Music and story in Early Years: a creative approach

Over the years of being a visiting music practitioner, I have worked with many inspirational Early Years Practitioners (EYPs). Walking into their classrooms often felt like an invitation – marks waiting to be made, toys ready to be touched, small-world areas ready to be animated. But never has it been more inviting than when the whole classroom is based around a story. Stories are how we understand the world at any age, whether creating role plays between toys, watching films or reading. When the story is reinforced by multi-sensory learning, the children often feel comfortable enough to be creative with it. One nursery had the entire room themed as Jack and The Beanstalk, with planting seeds, golden eggs, huge painting spaces for the castle – one child remarked to me ‘I’m in the story!’ while another chose to change the golden goose to a penguin.