Early Hurly Burly
Early Hurly Burly was initiated by a consortium of like-minded agencies to specifically support programmes of early years music-based provision throughout the West Midlands. This unprecedented gathering included representatives from Library and Cultural Services, Music Education and Performing Arts Services and Music Education Hubs in Coventry, Dudley, Herefordshire, Sandwell, Stafford, Telford, Walsall, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, together with independent community music charities Make Some Noise in Stafford and The Music Pool in Herefordshire, and was supported by Arts Council England through its bridging organisation Arts Connect.
Early Hurly Burly has run for the last 3 years, the aim of which is to work collaboratively to address the need to deliver Early Years music and arts engagement to hard-to-reach children and their families.
In total 23 libraries across these 9 areas participated by working in partnership with arts practitioners and partner organisations in hosting or co-ordinating Early Hurly Burly sessions. Typically each library held approximately 10 sessions during each term (Autumn, Spring and Summer). In addition each library had one visit per term from a range of professional performance companies, who performed theatre and puppetry shows designed for pre-school groups. Participants feedback from these performances and from the sessions highlight their popularity.
For further information please contact Glen Taylor - 01922 655576 or email gtaylor@forestartscentre.org.uk
"Early Hurly Burly has improved my daughter's confidence and her interaction with other children. I think it is a fantastic service which has been really beneficial to us as a family" - Parent/Carer
"My child has enjoyed the classes a lot. Her language/social skills/concentration has improved... which must in some part be due to these classes." - Parent/Carer "
Seeing a couple of the children who used to be very shy and would not move off their parents' knees, now leave their parents and join in with activities etc, not only was I really pleased to see this but the parents were as well." - Library staff
"Both myself and Harry have so enjoyed the Early Hurly Burly session. The songs we have learnt will stick with us and are sung most days and we have gained lots of ideas for making up songs at home. We have done other music sessions but EHB is by far the most original." - Parent/Care