Wild Notes Education
Where Music Meets Earth.
Wild Notes Education brings the wonder of classical music into the heart of nature-based learning. Designed for children in grades K–5, our programs invite students to slow down, listen deeply, and experience the natural world through sound, story, and curiosity.
We believe music isn’t just for stages—and nature isn’t just for science class. At Wild Notes, we use music as a tool for emotional connection, environmental awareness, and joyful discovery.
Who We Serve
Wild Notes | Supporting Education
Wild Notes programs are designed for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade, with flexible lessons adaptable for indoor and outdoor settings.
Our approach is:
- Experiential – rooted in sound, movement, and play
- Nature-centered – designed to deepen connection to local ecosystems
- Non-performative – no pressure to play or perform; we focus on listening, imagination, and reflection
- Accessible – welcoming to students of all backgrounds and abilities
Whether in a classroom, homeschool pod, forest trail, or school garden, Wild Notes meets students where they are—with music that moves and moments that matter.
Program Offerings
The Listening Walk (now available!)
A mindful, guided soundwalk through a natural space where students explore the “music” of the world around them—rustling leaves, birdsong, water, wind. Students practice focused listening, create sound maps, and reflect on how nature makes them feel.
👉 Download the free lesson plan to bring music and nature into your classroom or backyard!
Songs of the Forest (now available!)
Students explore rhythms, dynamics, and textures by mimicking the natural world. Using percussion, voice, and simple movement, they learn how music can reflect patterns in leaves, weather, and animal sounds.
👉 Download the free lesson plan to explore and discover music in the world around you!
Call and Response: The Language of Nature (in development)
Through games and improvisation, students play with musical “calls” inspired by animals and ecosystems. They learn how composers mimic the natural world—and how to create their own musical responses to it.
Build a Soundscape (in development)
Students create collaborative soundscapes using instruments, voice, and natural objects to represent environments like forests, oceans, or prairies. Optional extensions include climate change conversations or storytelling in sound.
Storytelling in Sound (in development)
Students listen to short pieces of nature-inspired music and create drawings, movements, or verbal stories to go along with them. Emphasizes emotion, imagination, and music as narrative.
For Teachers and Educators
Our Standards
All Wild Notes programs align with National Core Arts Standards, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and Social-Emotional Learning (CASEL) goals for grades K–5.
We welcome collaboration with:
- Classroom teachers
- Park and nature center educators
- Homeschool networks
- After-school or camp directors
- Arts integration specialists
Mandy Guilfoyle, founder of Wild Notes, is available for custom workshops, nature-based residencies, educator trainings, and guest visits—in person or virtually.
Want to partner or bring Wild Notes to your school or organization?
