Since 2013, SoundWaves - led by Take Art and supported by Youth Music - has been championing music‑making with very young children across the South-west of England. What began as a single project has grown into a major regional programme that connects Music Hubs, early years settings, musicians, universities, early years advisory teams and an array of other specialist partners. Across more than a decade, SoundWaves has supported hundreds of practitioners, reached thousands of children and developed a rich library of learning, resources and research. The programme has evolved in response to the needs of children, families and our early years and music workforce - from adapting our approach during the pandemic and using those insights to refine and strengthen practice - to creating long‑term, embedded partnerships across local and regional communities.
The timeline below charts this development in reverse chronological order, beginning with our most recent programme and moving back to our earliest foundations. Our journey continues…
Building on the strong model refined between 2018 and 2021, SoundWaves entered its most ambitious phase. Running from 2021 to 2025, SoundWaves Network South-west brought together eight Music Education Hubs/music organisations, 17 early years settings, their respective local authority teams and the University of Plymouth. Over these four years, the programme focused on supporting recovery, rebuilding confidence and strengthening high‑quality early years music practice in the wake of the pandemic. Across the programme, 17 participatory projects took place, involving 636 children. 95 CPD sessions were delivered to 1,856 attendees. A strong and recognisable SoundWaves model continued to emerge - one that placed everyday musical play at the centre of early years practice. A six‑week online training course enabled practitioners from across the region, nationally and internationally, to access the programme’s expertise. SoundWaves also supported the development of the early childhood music workforce, with 14 practitioners completing the Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood qualification during this phase. As the programme’s reputation grew, so did opportunities for partnerships, commissions and conference contributions, reflecting a rising demand for early childhood music expertise across the Southwest and beyond.
SoundWaves Network South West Full Evaluation Report - by Dr Susan Young.
Shifting Policy and Changing Understandings when Growing the Early Years Music Workforce (pdf) - by Dr Karen Wickett, University of Plymouth
You can also read the Wickett and Parker article here.
Following the rapid regional growth of SoundWaves Extra, the programme centred activity in Somerset, Bristol and Plymouth, using a well‑developed model that combined hands‑on music delivery, workforce development and opportunities for networking and knowledge‑sharing. Over 100 music sessions were delivered, involving 728 children and 165 practitioners. Pairs of musicians worked in early years settings for extended 20‑week placements, allowing time to build trust, collaboration and deeper musical practice. Professional development flourished: 40 CPD events attracted 970 participants, and online “Sounding Board” sessions supported practitioners during the pandemic. Five emerging educators were supported to complete the Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood qualification. With a strong model and growing workforce in place - and responding to post‑pandemic needs and national Music Hub changes - the programme was ready to scale region-wide and extend its impact.
The SoundWaves Network 2021.pdf
After laying the initial groundwork, SoundWaves expanded into a large, coordinated regional network focused on raising the quality of early childhood music practice. Over this phase, 250 music sessions took place across Bristol, Plymouth, Somerset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and Gloucestershire, involving 398 children and 117 staff. A further 24 training events were held, bringing together 570 early years professionals and musicians. As the programme grew, the role of Music Champions - early years practitioners who advocate for musical development within their settings - was introduced. During this period The Centre for Research in Early Childhood launched the Certificate for Music Educators: Early Childhood qualification, with two SoundWaves music leaders joining the first cohort in 2017, supported by Take Art bursaries. The phase culminated in the Small Steps Big Noise conference, attended by 160 delegates and strengthening partnerships with regional Music Education Hubs.
At the very beginning of the journey, SoundWaves launched as an 18‑month Youth Music‑funded initiative supporting musical play for children aged 0–5. Musicians worked in hospitals, children’s centres and nurseries across Bristol, Dorset, Devon and Gloucestershire. The project supported children while offering professional development for early years staff, helping build confidence and understanding around musical play.
This initial work laid the foundations for everything that followed. The relationships, learning and experiences created during this period shaped the future development of SoundWaves and enabled it to grow into a coordinated regional programme.
Over the years, SoundWaves has built a growing library of resources, including a video collection, case studies and a series of project reports that capture learning across the programme.
To get in touch, email earlyyears@takeart.org. You can also stay up to date with our early childhood music training opportunities by visiting the Take Art training events page, receive our latest early years news by subscribing to the Take Art mailing list.
