and the surrounding areas. Classes are tailored to your setting and your children.
What can you expect?
30 minutes of musical fun which captures children’s attention and engages them in singing songs, playing instruments, moving with music, sensory fun and exciting props. Songs are accompanied by live guitar accompaniment, and recorded music of many different genres is used for moving and playing.
What does a session look like?
This varies from setting to setting, but will usually include:
Hello song
Familiar nursery rhymes accompanied by guitar
A simple new song – sometimes tailored to the time of year or a theme being explored in the nursery that week
A sensory or movement activity – including prerecorded music, sensory props, listening, and lots of interaction
Playing – a chance for the children to play simple percussion instruments
Cool down – listening to some live music performed by the teacher
Goodbye song
Do I have to make a regular booking?
No, there is no minimum number of bookings. However, children respond better when visits are regular because they become familiar with the structure of the sessions and with the teacher, engaging more quickly, fully and confidently.
What ages are sessions suitable for?
Sessions are suitable for any preschool children, either as a mixed age group or for specific ages. Mixed age sessions are designed for all ages to enjoy and participate in. If you choose, the children can be spilt into age groups for classes tailored to developmental stages. Age or development specific sessions will be designed to meet the needs to the children in the group, and to use music to develop social skills, communication, confidence, motor skills, regulation and more – all whilst having a lot of fun!
Nurseries
What will the children gain from these sessions?
SO much more than they realise! Sessions engage the children to make music and have fun together. At the same time all sorts of skills are being developed. Here are some examples:
Singing engages the whole brain because it combines language, emotion, movement, memory and social connection. This is such a rich experience, supporting many areas of development simultaneously.
Clapping and making simple body movements with music develops co-ordination, and a sense of beat which can help with regulation.
Playing simple percussion instruments improves motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It helps develop cause and response, giving tactile feedback in response to sounds. It encourages problem solving as children work out what happens when they play the instrument in a certain way or repeat a sound. It builds awareness of other’s actions and supports pre-verbal social skills such as copying and responding. Playing instruments also provides a safe outlet for emotional expression.
Listening to music can have a direct effect on how children feel. Slow gentle music can lower arousal and help children feel safe and settled. Listening to short, structured music can help extend concentration in a gentle way. Identifying patterns in music supports early maths and sequencing. When adults and children listen together a calm environment is created which allows for a shared experience without active participation.
Why choose The Music Nest?
I am a trained musician and have worked as a qualified, registered music therapist for the past 15 years. I have a valid DBS, insurance and safeguarding training, and frequently undertake continued professional development to build my skills. I am passionate about using music to support development in young children, and I love seeing the joy on children’s faces when they respond to music. My approach is flexible and adapts to the children in the room on any given day. When children take part in music making they naturally become engaged and having fun, without realising they are also developing many important skills!
