Over the last month, the infant educators have noticed that the babies have been enjoying making music using different materials. The number one way that the infants have been making music is by using the shakers in their classroom. They have ones that they made and ones that are from the store. The second way the infants have been making music is through banging their hands on different objects. Sometimes they hit the garbage can, the table or even the walls with their hands. Sometimes they will amplify this sound by banging a toy against these same objects.
To further this interest, the educators arranged for the infants to do a music class. Two teachers from Yellow Brick Music, in Ayr, arrived with buckets of instruments. The infants gathered on the carpet and waited patiently to see what would happened. The music teachers started by singing the “Hello Song.” Each infant had a turn for their name to be sung. The first tool were the balls in the classroom. The music teachers played some music and everyone moved the balls to the beat of that music. When they song was over the infants worked together to put the balls away. Then some scarfs were presented to the babies. They worked on movement and musicality as they made the scarves dance to the calming music. When that song was done, they once again helped put away the scarfs, then they sat and waited for the next exciting surprise! The next bucket contained some shakers that the infants had never seen before. They had handles and string plastic pieces strung in the middle. The music teachers let the infants know that they were called “clip clops.” Everyone had a turn to shake and dance with them. Some babies were able to hold one in each hand. The infants used these the longest and when it was time to put them away, some indicated that they wanted a longer turn. But when they saw the next instrument, they quickly put the “clip clops” away. The music teachers had placed plastic, flat drums on the floor. One even has beads inside of it! The infants watched the beads slide around as they shook the drum. Noah enjoyed carrying a drum in each hand and shaking them to make a sound with the beads. Fiya and Everett placed their drums on the table and stood side by side while banging on them. The last two instruments were just as exciting as all of the others. One bucket had bells on sticks and a bracelet, while the other one had round egg shakers. Allie enjoyed holding a shaker in one hand and bells in the other. Brayden discovered that banging the bells together made an interesting sound. The educators joined the babies in using these instruments and singing “Shake Your Sillies Out.” After a few minutes the infants helped clean up one last time and then they sang the “Goodbye Song.” The infants waved goodbye to the Yellow Brick Music teachers and blew them kisses to say thank you.
Based on the level of engagement and excitement during this music class, it seems like the infants might enjoy working with more instruments. They did gravitate towards the instruments that shake, but they also liked the new ones that they had not seen in the classroom before.
The infants educators wonder what different instruments they can offer in the class on a regular basis. They might make jingle bell bracelets and try to find some “clip clops” that can be bought for the class. They also plan on inviting Yellow Brick Music back for another class.
