Aberdeenshire Council, one of Scotland’s largest local authorities, serves 230,000 residents in a mainly rural area of approximately 2400 square miles. Difficulties in operating effectively and equitably across such a vast area, where communities are often isolated, and resources limited, encourage innovative partnerships with a wide range of organisations and individuals. Often creative and exciting solutions evolve as a result. Sing-a-Ring, the Early Years Music programme  being developed through an award from the Youth Music Initiative (YMI) 0-5 Years Informal Sector strand, is the result of  just such a partnership iniitiative.

Recognising that music is a crucial tool not only for the development of children in their earliest years but also in supporting families and carers, representatives from Aberdeenshire Childcare Partnership (ACP), whose registered members include all private and Local Authority Nurseries, Scottish Pre-School Association and the Scottish Childminding Association, Surestart (whose network includes Community Learning and Development, Social Work, Family Centres, Health Visitors, and Speech and Language Therapy), and Aberdeenshire’s Library and Information Service (ALIS) who wish to develop and deliver  their “Rhymetime” sessions for pre-school children and parents/carers in libraries met Sheila Waterhouse, Arts Development Officer from Aberdeenshire’s Arts Team to consider ways in which an Early Years Music programme could meet their objectives.

As a result, the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCoS), already a partner in Aberdeenshire’s YMI  funded Kodály music activity (using the work of Hungarian composer and educationalist Zoltan Kodály) in primary schools was also included, with Choir Director Lucinda Geoghegan agreeing to undertake  a training and resource develoment programme.

In an area as vast as Aberdeenshire it would be impossible to provide professionally led groups for all parents/carers  and children. Also it was considered vital to reach children and parents/carers who may be unable to, or choose not to, access such groups, unaware, perhaps, of the benefits. It was agreed  that a “tailor -made” programme was required to enhance the partners’ existing provision across the Shire, giving staff, volunteers and parents/carers appropriate skills and resources to lead singing, games and rhyme activities as part of their normal day.
 
Working with partners’ representatives, including a Speech and Language Therapist and Aberdeenshire’s Youth Music Co-ordinator, Lucinda will be developing a book, CD and DVD of appropriate material (incorporating local traditional items), with guidelines for different ages and developmental stages, and ideas encouraging creativity and diversity of use.

Lucinda will  work with two newly appointed “Sing-a-Ring” Trainers, enabling them to work with ACP, Surestart and ALIS respectively to deliver training sessions and resources to client networks across the Shire and to develop sustainable integration and adoption of Sing-a-Ring  into the diversity of services.
 
While Sing-a-Ring has the potential to reach 12,000 children in the 0-5 age bracket,  it is intended to extend the programme to P1 teachers,  promoting a cohesive transition into the existing YMI funded  activity in  Aberdeenshire’s primary schools.