Music in children’s lives 

Hey dee ho presented a workshop to 2 classes of VETDSS students as part of the Wyndham Learning Festival on 3rd September 2025. The workshop highlighted the meaningful role music plays in children’s development and wellbeing. 

Hey dee ho presenters were engaging and amusing allowing the cohort of students to interact with activities which gave them insight into using music as a tool for learning, sharing feelings, understanding emotions and even encouraging children to clean their mess, sit on the mat or any other task least enjoyed by children. Using simple tools such as voice, clapping, or tapping equipment and using creativity musically resonates with the human brain.  

Music strongly connects to children’s brains, enhancing creativity, identity, and community connection. It helps children regulate emotions, build confidence, improve communication, reduce stress, encourage social bonding, and enhance overall mood.

Musical activities stimulate specific parts of the brain, encouraging children to respond and act in positive ways. Using children’s favorite resources, such as Sesame Street characters (e.g., Cookie Monster), can make music more relatable and engaging.

Feedback from Victoria University highlighted the depth of impact the workshop had on students.  Pam Chapman, Community Engagement Coordinator, said:

“Your Hey dee ho presentation with Adam was both uplifting and deeply validating for our students. It was wonderful to witness how your passion and enthusiasm for embedding music meaningfully into early childhood programs resonated so strongly with them. You brought not only expertise, but a genuine sense of joy and purpose that made a lasting impression.

The session was engaging, informative, and beautifully paced which struck a balance between practical insight and creative inspiration. Students left feeling encouraged, energised, and more confident in their ability to incorporate music as a powerful tool for connection and learning.

Thank you again for taking the time to come out and share your knowledge so generously. Your contribution has added real value to their learning journey, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate.”

As educators, you can hold the power to bring joy, confidence, language, and meaningful connections through music. 

This workshop demonstrated the great value of bringing music into children’s daily experiences for learning, wellbeing, and emotional regulation. While also reminding ourselves of our own joyous musical experience as children.

Melissa Smile, Director – Hey dee ho music, said:

“It was fantastic to share our knowledge and passion for music and movement in early childhood education with the next generation of educators. Their willingness to engage, the insights they shared, and the thoughtful feedback we received highlight the ongoing importance of embedding the joy of music into early years learning. This commitment lies at the core of our work, and it was inspiring to see future educators embrace its value so wholeheartedly.

With almost 40 years of experience in early years education, we know knowledge has the most impact when it is shared. We share it with our presenters, we share it with those preparing to become teachers, and we hope they in turn will share it with the children they teach. One day, when those children become parents themselves, we hope they too will pass the joy of music on to the next generation.”

This celebration of music’s role in learning also connects with International Music Day on the 1 October, which highlights the universal power of music to foster peace, dialogue, and mutual understanding. Just as the workshop showed, music in early learning is not only about fun, it’s a tool for connection, identity and wellbeing.

With thanks to Wyndham Community and Education Centre, and to Danni Mollica (VET Coordinator) and Mehwish Cheema (VET Trainer) for their original contributions to this article.