The BODY SMART Blog

Take it Outside: Music Play

29th September, 2010 - Posted by - 1 Comment

Kids love to make their own music.  And what better place to make music than outside?

Rusty Keeler calls it adding ‘soundscapes’ to your ‘playscape’.  In this Part 1 of a 3 part series we will look at how we can create soundscapes in our very own playscapes, and help the little people in our lives to explore and create sound making in the great outdoors.

Take the Instruments Outside

A soundscape doesn’t need to be a permanent addition to your play space.  It is easy to gather up a basket of sound makers or simple instruments, find a cosy spot outside and spread out a blanket.

Hanging some colourful scarves or lengths of fabric on the trees or bushes around the area helps to define the activity and creates a special, visually appealing space that is special and inviting to young musicians.

Simply string up some sheets on a line and you have made a space begging to be explored. Add your basket of instruments and you have the perfect space to explore and create sounds.

Special music play areas like these can also become performance spaces:

Adding different resources such as puppets, scarves, streamers or dress up clothes offer variety and encourage self expression in movement and sounds.

Bang the Drum

An arrangement of drums on different levels always looks inviting: surfaces such as steps, low tables, tree stumps or tree cookies spring to mind.   And if you don’t have drums, fear not!  A collection of pots and pans works just as well:

Or you can make your own outside “thunder drums” using old barrels, or galvanized metal garbage bins.

If you would like to make smaller homemade drums take a look at Irresistible Ideas for Play Based Learning, where they made drums by reusing infant formula containers.

Please Join In! I would love to create more ‘sound scapes’ in our playground at preschool, so I would love to hear your ideas or experiences.

Blogger Bio: Jenny Kable is an early childhood educator, teaching and learning from children in a progressive preschool setting nestled in the beautiful Australian bush. Her blog, Let The Children Play, is filled with wonderful ideas and inspiration. Jenny is a favorite blogger around here! You can follow her on Twitter @preschoolplay.