Guest Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 Hi all, I was having a discussion with a colleague today about playing music on the iPod/radio. Whilst there are obvious benefits, we were discussing any detrimental effect of near-constant background music on language development. Also, as an adult, I feel a sensory overload when entering the preschool room of 32 children plus blaring music. Any thoughts, comments, articles etc would be much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lashes2508 Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 My suggestion would be experiment with all genres of music at different levels at different times of day at different levels and observe any reactions by children and staff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildflowers Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 [...] Whilst there are obvious benefits [...] Which are those? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 Hmmmm. Maybe I was being generous! I see the benefits of musical exploration in general, but I'm not happy with the way it is currently used in our setting. I suppose I'm looking for change without seeming like a killjoy! And preferably with some research to back me up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louby loo Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 We sometimes have gentle classical music in the background - very low volume, but it does seem to calm the children. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 We use music intermittently. We never have it on day in day out. The hall we work in has quite a high ceiling and so does create echo which for children of this age is not good (around 1 in 4 will experience some sort of hearing issue!) We do use it to liven the children up or quieten them down depending on mood and we have a wide variety of music (elvis Presley going down well at moment) We have made a decision not to use the radio as we cannot control what is going to be said in the news or played on air. Music can certainly be a key element for some children and in fact some do seem to concentrate better with a small bit of background noise (only found this recently ....suspect it is because they are used to it at home!) I would love to add noises to the small world and role play areas (does anyone do this?) so the sound of the sea, or a busy street and see what effect this has. I have lots of children with interesting learning styles at the moment and several of them react very favourably to music, it can increase their use of language (polish child singing let it go constantly!) or improve steady beat little one with asd tapping along on the radiator! increasing confidence (dancing in a group) I have one little chap who has hearing issues who will press his ear against the speaker and dance with great joy!!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lsp Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 Like the idea of sounds in the small world play - brilliant. Think this might be on my list for Sept. Maybe going on sound walks to record it with children? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 Like the idea of sounds in the small world play - brilliant. Think this might be on my list for Sept. Maybe going on sound walks to record it with children? lots of downloads available too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 I have always had music playing at lunchtime, I find it is helpful tool to prevent the loud volume of children when they are sat at the lunch table and is a good focus for discussion. I use the iPod and we play the same music for a couple of weeks so the children become really familiar with the tunes. I have a selection which includes classical, pan pipes, Bollywood, jazz, piano, violin, so it is also a good way of broadening children's musical knowledge beyond Frozen and One Direction which seems to be this cohorts musical obsessions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panders Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 (edited) We use music intermittently. We never have it on day in day out. The hall we work in has quite a high ceiling and so does create echo which for children of this age is not good (around 1 in 4 will experience some sort of hearing issue!) We do use it to liven the children up or quieten them down depending on mood and we have a wide variety of music (elvis Presley going down well at moment) We have made a decision not to use the radio as we cannot control what is going to be said in the news or played on air. Music can certainly be a key element for some children and in fact some do seem to concentrate better with a small bit of background noise (only found this recently ....suspect it is because they are used to it at home!) I would love to add noises to the small world and role play areas (does anyone do this?) so the sound of the sea, or a busy street and see what effect this has. I have lots of children with interesting learning styles at the moment and several of them react very favourably to music, it can increase their use of language (polish child singing let it go constantly!) or improve steady beat little one with asd tapping along on the radiator! increasing confidence (dancing in a group) I have one little chap who has hearing issues who will press his ear against the speaker and dance with great joy!!! Finleysmaid have you ever checked out the BBC Schools (radio)website page, I downloaded seagulls earlier this term when we all went to the "beach" for a couple of days, the children were quite amazed. They have lots of different sound bites as well as some sweet programmes for the children to listen to if they are so minded, you can download/podcast for nothing. Edited June 27, 2015 by Panders 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 Finleysmaid have you ever checked out the BBC Schools (radio)website page, I downloaded seagulls earlier this term when we all went to the "beach" for a couple of days, the children were quite amazed. They have lots of different sound bites as well as some sweet programmes for the children to listen to if they are so minded, you can download/podcast for nothing. brilliant ....when ive finished my blasted reports ill go and listen to something soothing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 We have classical music or instrumental music on during rest/nap time, works great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 We have some quiet classical music playing on arrival and music at tidy up time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 I think music can be used at particular times for a particular purpose. But any background sound can make it MUCH more difficult for children with any hearing difficulty at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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