MusicTalk is created by Anne Flood, an Early Years Teacher and Music Therapist and Jacinta Costello, a Speech and Language Pathologist. Both have extensive experience working within the early years. This exciting new training package uses original music to target speech and language development, build social communication and help children and educators explore a range of communication styles. It is suitable for educators who want to use music with intention. There is no requirement to be able to sing or lead music events. The beautiful backing tracks are your friend.
At the end of the training, you will have 15 new music tracks supported with engaging visuals and some very accessible resources that will set you up for structured communication training for the year. MusicTalk is a low cost, accessible resource that will be useful in many different parts of the kindergarten/childcare day.
Contact courses@rhythmicintegrations.com for further information, tax invoices and group discount bookings.
MusicTalk assists educators to systematically build communication skills using music.
MusicTalk will:
reinforce typical development milestones for kindy children.
help educators target sound play with sounds that are relevant for kindy children.
build social communication skills that promotes regulation and prepares children for learning.
build grammar and vocab through structured music and literacy play.
explore the different styles for leading and engaging with children.
share the power of music and open the door to many new music experiences.
The length of the course is approximately 3 hours of self-paced learning (you can access at any time and dip in and out as you need). Another 3 hours is acknowledged for practicing and becoming familiar with songs, printing, and organise resources and trialling the songs at home or with a group. All up the certificate of completion references 6hrs of professional development.
Resources include: 15 songs; 10 demonstration videos; 7 mini lessons guiding the use of songs and video; a folder of visuals to prepare and laminate and some resources to make/buy.
This section provides you with an introduction to the creators of the program and an overview of the objectives of the program.
In this module, Jacinta will highlight typical development for sound development and provide some suggestions to observe and notice oral communication skills for young children.
In this module, Jacinta takes us beyond just words and sounds and reflects on the two way process of communication. Children who are successful learners are able to respond to verbal and non-verbal communication to take turns, follow instructions and master their environment.
Our role as an educator is also as a communication partner to the children we support. Our own communication styles need to adapt to the situation. Our goal is to engage children in experiences that support their learning and development. With our communication less is often more.
Jacinta helps educators build deeper connections with early childhood literature. We know that great literature in the early years is so important and many educators have time within their day to read. Jacinta introduces a fantastic framework of questions that helps children think and respond to literacy.
Singing
Anne talks about the value of singing in partnership with children and encourages educators to build their confidence with a singing voice. Educators can build their singing skills with the children.
Memory and Retrieval
Music and speech have some shared neurological pathways and some different pathways. Anne and Jacinta touch on the neurological experience of learning through music. Music may help children with retrieving and accessing their communication skills and is a powerful tool for teaching.
All the resources you will need to get started.
Identifying children who need additional support.
A concern that is often raised with educators in the early years setting is having those conversations with parents when you have concerns about a child’s development can be confronting. Having a solid developmental checklist is your best asset.
Getting started
Please print the MusicTalk planning document and start to consider the areas of need, the resources that will be required. This is the beginning of a thoughtful plan of action based on the needs of your students.