Sound Foundations
Sound Foundations is a weekly music program designed by a registered music therapist, offering 45 minute after-school sessions. The program is tailored for Stage 1 students (Kindergarten, years 1 and 2) focusing on developing foundational social and emotional skills. It has been designed to follow the pre-school readiness “Don’t Fret” program.
Through engaging, high-quality music classes, children will build resilience, relationship skills, emotional regulation, self-expression, and social awareness. Additionally, the program supports essential early learning skills such as:
- Attentive listening and being heard
- Following multi-step instructions
- Teamwork, turn-taking, and sharing
- Awareness and communication with others
- Impulse control and concentration
What does a Sound Foundations class look like?
Sound Foundations classes are dynamic and interactive, centred around active music-making. Led by a skilled facilitator using live music, the program features structured activities such as:
- Singing songs
- Playing percussion instruments individually and as a group
- Drumming
- Movement and dancing to music
- Listening activities
- Relaxation and emotional regulation exercises
- Singable storybooks
- Most importantly - having fun!
What can you expect from our Stage 1 music classes?
All ECM classes feature live music led by a highly trained facilitator. Children actively participate in music-making, both individually and as part of a group, using a variety of instruments and singing. The structured musical activities are designed to meet the goals of each program, helping students develop the musical, social and emotional skills they need to thrive in their early years of school and musical endeavours.
About our Teacher - Meet Gabrielle Newland
Gabrielle is a graduate of the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music, with a Bachelor of Music and Arts, and a Registered Music Therapist. She is passionate about the many uses of music as a tool to improve health, functioning and wellbeing for people of all ages and abilities. As a Non-Tertiary Music Teacher at the Conservatorium, she works in the Early Childhood Music Program and supports the therapeutic Brainwaves Stroke choir and Unforgettables Dementia choir in the Community Music program.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.