Get-in-the-groove music: Rhythmicking with young children

The expressive capacities of young children in music are understood to develop naturally from infancy, and are home-grown in families where music is valued and present. The act of ‘rhythmicking’, which is engagement in some manner of rhythmic behaviour, is one of children’s expressive features long before they are introduced to musical study in some formal or systematic manner. With a conscious attention to the application of a community music sensibility, an early childhood programme was designed that nurtured children’s playful yet powerful musical engagement, shored up their rhythmicking capacities, and fostered family time for sharing music that was collaboratively made and listened to. Facilitating musicians co-constructed musical experiences with kindergarten children, and efforts were put forward to involve parents and siblings with kindergarten children in an enticing rhythm-driven programme.