This presentation was developed by Sandra Kirkwood as a resouce for early childhood programs with Indigenous and other Australian children. Further music resource are available on the Tracking the Milky Way website (http://trackingthemilkyway.com/) and Music Health Australia (www.musichealth.com.au). Gunawirra Services supported the development of the "Creating Music Stories" modules.

1. LISTENING – CREATING MUSIC STORIES
MUSIC HEALTH
AUSTRALIA

2. SOUNDS ARE ALL AROUND US - LISTEN
There are sounds all around us.
We can listen to sounds where
ever we are.
Be very quiet and listen.
What can you hear?

3. I can hear the
wind in the
trees as it
blows oooooo,
ooooo, ooooo.

4. Can you find
some branches,
tree leaves or
scarves to
wave?

5. We can move like
the branches of a
tree and make
sounds of the
wind as it blows.

6. Watch as a fan blows leaves
made of crepe paper.
What happens to your leaves when the
fan or wind blows them?

7. What sounds
can you hear
outside?

8. What sounds do animals
make? In the creek….

9. What sounds do animals
make? Under the water…

10. What sounds do birds make
eating seed?

11. Can you make up a song or
story with sounds? Some
people like to dress up in
costumes or paint their faces
and body for storytelling. You
can move about as you tell
your story and show pictures
to the class.

12. Do your teachers
or Elders know
any songs or
stories about
sounds?
Ask your Mum, Dad, Aunties and Uncles if they can tell you
stories. Look in library for stories and songs about sounds.

13. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO LISTEN?
Hunters must look and listen to the sounds
around them so they can hear birds and
animals . They are very quiet so they do not
frighten them away.
We listen for the sound of wind and rain so we
can find shelter in cold icy weather.
If we do not listen, we could miss important
information. When walking on the footpath
we listen for the sound of cars before we
cross the road so we do not get run over.

14. TEACHING OUTCOMES
This presentation encourages children to be calm and quiet and to
listen carefully to sounds around them.
Listening is an essential skill for learning language and literacy. In the oral
tradition, Elders told stories about lore, language and culture. This helped
to preserve history by passing on knowledge from one generation to
another.
Listening is important for learning to focus attention on the person who is
speaking. Children learn to be quiet and listen when an adult is telling
them a story.
Prep children need to be able to listen to learn at home, in the classroom,
outdoors and in the community. This is how they become observant and
learn to perform their own stories through artwork, song and dance.
Sandra Kirkwood, Music Health Australia www.musichealth.com.au
B.Occ.Thy, B.Music, M.Phil 15 August, 2012