Chamber Tots
Chamber Tots is Wigmore Hall’s flagship early years project. Through exploration, play and enjoyment both in their nursery environment and at Wigmore Hall, Chamber Tots offers nursery and reception-age children across London the opportunity to:
- • Hear live music
- • Learn about musical instruments
- • Participate in a range of creative musical activities
The project also focuses on staff training and supports teachers in leading their own music activities by providing resources and staff training.
Research
In celebration of the 10th annivesary year of Chamber Tots in the Community, Wigmore Hall, in partnership with Exeter University, has commissioned a research report by Dr Susan Young and Dr Victoria Rowe on the effect of Chamber Tots.
Published: 3 February 2010
Download:
Podcast
Listen to a Chamber Tots podcast, featuring interviews about the project from those who have been involved.
Chamber Tots in the Hall
Chamber Tots workshops, held at Wigmore Hall since 1998, have proved to be one of the most popular series of events offered by Wigmore Hall Learning, with every workshop a sell-out. The workshops give children aged 2–5 and their carers an opportunity to experience live music-making at Wigmore Hall and include a short concert and workshop.
Workshop leader Natasha Zielazinski and young performers from Guildhall School of Music and Drama present these workshops for toddlers and carers. Tickets are available to book online from the Learning Events pages.
Chamber Tots in the community
Recognising the need to take these workshops to a wider audience, Chamber Tots in the Community was launched in October 2000. The project has run annually since then, and Chamber Tots has now taken place in 51 early years’ settings in 11 boroughs, reaching in excess of 1,000 nursery children, staff and parents.
Chamber Tots has also contributed sessions at a variety of conferences, co-ordinated the Early Years Exchange with the Dalcroze Society and LPO, and led one-off sessions in a variety of Sure Start drop-in groups and children’s libraries.
During the project:
- • A workshop leader visits the centre for seven music workshops over a six-month period.
- • Children learn about high and low, loud and soft and quick and slow: the basic musical elements
- • The children hear live music from three different groups of professional musicians
- • The children learn new songs and sing them with the musicians; play percussion instruments as a group and with the visiting musicians; take part in musical stories; show musicians when to stop and start and how to play; and work with workshop leaders and musicians in child-initiated activities
- • The project culminates with a celebratory performance at Wigmore Hall, involving the whole project team
Staff training is an important part of the project. Staff are encouraged to identify and use their musical skills with children and are supported by the workshop leaders, resources and training days.
