What happens when children don’t just experience live music once, but get the opportunity to build a relationship with the musicians sharing it?
Over eight visits to the University of Glasgow Nursery, LMNS musicians Mairi McGillivray and Katie Allen shared traditional Scottish tunes and Gaelic song alongside familiar nursery repertoire, creating opportunities for children to sing, move, listen, play and explore together. Through stories, songs and hands-on instrument play, children of all ages were encouraged to contribute ideas, request favourite songs and interact with the musicians in ways that felt natural and enjoyable. As the weeks went by, familiar faces, favourite songs and shared musical experiences helped build trust and confidence, with children increasingly making the sessions their own.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the project was seeing how relationships developed over time. Children who were initially content to watch began joining in, while mixed-age sessions created opportunities for younger and older children to learn, explore and support one another. The programme linked with Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence, while creating an inclusive environment that valued children’s ideas, interests and cultural identities. Throughout it all, strong staff involvement helped create a warm, welcoming atmosphere where everyone could take part and enjoy the experience together.
“We have seen tremendous value from our partnership with Live Music Now Scotland. The programme has helped children build confidence, develop communication skills, and engage creatively through music, movement and storytelling. The sustained nature of the visits allowed meaningful relationships to develop, encouraging even our most reluctant children to participate and express themselves. By introducing Scottish and Gaelic music and culture in an accessible and engaging way, the project has also made a valuable contribution to the Curriculum for Excellence, providing opportunities for children to experience a range of musical styles, explore sound and rhythm, express themselves creatively and engage with music as a shared learning experience” – Caroline McVeigh, Nursery Manager
The partnership highlights something we see time and again at Live Music Now Scotland: when people have regular opportunities to share music together, connection grows. Across these eight visits, the musicians were welcomed into the children’s play, joining in with their explorations and guided by their interests. Children built trusted relationships with the musicians and found new ways to express themselves through music, creating moments of joy, curiosity and belonging along the way. We are delighted to have worked alongside the University of Glasgow Nursery and look forward to seeing how the partnership continues to develop.
Photos courtesy of Caroline McVeigh/University of Glasgow Nursery. All rights reserved.