Enrich your Early Years music offering –
no music expertise needed.
Whether you're a confident musician or a complete beginner, our "Sound Children" Early Years Music Sets give you everything you need to enjoy leading music-making sessions with your children, and to support their development across all areas of learning.
For non-specialists
Our approach – Musical Play – is intuitive, so successful music sessions can be led by any parent, carer or practitioner – no music experience needed.
Musical Fun
The whole point is to have fun making music with the children, and to learn and explore together with them.
Developmental
Musical Play supports general development across all areas of learning – taking turns, playing together, empathy as well as motor skills and coordination.
Everything you need
Each set includes a selection of musical instruments, specially designed for little hands, plus teaching resources specially designed for non-musicians.
Real instruments, just smaller
Ours are real instruments, not toys, and they're beautifully made from natural materials, especially for little hands. They're robust, inexpensive, and suitable for use in the home, as well as in early years settings.
Real instruments
Children deserve proper instruments, and they know and appreciate the difference. We've taken traditional instruments from all over the world and redesigned them specially for little hands.
Natural and tactile
We don't use plastic, only natural materials, and so the instruments are beautiful to touch and they make beautiful, natural sounds. They're also perfect for SEND settings.
Robust and safe
Almost all our instruments are tough enough to be left with children to select and explore in setting or at home, and they're all safe for 3s and over.
High Quality / Low Cost
The high quality and durability of our instruments and their relatively low cost, makes them excellent value for Early Years settings and perfect for use in the home.
It's quick and easy to put into practice
You can get started right away. Use these Music Sets and instruments as part of directed small group activities, to accompany story-telling, songs and chants, or leave them in a music corner for children to explore by themselves.
The approach works because . . .
The instruments are easy to play
Our instruments are "pick-up-and-play" and give immediate musical satisfaction. They're suitable for SEND settings and even very young children will quickly be able to make a good sound and this will give them the confidence to join in music-making with others.
It's easy to teach
The approach is highly intuitive and parents, carers and practitioners are supported every step of the way by resources which are included in our sets and which are designed for non-musicians – no prior music experience is needed.
It's affordable
Music sets start from as little as £31, and the instruments are robust as well as beautiful. They're also easy to look after and built to last.
It boosts wellbeing and life skills
Our musical instruments get children playing together, whether one-to-one or in a group. And once they start playing together, you'll see a rapid increase in togetherness and wellbeing. At the same time everyone acquires a wide range of social, emotional and physical skills, and it all happens naturally and enjoyably.
Our Early Years sets tick all the boxes
For non-specialists
The approach is thoroughly intuitive and the teaching resources that are included with each set are designed for parents, carers and practitioners who don't have any music training.
Robust and SEND-friendly
Our instruments are suitable for SEND settings and virtually all of them are tough enough to be left with children to explore further during independent learning time.
Up-skill and revitalise practitioners
Those who previously dreaded music sessions will start to really enjoy them, giving your setting self-sufficiency in music delivery and happier practitioners.
Include and empower every child
Ours is an intrinsically inclusive approach, suitable for all abilities and cultural backgrounds, and it's also brilliant at developing children's social, emotional and life skills.
Meet Early Years Framework Requirements
Following the approach and using the instruments regularly in both guided and exploratory play sessions will help you meet the requirements of the Early Years Framework.
Highly affordable
Our music sets start from as little as £31 and everything is built to last, making the sets a brilliant educational investment for EY settings and for use in the home.
The Drums for Schools "Sound Children" Early Years approach is completely different
Inclusive
SEND-friendly and based on accessible musical instruments from all over the world, and a learning approach that has evolved naturally over hundreds of thousands of years.
Engaging
The instruments are pick-up-and-play and the approach is intuitive and fun, so ALL children (and parents, carers and practitioners) are engaged right away.
Collaborative
Unlike classic, one-to-many teaching, everyone learns and benefits together. It upskills and invigorates practitioners and parents while they play!
Fast-Acting
You'll quickly see the benefits of this approach in improvements in the children's attitudes and behaviour. Musical play really does work magic!
Easy to get started
Everything you need to begin is included in each set. Just open it up and start making music together.
Transformative
The benefits go far beyond music – you'll see improvements in behaviour, focus, and social skills across the setting.
Cost-Effective
Sets start from just £31 and are built to last, making them excellent value for any early years setting or home.
Ticks the boxes
The approach maps to the EYFS framework and supports development across all areas of learning.
And it's all backed by Drums for Schools, a completely different kind of supplier
We're a small, family firm and our speciality and focus is inclusive group and whole class music making. Our mission is to make the power of music available to everyone.
Ready to take things further?
Browse solutions
Have a look at these ready-to-go Early Years music sets for from 5 to 30 children. They all include full teaching support and prices start from just £31 + VAT.
Read more
Check out our Early Years music resources. Almost all are free to download and all are designed for practitioners, carers and parents who don't have any music training.
Talk it through
Book a chat with our founder, Andy Gwatkin. He'll be happy to answer your questions about the practicalities of implementing this approach.
