Music Hut

 

Music Hut


A Musical Outdoor Environment for Young Children with Autism and their Peers

Overview


Designed by

Dr. Petra Kern and colleagues at the FPG Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.


Site

Playground of the FPG Child Care Program.


Purpose

To expand outdoor learning opportunities for children with and without disabilities.


 Equipment

Chinese Wind Gong, Drums, Sound Tubes, Marching Drum, Ocean Drum, Cymbal, Xylophone, and CD Player Stand.


 Safety

Design and Construction meet the U.S. Playground Safety Regulations.


Intervention Strategy

Embedded Music Therapy Interventions; Collaborative Consultation, and Staff Training.


 Materials

Songs and music therapy interventions.


 Research

Inclusion of four children with Autism Spectrum Disorder using the Music Hut and embedded song interventions.


Publications

The Journal of Music Therapy (JMT)

Altogether Now! (ATN)

Music Therapy Today (MTT)

FPG Snapshot

ECERS-R

Songbook


Download

FPG Snapshot #39

Idea 

The Music Hut is an outdoor music center located on the playground at the Frank Porter Graham (FPG) Child Care Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. It is designed to expand learning opportunities and therapeutic playground activities for young children with and without disabilities, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  

Concept

A Chinese Wind Gong, six drums in different sizes, three Sound Tubes of different lengths, a Marching Drum, an Ocean Drum, a Cymbal, a Xylophone, and a CD Player stand are attached to visually pleasing steel arches, wooden beams, and Plexiglas walls. The instruments are located on a hardwood deck, covered with a huge fabric canopy, and the entire structure is wheelchair accessible. The Music Hut was designed by Dr. Petra Kern in collaboration with an architect and staff at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Design and construction meet the guidelines of U.S. playground safety regulations. The Music Hut is one stop on the Sound Path, which connects a variety of musical elements throughout the playground with a marked path.


When playing outdoors, many children with disabilities, especially those with ASD, are challenged by the large undefined spaces, the lack of predictable routines and structured activities, as well as play styles and the fast pace of play. Providing activities related to their interests, and evidence-based interventions that support inclusion and their individual education goals, is therefore crucial.

Play Songs

To structure and engage children in the Music Hut, Dr. Kern created original music, inviting children to explore the instruments. Her music also addressed specific Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals for several of the children, supporting their learning of particular skills. The songs were easily embedded by teachers in ongoing playground routines after staff training was provided.  


The songbook Songs & Laughter on the Playground by Petra Kern and Angela M. Snell, includes 17 goal-oriented songs supporting outdoor play for children with and without disabilities. The songbook speaks to parents, teachers, and therapists and encourages using songs to accomplish children’s individual education goals in outdoor play.


Study

Research on including children with ASD using the Music Hut has been conducted at the FPG Child Care Program by Dr. Petra Kern and colleagues. Results indicated that song interventions increased independent playground peer interactions and meaningful play of four children with ASD. Staff training enabled the children’s classroom teachers to implement the song interventions successfully in the playground routine and the musical playground environment facilitated the children’s involvement. For more information on the research, please visit Dr. Kern’s publications and the FPG Snapshot #39.

 

Vision

It is Petra Kern’s hope and dream to see many school-based and community-based musical playgrounds around the world, providing opportunities for inclusion and learning for both children with and without disabilities. Should the reader be interested in developing a musical playground and embedded interventions in her/his community, check the Playground Consulting offerings and contact Dr. Kern for information and advice.   

Story from the Music Hut

Ali plays the drums in the Music Hut and sings happily: “Row, row, row, your boat gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is like ice cream.”

~ Ali, 4 years old

Photograph by Rainer Doerrer