The SoundWaves Network

The SoundWaves Network SW is a four-year early childhood music education programme funded by Youth Music incorporating a strong element of training for the current and future early childhood workforce in the South West. Starting in November 2021, the project takes place within eight Music Education Hub learning communities, located in Plymouth, Somerset, Cornwall, Dorset, Devon & Torbay, Southampton, Bournemouth  Poole & Christchurch and Bristol working with early childhood settings, universities, advisory teams and Music Education Hubs.  

The SoundWaves Network SW was born out of Take Art's previous Soundwaves Network project and SoundWaves Extra project, that aimed to support and engage the South West's Early Years workforce and everyone involved in the education of young children through music, so that all young children could have the very best musical opportunities to learn and develop. 

We support the Early Years Music educators in their conviction and belief in the value of musical play; their knowledge of how young children play musically and their early childhood music pedagogical expertise. This is essential to the success of the project and the future of Early Years Music education.

Jane Parker, The SoundWaves Network Project Leader

The SoundWaves Network 2018-2021

An Early Childhood Music Programme


The SoundWaves Network: Sounding Board

Resources and Handouts

Wednesday 20 January 2021

Lessons Learnt in Lockdown: How 'The Soundwaves Network' Early Years Music programme continued...

Tuesday 7 July 2020
Sound clips provided by Emma Hutchinson, Music House for Children

Swing Me Over the Water

Something in knocking on the box

River Sounds

Little Hop!

Accomp. Little Hop!


Our Work in Early Years Settings

The SoundWaves Network in its earlier incarnation Soundwaves Extra has been proud to support an array of high quality Early Years music projects within EY settings and music hubs throughout the South West. These projects were aimed at teaching the teachers and practitioners how to work more responsively with music and the under 5s. They have been carried out by experienced Music Leaders. 

Rachel Thame working with the Armed Forces community in Crownhill, Plymouth

Joanna Harvey and Emma Hutchinson working with Special Educational Needs (SEN) groups in Taunton and Frome

Rich Hughes, St Peter’s Primary School, Budleigh

Liv McLennan at Salisbury City Children’s Centre


Emma Hutchinson working with Flying Start Children’s Centre, Exeter

Vicky Meadows working with Badock’s Wood Children’s Centre, Bristol

Bill Roberts working with Knowle West Children’s Centre, Bristol

Richard Hughes at Bluecoat C of E Primary School, Torrington


Richard Tomlinson at St Peter’s Primary School in Budleigh Salterton

Ann Stott and Emily Garrod at Piccolo Nursery


Plym Bridge Nursery, Plymouth Setting project presentation shown at 'Sharing our SoundWaves Network Journey - An End of Project Event'

Lark Children's Centre, Plymouth Setting project presentation shown at 'Sharing our SoundWaves Network Journey - An End of Project Event'

Yeovil College Nursery, Yeovil Setting project presentation shown at 'Sharing our SoundWaves Network Journey - An End of Project Event'

First Steps Nursery, Yeovil Setting project presentation shown at 'Sharing our SoundWaves Network Journey - An End of Project Event'

Southville Centre, BS3 Community, Bristol Setting project presentation shown at 'Sharing our SoundWaves Network Journey - An End of Project Event'

Rosemary Nursery School, Bristol Setting project presentation shown at 'Sharing our SoundWaves Network Journey - An End of Project Event'

Chessel Centre, BS3 Community, Bristol Setting project presentation due to be shown at 'Sharing our SoundWaves Network Journey - An End of Project Event'


Get Involved  

Are you a music or Early Years practitioner based in the Southwest? Do you want to attend an Early Years music conference, see a really special piece of work, attend a CPD workshop?  

For more information about how you can get involved, please contact The SoundWaves Network Project Leader Jane Parker: soundwaves@takeart.org


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