Project "Sound Break"

A project by Prof. Dr. Hella Erler and Prof. Dr. Luis Erler, 2009 and 2010/2011

In 2009, Prof. Dr. Hella Erler and Prof. Dr. Luis Erler carried out the pilot project "Sound Break Regensburg 2009". Ten teachers and four childcare workers took part in the project. The consistently positive feedback encouraged them to propose a similar initiative within the broader discussion about noise and stress in everyday kindergarten life (strike) – this time to the specialist department for childcare facilities within the Education and Culture Office of the City of Munich. The idea found a receptive audience and the project "Sound Break Munich 2010/2011" was launched. Twenty childcare workers from an equal number of municipal daycare centres in the city of Munich took part.

The results of this project indicate that the regular use of the Sound Break has a positive effect on children's relaxation, calm and concentration, and leads to a reduction in aggressive behaviour. The Sound Break thus supports the development of an atmosphere that is conducive to learning.

In addition, the childcare workers reported that they themselves had noticed positive changes in their experience of stress. The team as a whole was also able to benefit from the project, and parents showed clear interest.

Read more here: PDF of the PowerPoint presentation from the 5th Sound Congress in Dortmund by Prof. Luis Erler.

The findings of the study were published in: Erler, Hella / Erler, Luis (2010): Project "Sound Break Regensburg 2009". In: KLANG-MASSAGE-THERAPIE specialist journal, 7/2010, pp. 30–34.