Developing Musicality

This time of year is always a wonderful time, getting to know our new friends and families and making sure they feel settled, attached and happy to be in school. We have noticed this year a wide group of children who are very interested in music and singing. 
At Rachel Keeling we are fortunate to have a piano which the children can access freely. Children regularly experience Lize playing and singing beautifully during the course of the week which provides some lovely inspiration (as well as envy that I didn't stick with piano lessons as a child!) Staff are on hand to support children to press the keys gently, listen to the sounds, noticing the pitch of the notes and explore the instrument.
Practitioners observed and noted that particular children were returning to the piano on a daily basis and sustaining concentration. Some children played alone and others performed as a group. The children helped to organise the music box (containing the sheets of music) and then they relabelled the keys. This has been done with coloured stickers demarcating the notes, which then match some of our sheet music. In time, many of these children will be supported to read the notes and play simple tunes such as Twinklew Twinkle.
At a time when funding for the arts, and music in particular is being scrapped, we think it is especially important for our children to have access to this art form.