Supporting Big Feelings and Emotions in Music Lessons (Ages 5–19)
This session explores how children’s behaviour is communication and how big feelings often arise from overwhelm, unmet needs, or a lack of emotional safety. Using a neurodiversity-affirming lens, we will focus on understanding the why behind behaviour so that tutors can respond with empathy, confidence, and practical strategies.
We will explore:
- Why “behaviour” happens understanding emotional, sensory, cognitive, and environmental triggers
- What big feelings can look like in music lessons (shutdown, avoidance, frustration, anger, tears, refusal)
- The role of emotional safety, trust and connection in learning
- How to recognise early signs of overwhelm and distress and the brain and body response to perceived threat and danger
- Simple ways to pre-empt and reduce triggers in your teaching space
- Regulation-supportive strategies you can use in the moment
- How to respond when a child is dysregulated, without escalating the situation
- Supporting children to return to learning after big emotions
The aim is to help tutors feel more confident and compassionate, equipped with practical tools to create lessons where children feel safe, understood and able to thrive, even when emotions run high.
Register (In Person & Online)
This will be a blended event, with the option to join in person at MMF’s main office (SW19 2JY) or online, via Teams.
Click here to register for this event.
Session Leader: Cheryl Warren, Aperion Training
