Today Bishopston Mum features a review of Little Music Makers by local parent Eleanor Godwin. Little Music Makers is an interactive music, movement and song group for pre-schoolers and their parents/carers run by husband and wife team Robin and Ali and is held at KudaCan in Bishopston on Mondays at 11.30am – 12.15pm. 

My children are 3.5 and I have a 6 week old. The age range at Little Music Makers seems to be between 18 months and 4 ish. I have been going to Little Music Makers for 6 weeks.

Each block of lessons is centred on a different theme e.g. travel, and each week the children go on a different adventure, so this time they have been on imaginary buses, boats, trains and so on all round the country.

As part of the adventures, they sing different songs and use a range of instruments from triangles and rattles to drums. It’s always very loud and lively! They also have a letter of the week related to the adventure they are on.

My daughter can be quite shy in new situations but she has enjoyed every session of Little Music Makers. I think the focus of an adventure gives the sessions structure that the children can get involved in and she has loved exploring all the different instruments and the sounds they make.

The classes encourage the children to use their imaginations from the minute they arrive so you can see straight away how much fun they are all having. Robin also encourages the children to think about rhythm and volume and how they play the instruments rather than just crashing and banging about so that adds another dimension to their learning as well.

All the children are very good at listening to Robin and Ali and doing as they’re asked, I’m not quite sure what their secret is!

The location is ideal as the children can play in KudaCan before and/or after the session and make a morning of it, and the room is a good size to facilitate the activities. Obviously KudaCan’s cafe is also on hand with drinks and snacks if required!

The different adventures each week are the best bits about Little Music Makers; I am constantly amazed by what Robin and Ali come up with and the level of preparation they put into each session. The first time I went, the adventure was all about the pulmonary system and learning about how the body works!

As each week is different there isn’t the repetition that you can get with some groups, and so the children are engaged straight away and they never know what will happen next! I think the variety is very important so they are constantly experiencing new things.

I was impressed by how enthusiastic the children are and how well they are encouraged to use their imaginations, and it is also evident how enthusiastic Robin and Ali are about play and learning through music.

We go to the class on a Monday morning, and my daughter usually spends Monday afternoon pretending to be Robin and Ali and making us recreate the session!

Please check out the Bishopston Mum Baby and Toddler Timetable for more information about local activities for young children.