Interactive Music-Making (IMM) is our structured training programme for early years practitioners, currently offered only in London. It teaches a child-centred approach to music-making, which promotes positive relationships and fosters each child’s individual potential. IMM uses techniques drawn from music therapy within an approach designed to make music an integral part of children’s early development opportunities. It does this by supporting skills associated with social communication, including attention and listening, non-verbal and verbal communication, turn-taking and sharing. 

Incorporating IMM into our curriculum is a delightful and thoughtful way for children to develop essential social skills… They build a strong foundation for future learning.


Headteacher, Pembury House Nursery School and Children’s Centre

IMM is delivered by us and a network of associate organisations. It is primarily aimed at those working with infants under the age of 5 years, including early years’ practitioners across all community sectors, as well as parents and carers, and musicians and music students who wish to apply their skills within a developmental framework. However, no musical background or particular musical skills are required to access the training.

Training comprises 11-weekly teaching sessions, with an emphasis on practical learning which can be applied directly in the workplace as the course unfolds, followed by a practical assignment (running interactive music-making sessions for a small group of children in the course participant’s early years setting). To read more, download our information leaflet ‘What is Interactive Music-Making?‘ in the sidebar, and resources section below.

Our IMM Film, below, showcases the work of some of our Interactive Music-Makers. Watch it to get a sense of the impact targeted musical interventions can have for vulnerable young children, and how IMM could make a difference at your setting. 

Free training available to Early Years settings

Although our course fees are highly competitive, we are aware that early years settings are facing unprecedented challenges to funding.  In response to feedback from our network, we developed the IMM Award Scheme in 2017, covering the full cost of the course, a set of musical instruments and contribution to cover/travel. If you are interested in finding out more about our IMM Award scheme, download our Award Scheme Leaflet. Please note, settings can apply for up to one Award each, regardless of how many practitioners apply from one setting.

Apply now for Interactive Music-Making 2025/26!

We are now accepting applications for the 2025-26 Interactive Music-Making course, starting in November 2026.

Teaching will run over 11 weeks (Friday afternoons) in Hackney, East London, between November 2025 and February 2026. Students must be able to attend all 11 teaching sessions in person, before beginning Practical Assigments over 8 weeks in their own early years settings.

The course fees are £750. However, we never want cost to be a barrier to accessing training. With this in mind, there are 3 ways you can apply for a place on the course:

  • 2. If you or your employer are able to contribute to the fees but need some financial assistance, you can apply for a subsidised place. Again, you can apply using our online Student Application Form (or download a Word version), but please use Section J to detail the level of financial assistance you require.
  • 3. If you are an Early Years setting and you need additional financial help to enable your nominated practitioner to undertake the course (e.g. a contribution to staff cover or travel costs), the relevant setting manager should complete our online Award Application Form (or download a Word version) and submit this alongside an online Student Application Form (or downloadable Word version), completed by the practitioner from your setting who will be undertaking the course.

All applications should be returned to elsahariades@musicastherapy.org by Friday 17th October 2025.

For Managers

We appreciate that managers of services for Under 5s need to know that a new approach will add to their staff’s skills in a way that is truly meaningful for the children in their care. Use the Resources section below to read about how IMM links to OFSTED Principles, and here for the relevance of IMM to Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Wellbeing.

For Interactive Music-Makers: Support and Resources

We know that the Interactive Music-Making Course leaves you inspired and excited to run music sessions, but sometimes you need help to keep them going. Our Motivation Programme provides trained Interactive Music-Makers with a support framework to keep your sessions going – for as long as you need it. Read the Motivation Programme for Interactive Music-Makers resource at the bottom of this page to find out more. Access all of our early years resources, from activity books and ideas, evidence bases, in the Resource section below. Or email us to find out when our next CPD Event is taking place (these are offered termly).

Contact Us

If you are interested to learn more please do send us an email. Sign up to our mailing list below for reminders and information about the course.

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