Find out more: Sensory Sounds in Nature Blog

During the early Summer in 2021 we began exploring sounds in nature with young people with special needs (SEND) and their families, and with babies and their carers. It was so important to enjoy ourselves and have fun together, as we shared hour long weekly music sessions in local settings in Kettering and Corby. Our aims were to develop the musical expression of the young people and to improve their wellbeing through sensory exploration and play.

Each session centred around a carefully planned and resourced sensory activity on the theme of our senses. We explored colour with our wonderful light table, texture with nest-building – for birds and for ourselves, wrapping, resting (and sometimes flying away!) in shiny material. Perfumes and soups were made with a variety of garden herbs and flowers and turned to fizzing, brightly coloured potions. We made self portraits and looked at emotions on those faces, touching on what some have termed the ‘lesser-known sense’ of interoception: how we understand and interpret what our bodies feel like and how this affects our regulation and wellbeing.

We went outside to collect feathers and grasses for our nests, flower petals for our potions and sticks and twigs for our rainmakers. We sang and drummed and tapped on the grass and the path and the paving stones. In our Autumn term the air and the grass felt and smelt different, and the colours of the plants and trees around us all had changed.

And of course we developed our music together; throughout all of this we sang songs (one about washing our hands and wearing masks!) and played our instruments - some of which we had made. The young people explored pitch and rhythm with stretchy material, and sang along and played percussion to new and familiar repeated songs.

All of the sounds of us playing, collecting and making went to our wonderful composers and we will hear their original pieces at our Listening party very soon.

This project came at such an important time during the pandemic. We met babies and toddlers for whom this was their first experience of group play activity because there were no baby and toddler groups in lockdown. Many children with special needs had lost their music provision at school because of restrictions. Everyone seemed poignantly aware of the luxury of being able to be with other families and other children in a social setting.  Above all this became a safe space for adults and young people, to share, to create, to be.

Written by Dr. Becky Higgins (Music Leader, Inclusive Families)

Quotes:

We had the best time. Such fun, friendly and enjoyable session. Recommend 10,000%. Thank you. (Parent/Carer)

Excellent opportunity to mix with other like minded people - especially after the last 18 months. Amazing to have inclusive places to go where children can be accepted as they are. Been very helpful to redevelop his social skills. Music is always a great way to include everyone. (Parent/Carer)

Catered well for families with range of abilities. Very understanding, approachable & supportive environment. Thank you. (Parent/Carer)

[Child] loves to play with the instruments.He really enjoys it so with being autistic they are very calm. And it’s not too fast paced. They leave all the instruments out all session so the children can use them any time. (Parent/Carer)

[Child] was happy to say goodbye to everyone and accepted us singing to her and naming her. She experienced the room as a safe place. (Music Leader).

Tolerance of [child] towards others has developed hugely – she will go close to others in a way she did not at the beginning of the sessions. (Facilitator).