Tune into Listening was a yearlong action research project initiated and led by Nicola involving two key partners – Hillfields Children’s Centre in Coventry and Allens Croft Children’s Centre in Birmingham. Evesham Nursery School and Vale of Evesham School and St Paul’s Nursery also participated in the project.

The overarching question was:

‘How can we use recorded music effectively?’

Throughout the project we played with, danced with and painted with the children, listened to and laughed with the children, observed children and debated many themes and ideas. We hope that this resource offers an insight into the project and our findings. We also hope it offers Early Years Educators ideas and inspiration to play a range of music to the young children attending Early Childhood education today – to encourage children to actively listen and ‘keep their ears open.’

Nicola realised that there was a gap in early years education regarding the use of recorded music and auditory environments.  Working in partnership with mac Birmingham, Nicola received funding from Youth Music and Arts Connect to lead the yearlong action research project Tune into Listening. 

Tune into Listening  won the Music Teacher Award for Excellence in Primary/Early Years 2017.