Music Practitioner Early Childhood

07 June 2023

Three paid training opportunities open to all ages, 18 plus

We are seeking three musicians, artists or educators who wish to undertake professional development in order to develop their music practice with very young children.

One Project placement and development opportunity will happen in each of these three regions: Somerset – Dorset – Bournemouth/Christchurch/Poole.

Sound Foundation Somerset, Dorset Music Service and SoundStorm Music Education Agency (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council), working in partnership with Take Art, are each seeking an emerging Early Childhood Music Practitioner with an interest in working collaboratively.  There are three posts, one in each geographical region, all engaged through Take Art. The successful candidates will develop their music practice with very young children - through training, observations and support whilst spending 10 half days alongside your mentor – an experienced Early Childhood Music Practitioner - in an EYFS setting. You should have a sufficient level of musical skill and musical competences in working playfully with very young children.

During each project placement we will expect each emerging Early Childhood Music Practitioner to: 

  • Attend a selected EYFS setting in each region for 10 half days – either during the Autumn 2023 (Somerset) or Spring 2024 (Dorset and SoundStorm)
  • Attend professional development and networking opportunities including a six-week evening online ‘Building Confidence using music in EYFS’ course 7.30pm to 9pm on six evenings, once a week, dates TBC, during the Autumn 2023 term.
  • Attend planning and reflection meetings 
  • Hold a current DBS, your own public liability insurance and that you are registered as self-employed with HMRC 

We also very much encourage applications from practitioners who are keen to study the Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood. This is a part-time distance learning one year course aimed at those keen to improve their skills and knowledge in early childhood music education and gain a nationally recognised accredited qualification. The course runs in an academic year and students are required to attend four seminar days (Monday 30th October & Tuesday 31st October 2023, Monday 12th February 2024 and Monday 15th April 2024) in central Birmingham at the Centre for Research in Early Childhood (CREC) https://www.crec.co.uk/cert-music-ed-early-childhood.

Being part of the SoundWaves Network SW project as an Emerging EY Music Practitioner is the perfect partner project to the CME: Early Childhood Course. Working with someone who has gone through the same process gave me opportunity to ask questions and see what we were experiencing in the Early Years settings through a shared lens. The SoundWaves project has really enriched my CME: Early Childhood experience and hopefully one day I'll be able to offer similar support to someone else, continuing to build a community of practitioners in our area

Hannah-Jasmine, Taiko Drummer, supported by Plymouth MEH

Delivery/training Timescale

Somerset – Delivery of 10 week project expected to commence in October 2023 finishing in December 2023. Confirmed dates can be found within the more information about the Somerset role document below.

Dorset/SoundStorm – delivery of projects to commence in early 2024 and expected to run until Easter/early Summer 2024

Actual dates will be provided as soon as available.     

Payment, Funding and Bursaries

You will be paid to undertake the Project Placement on a freelance basis:

  • £50 Attend project launch CPD event – 2 hours online or in-person
  • £1,000  Initial Planning meeting plus work alongside early childhood music practitioner and EY staff at the early years setting for 10 sessions as stated above. 
  • £75 Contribute to and attend project end celebration event – 2 hours online or in-person
  • Plus up to £150 towards travel costs

Payment is made to an agreed schedule and following receipt of an invoice

We also fund a place on the following course for you – it is expected that you will undertake this course if your application is successful:

  • Online six-week Introduction to ‘Building Confidence using music in EYFS’ course, 2 hours, evenings in Autumn term 2023.

In addition, we very much encourage the successful candidates to undertake the Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood (CME:EC) course and are able to offer the following course fee bursaries:

  • £300 Take Art bursary towards the cost of Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood (CME:EC) Sept 23 to July 24 course
  • £800 bursary from the supporting Music Education Hub in your region towards the cost of Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood (CME:EC) 23 Sept to July 24 course.

Note:  the full cost of CME:EC course is £1,575.

How to apply: 

Please submit the application form below to recruitment@takeart.org by midday Tuesday 18 July 2023. Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview during the week of 24 July for which they will be asked to prepare a short musical activity suitable for very young children. 

For an informal conversation about this paid professional development opportunity, please contact Jane Parker jane@takeart.org to arrange a convenient day and time.