About Soundscape Studio Music Program

The Soundscape Studio music program was established in 2010 by early childhood teacher and vocal and instrumental musician, Liz Lester. Liz has taught specialist movement and movement programs for many years in the A.C.T. including Toddler Kindy Gymbaroo and her own perceptual development program taught in child care centres - Top to Toes. Soundscape Studio is an innovative approach to exploring sound and teaching music and builds on Liz’ extensive experience working with children, their parents and centre staff and teachers. The program has been developed in association with the Gungahlin Children’s Centre.

Soundscape music program provides small groups of children with weekly lessons that explore all kinds of sound and music through an active learning discovery approach. The establishment of a “Sound Studio” enables group lessons, open studio opportunities, dance and events to be incorporated into the centre program.

A soundscape is defined as "All of the waveforms faithfully transmitted to our audio cortex by the ear and its mechanisms".  The Soundscape program explores sound as a foundation for developing an understanding and appreciation of formal more structured music, recognising that the elements of sound and the function of the auditory system are essential first steps.

The program draws upon a range of specialist music education approaches for young children including the work of Carl Orff, Zoltan Kodaly, Heather Gell and Emile Jaques-Dalcroze. Lessons include building children’s awareness of musical elements and structure in a responsive way that is authentic to their understanding and interests.

Weekly music lessons include:

  • Making music through singing and playing instruments
  • Improvisation
  • Structured dancing and expressive movement
  • Exploring musical elements and instruments
  • Appreciating a diverse range of sound and music (including natural and environmental sounds)
  • Making links between music, feelings, visual arts and story
  • Relaxation, listening and music appreciation

Additional Experiences

Live performers

  • Visiting musicians will support children’s understanding of musical instruments and performance.

Open Studio sessions

  • supporting staff engagement with musical experiences
  • Invite centre staff and children to visit the music studio and share musical experiences

Weekly Dance session

  • Provides a weekly opportunity for learning structured dance and sharing movement experiences for children and educators across the centre.

Authentic and emergent lesson content and links to centre programs

  • The program responds to children’s culture and current learning interests relating directly to the weekly programs implemented throughout the centre.
  • Centre educators participate in weekly studio sessions to build their musical awareness and resources

Documentation

The daily Studio Diary provides information for parents and staff and is on display in the centre foyer

  • Soundscape Studio website provides parents and staff with updates, pod casts, lesson recordings, parent newsletter and events information
  • Individual children’s photographic records document experiences
  • Group digital portfolios provided at the end of the year
  • Lesson Plans and Song Book available for staff