There’s no denying the fact that children (and adults!) love music. In particular, though, when children hear music, they’ll often want to join in. As well as being extremely collaborative, it’s fun, engaging, and will boost their mood in a matter of seconds.
You might therefore be looking for ways to create your own music area for EYFS. Well, you’re in the right place! Here at A&S Landscape, we’re passionate about providing schools with bespoke school canopies, acting as a permanent shelter and encouraging outdoor learning.
Ready to discover the importance of an outdoor music area? Let’s dive into it.
Why is early years music important for development?
First of all, it’s crucial to understand the importance of music for young people. The power of music shouldn’t be underestimated. Music combines singing, dancing, and playing instruments to build foundational skills for lifelong learning and better wellbeing. There are plenty of reasons why music is important in childhood, and here are a few:
- Helps with brain development, improving attention spans
- Supports language skills, especially through the words in songs
- Promotes emotional regulation, helping children to manage and express their feelings
- Encourages social skills through group singing and communication
Music area ideas for EYFS
Bearing all that in mind, installing a music area is just one of the many reasons why your school should install a playground canopy. Let’s have a look at some top tips when it comes to creating an early years music area.
Find a suitable ‘zone’
We encourage all schools to spend as much time as possible outdoors. If you’re already eager to install an outdoor classroom, this will be the perfect blueprint for a music area. Depending on the amount of space you have will determine what will work best for your school, but it does need to be large enough to accommodate your class. A table, chairs, or even comfortable cushions will gather pupils outdoors and be enough to house your musical equipment.
Make sure to fill your music zone with appropriate props and instruments. In a busy playground, children can easily become distracted. That’s why a retractable canopy might be the perfect solution. A canopy is the perfect visual cue of a separate zone that can tell pupils, “when you are under this canopy, we are in a music lesson”. This can also help pupils with focus and concentration.
Use nature as your instruments
No music area is useful without musical instruments! Having an outdoor music area is a great opportunity to blend forest school principles with musical education. It encourages pupils to listen to the hidden rhythms of the great outdoors and pay attention to noises that they might not have noticed before.
You can take your pupils on a sound hunt, using nature’s natural resources to find interesting sounds. Find stones of different sizes and densities to see how they compare in sound, and use small twigs to bang hollow logs. Even when it’s raining, music is present! When it’s raining, get pupils to listen to the sound of raindrops on your canopy. Fabric canopies are ideal for this activity, producing deep, drum-like thumps.
Set up a stage
To elevate your music area from a learning zone to a performance space, your layout needs a bit more attention. Having the illusion of a stage will give pupils a sense of purpose and set the foundations for a positive learning environment.
Every stage needs a backdrop, and we recommend using the wall of your building or a series of timber fence panels as the back of your stage. If your pupils are really eager to perform, consider hanging disco balls or banners and appropriate props to really amp up the performance!
Top pick: A Maxima Tepee®. The central peaks and dramatic lines will naturally draw the eye to the centre of the space, making whoever is standing underneath feel like the star of the show.
Keep music equipment safe with a canopy from A&S Landscape
It’s all well and good to create a fantastic new outdoor music area. But what about protecting expensive equipment during those horrible rainy days? That’s where a bespoke canopy from A&S Landscape comes in. From protecting delicate instruments to managing noise control, one of our canopies turns a seasonal musical activity into a permanent classroom.
In particular, our experts recommend:
- Colourful roof canopies – As well as being practical, a colourful roof is enough to brighten anyone’s day. Choose from 10 vibrant colours and add impact to your playground. It’s the perfect backdrop for any stage!
- Canopies with sides – You won’t have to worry about precious equipment being stolen when you opt for this secure canopy.
- Fabric Canopies – Choose from interesting shapes, each one adding personality to your outdoor space. It’s just the thing to inspire creativity among pupils.
Motiva Linear Coloured Roof Canopy
Hear from one happy school
Southville Primary School, in Bristol, wanted to improve their outdoor space so that pupils could learn and play outside in all weather conditions, especially with Bristol’s changeable weather.
Their outdoor area was exposed to both sun and rain, restricting use during school hours. The main school building was also listed, so we had to be cautious that any new structure had to be sympathetic in design and colour.
Our solution: A Motiva Linear™ canopy in a straight roof design, providing a clean and modern look that fitted neatly alongside the existing school architecture.
playground canopy southville primary school
Read the full case study here.
Let our experts take on your next canopy project!
And there you have it, our easy music area for EYFS ideas. Having a dedicated outdoor musical environment will excite and inspire your pupils, allowing them to spend more time outdoors being creative. And remember, having a suitable shelter is an excellent way to elevate your space even further.
That’s where we come in. For 50 years, our expert team has been helping schools up and down the country to make the most of their outdoor space and keep it protected from the Great British weather.
Want to know more? Then please get in touch with any enquiries or questions you may have.
