MUSIC AROUND THE CAMPFIRE: HOW IT FACILITATES LEARNING FOR ALL

Singing around the campfire is a staple of any camp experience, and today, camps regularly embrace music as a tool to encourage socialization, well-being, and, importantly, learning, 

The power of music has been recognized by camp leaders around the country as having important benefits to learning, but there is strong evidence that making music, rather than simply listening, can have a greater impact on education. This is particularly important for children with learning differences who might struggle to communicate and learn in their daily lives. Making music provides an opportunity for people with learning differences to discover the power of cause and effect and to experience the joy of creating a tune, be it by themselves or with others.

Why making music supports learning

Music encourages mental and physical well-being. Music making is not only fun, but it uses different skills to the ones that most people usually employ on a day-to-day basis. This means that making music is relaxing and can relieve feelings of stress and anxiety. In fact, there is now a growing body of research that demonstrates that playing musical instruments is really good for you in terms of both improved physical and mental health. Research has shown that improved mental and physical health increases individuals' capacity for social integration and learning. Activities such as drumming are perfect camp activities where everyone can get involved.

Helps develop essential skills. Playing musical instruments is an essential activity for the social development of children. Making music is a fun activity that imparts skills that kids need as they grow. Playing music helps children develop coordination, concentration, memory, and creativity skills. Playing any instrument requires a little practice and perseverance, and these skills are transferable to other aspects of their lives. Playing music with others teaches kids how to work in a team and communicate effectively. These social skills are vital for kids learning and particularly crucial for socializing at camp.

Making music creates a positive learning environment. By combining music and nature, campers can enjoy nature’s sounds, sights, and smells while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine alongside the tunes and beats of the instruments. A perfect way to learn!

Outdoor music encourages spontaneous learning. When instruments are placed outside, there is an opportunity for spontaneous learning. Outdoor musical instruments offer a fun way to experiment with music without the constraints of traditional scales.

Children enjoy discovering the instruments in a woodland or a garden and participating in an unexpected learning activity. This is often the start of their musical education.

Unsupervised Musical Exploration. Outdoor musical instruments allow campers to learn new skills and express themselves during their free time at camp. No supervision is necessary, and since the instruments are permanently installed, campers can return at any time, alone or with friends, to improvise, compose, or relax while creating melodies in the great outdoors.

The power of music for people with learning differences

For camps supporting people with learning differences, drumming, and rhythm are powerful tools for learning as they permeate the entire brain. The sound of drumming generates neuronal connections in all parts of the brain, even where there is significant damage or impairment, such as in ADHD. The process of drumming engages both the linear, rational left side of the brain and the creative, intuitive right side of the brain. The two brain hemispheres often emanate different wave frequencies; drumming, like deep meditation, brings them into synchronization, creating feelings of euphoria and flowing creativity. This facilitates an ideal learning environment.

One camp that has benefited from a musical park is Camp Courageous, a non-profit organization in Iowa that provides year-round recreational and respite care opportunities for individuals with special needs.

For nearly 50 years, the team at Camp Courageous has looked for unique and different ways to reach all of their campers who each have additional educational and physical needs, and their most recent addition, a Musical Park, is proving to have a particularly remarkable impact.

Amy Kurth, program director, researched the idea and could immediately see the benefits for their camp guests. Amy says, "Camp supports a huge variety of people with ranging diagnoses and abilities and is always looking for new ways to engage them. I could see that the large musical instruments and the Stepping-Stone pathway would intrigue and engage everyone regardless of their physical or cognitive needs."

Jody Ashfield is the CEO and co-founder of Percussion Play.  Percussion Play is the world-leading manufacturer of outdoor musical instruments. With a diverse selection of musical and percussion instruments, they are committed to making musical expression accessible to everyone, everywhere.