When the Noon 2s first started school in September, they were meeting eight new friends and three new teachers for the first time. There were new faces, a new school building and classroom, new materials to engage with - and perhaps even new songs to sing at circle time. The newness was exciting and intriguing to them, but perhaps it was a little bit scary, as well.
As early as our second day of school, music took on a whole language of its own for the Noon 2s. Without using words, the children used music as a social connector. They created games - often times loud and raucous drumming games!--and they revisited those games again and again. With revisiting these musical games, they were creating bonds and memories. There was also simultaneous movement and dancing happening around the classroom. At circle time, spontaneous dancing would erupt and sprinkle through the room in a domino effect. And with each new shared musical experience, the children grew closer and closer.
"We're connect together!"-Mateo
At the beginning of the year, the children were creating music together. Recently, we decided to allow them to listen to music together. We introduced a listening station to the room, with three headphones attached to one iPod. When they put on the headphones, they will look at each other, move their bodies in their seats, and occasionally hum or sing out loud. During their first time listening, Lola immediately looked at Aryana and they smiled and hummed together. They continued to glance and smile at each other as they listened. Lola also shared her memories of the music: "This is my song! Driving... in the car, with Mommy and Daddy."
When Mateo and Addie sat down to listen, they quietly moved their bodies to the music, looking at each other and mimicking moves. When "The Yellow Submarine" came on, they recognized it and sang the words out loud, smiling and watching each other. A few minutes later, without any headphones, they began drumming together and singing "The Yellow Submarine." When Mateo tried to move without taking off his headphones, he said excitedly: "We're connect together!"
Mateo was right in so many ways! We were surprised to see that listening to music on headphones was a connector. Rather than isolate each child, the experience of listening together--recognizing songs and moving their bodies in their seats--brought them closer.
Music offers the children a language to communicate and express themselves -- both to us and to each other. They are communicating through their bodies as they dance and move around to the music. They are communicating through bonds and friendships as they create games through music or sing together at the listening center. They are communicating through common and repeated experiences as they remember and repeat musical games or recognize the same song. The children use their shared musical language to build stronger bonds with each other -- all through musical interactions and expressions.
