SoundHoppers is a sound exploration playgroup for children in Key-stage 1 (ages 5-7) and Key-stage 2 (ages 7-11).

The sessions aim to encourage careful and deep listening, and attempt to instill a nuanced and sensitive approach to the different qualities of environmental sounds around us. We do this by getting the children to explore and play with specially constructed Soundboxes, and by a variety of listening exercises that explore various aspects of sound – whether that’s proximity (ie how far or close a sound is) or timbre (ie the tonality and type of sound), or volume (ie how loud or quiet a sound is).

We take a slightly different approach from regular music workshops in that we focus on the wider creative possibilities with the medium of sound rather than on musicality. Music is usually considered a language in of itself in that it involves rhythm, pitch, dynamics, and modes of performance, but we feel steering away from this language allows children to be much more uninhibited in their explorations, and allows for a freer and more playful engagement.

Our intention then, is to instill within the children a sense of careful listening and sonic curiosity, without the formalities of traditional musical discourse.

For more information and to book your free ticket, click here.