Music and art make all the difference

music program

We’ve said it before and we will continue to tell the world: the more we share music with children, the better off they will be!

A primary school in Bradford, England was in the news last month because of the incredible turnaround in their children’s results — the key to success? All children get up to six hours of music each week.

Not only did this school find that incorporating more music along with drama and art improved their students’ overall academic outcomes, but it also gave them another outlet and means of discovering a talent or passion. Even school attendance has increased!

The Kodaly Approach

The school said that its methods are based on the Kodaly approach. The Bonkers Beat programs incorporate this same approach. Kodaly is all about using music as a tool for children to learn subconsciously at first.

Musical games and songs about anything and everything can help children to familiarise themselves with themes and ideas in a warm, enjoyable way. Through rhythm and movement, they improve their fine and gross motor skills, literacy and numeracy as well as a range of life skills.

Results that sing for themselves

This primary school in Bradford is just one outstanding example of the power of music for children’s lives and outcomes.

As many of you know, the Bonkers Beat Music Program takes a musically-driven approach to early childhood education. Our results also sing for themselves!

The head teacher of the primary school in Bradford who says music changed everything for them, also said this:

“We had low staff morale, parents not happy with the school, results were poor and nobody wanted to come here, we had budget issues. It’s a downward spiral when you’re there.”

But now he believes that music can transform other schools who are struggling.

Choose success and results

As the end of the year approaches, it is a great time to reflect on what has worked in your centre and what has not worked so well. If you’re ready to get results like this primary school in Bradford has experienced, we can help.

Enquire about the Bonkers Beat Music Program today. This program was carefully created with the goal of helping centres like yours to reach their full potential. And, most importantly, enabling children to become the very best versions of themselves possible.

Click here to discover the magic of music through the Bonkers Beat Music Program.

One City, Many Children – The history (and future) of Reggio Emilia

reggio emilia approach

At Bonkers Beat we are big believers in the idea that we should never stop learning. That’s why we are looking for opportunities to continue our education and discover more.

For anyone who is passionate about early childhood education, the Reggio Emilia Approach is well worth delving into. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at what it is, how it started and why Reggio Emilia is so important now.

How did the Reggio Emilia Approach begin?

The city of Reggio Emilia in northern Italy was once recognised as the birthplace of lambrusco, parmigiano cheese and even the Italian flag. Today it is renowned for the early childhood education approach that began there and is being adopted all over the world.

The Reggio Emilia Approach was first developed in Italy in a very small city called Reggio Emilia. It was post-war times, with the people in this city looking forward to embracing a change for the better. Equality and hope for the future were front of mind for many.

What is the Reggio Emilia Approach?

Reggio Emilia harnesses the natural connections and curiosity within children’s lives – communities, family, nature – and builds on these to create a learning environment that allows children to blossom.

There is no ‘one way’ of approaching Reggio Emilia – rather than a set of guidelines or a strict pedagogy, Reggio Emilia is, as we refer to it, an approach.

Of course, with Reggio Emilia children flourishing, the approach was fascinating and coveted by countries all over the world. However, only in 70s that some Reggio Emilia values and guidelines were established and others could utilise the power of Reggio’s central elements, those being:

  • children’s relationships with other children, teachers, parents and their classroom environment;
  • documentation of the children’s learning as a way to make their thinking and theorising visible – and convey a strong image of an intelligent child;
  • project work, where children are engaged in explorations of their world, making choices about what they will investigate, and then together with their teachers and peers making meaning;
  • the many ways children express themselves called the “100 Languages” with a strong emphasis on the visual arts; and
  • active listening, where children’s voices, thoughts and opinions are valued (as much as the teachers’).

[Via The Conversation]

“What children learn does not follow as an automatic result of what is taught, rather, it is in large part due to the children’s own doing, as a consequence of their activities and our resources.” —Loris Malaguzzi, The Hundred Languages of Children

The Master Mind Behind the Reggio Emilia Approach

A local teacher, Loris Malaguzzi, played an influential role, even training as a psychologist in order to gain a better understanding of how to guide families and their children through early years of education. Malaguzzi was passionate about studying a wide range of pedagogies, using parts of theories he believed would best serve the early development of children.

It is safe to say that the Reggio Emilia Approach has been inspired by the likes of Gardner, Montessori, Freud and many others. Malaguzzi worked closely with a small group of educators over the years to develop the Reggio Emilia Approach and train others, ensuring that the focus always remained centred around the child.

Reggio Emilia’s Growth Beyond Italy

More like-minded centres were developed in Reggio Emilia itself and beyond, run with a heavy involvement from parents and communities – and this is at the heart of what the Reggio Emilia Approach is all about.

Play and self-guided exploration are also essential elements of the approach, returning to the idea of a holistic approach – educating the whole child and understanding that each child is unique.

Since its origins in that small Italian city, the Reggio Emilia Approach has been celebrated across the world. From the United States, to Australia, the UK – it has had a far-reaching impact on early childhood education.

It’s interesting to note that you cannot have a ‘Reggio Emilia Centre’ as such unless you are in fact in the city itself. Your centre can incorporate Reggio Emilia’s values and practices into its own philosophy, but there is no certification process to be an official Reggio Emilia centre because they really cannot exist outside of their own historical and cultural circumstances. This should not deter you from exploring and incorporating elements of this effective and fascinating approach in your centre and being a Reggio Emilia inspired service. The Bonkers Beat programs and our centre’s philosophy resonates with Reggio Emilia values and certainly has its roots in this progressive approach.

Why is Reggio Emilia so important today?

In the 21st century the need for critical thinking, questioning and exploring what we are presented with is more important than ever before. In a world where we are inundated with information, the ability to sift through and find what applies to us and how it applies to us is vital to find our way through life.

The Reggio Emilia approach inspires educators and parents to enhance children’s ability to think and learn. It allows us to take a holistic approach, giving much-needed attention to social and emotional development as well as developing creativity and confidence while empowering children to find their way independently and at their own pace.

I have lots more to share with you about my personal experience of the recent Reggio Emilia Study Tour – so keep your eyes open for this in the weeks to come.

We’d love to know your thoughts and/or experiences when it comes to the Reggio Emilia Approach. Join the discussion on Facebook.

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