Nursery World - Celebrating diversity: Music

Apart from food, music is the most common way in which most British people encounter other cultures. It is enjoyable and that makes it less challenging - something that is an advantage and a disadvantage in equal proportions. Children in your setting will enjoy listening to other cultures' music.

Children in your setting will enjoy listening to other cultures' music.

Dance music, such as reggae, bhangra and salsa, tends to be the most well known. Whatever you pick, make sure you like it yourself so you can sincerely encourage the children to listen.

Dancing is an obvious activity as all children enjoy rhythm, and the fact that dance music is readily available on CD helps.

However, music that makes for reflection can also appeal to children so try music from the Middle East or Japan for this.

Also try adding non-European instruments to your setting's collection. East African tic-tac drums (the ones that look like small table tennis bats, with a piece of string and a small ball attached to the end) are finding their way into some toy shops. From Turkey and the Arab world, tourists are bringing back simple ouds and rababs - the prototypes of the Western lutes and viols - that are designed for children.

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