soundLINCS stages first Earlyarts Professional Development Day

Participants in the first Earlyarts Professional Development Day held by soundLINCS – Lincolnshire Music Development Agency – were intrigued, if a not a little bemused, to be invited to bring a ‘random household utensil’ with them to the event.

‘Early Years Music – Developing Instruments & Ideas’ took place at soundLINCS headquarters in Lincoln and was attended by arts professionals from across the Midlands, including a contingent who had travelled from Warwickshire. Whilst most participants are already involved in the Early Years sector, some are currently engaged in work with other age groups and viewed the day as a useful step in their career diversification.

The morning opened with a lively discussion about soundLINCS’ First Notes programme, which makes music-making workshops available to all pre-school settings in Lincolnshire, and the delegates gave an enthusiastic welcome to the latest First Notes Resource Pack. There then followed a networking session to highlight upcoming events in the Early Years arena. In the afternoon, soundLINCS Music Facilitators shared ideas on making musical instruments from ‘junk’ or ‘found’ materials, enabling the participants to put their own household utensils to good use, helped by copious amounts of pasta and sticky-backed plastic.

‘We are delighted with the positive feedback from the day and have already starting planning our next event,’ says Annamarie Burgess, soundLINCS’ First Notes Programme Development Officer.

The next in the series is due to take place on 21^st October 2010 and is attracting registrations from a diversity of professionals who work with pre-school children, including teachers, nursery staff, arts practitioners and child-minders, plus representatives of organisations responsible for managing Early Years projects. Participation is free for members of Earlyarts, or £50 for non-members (refundable to new members) and pre-booking is essential: for details, visit www.earlyarts.co.uk

Earlyarts is the professional development body in the arts and cultural sector for people working with pre-school children and their families. Membership includes the opportunity to attend up to four Professional Development Days each year which give presentations on creative practice, review publications, provide updates on policy, curriculum and research, foster networking and offer training in creative approaches. These sessions are run around the country by Earlyarts Pathfinder Partners to help connect communities to the Earlyarts network: soundLINCS – Lincolnshire Music Development Agency - is the Earlyarts Pathfinder for the East Midlands.