Tag Archives: pentatonic scales

Issue 72: Egyptians

  Egyptians is a “rather not” topic for me. However, I have been known to try and include something Egyptian. Here goes: here are some tried and tested ideas. Joseph and the Technicolour Dream Coat is a source of songs, and … Continue reading

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Issue 56: Drones, Rounds, and Ostinati

I used the welcome song Funmje Alafia, Ashe, Ashe, to teach the difference between the three types of accompaniment in double quick time this week. (The words mean something along the lines of “Give me happiness, Amen, amen) Having taught … Continue reading

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Issue 55: Leo the Lion

I was taught this game by a talented colleague (whose name is a palindrome, if you want to play guessing games!) The tune is the same as every single na–na-nana–na game you ever heard in the playground. Let’s assume you … Continue reading

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Issue 20: Composing using Pentatonic Scales

Pentatonic scales are used in music all over the world. They are scales that use just five (penta) different notes (tones). The scale that sounds most familiar uses the first, second, third, fifth and sixth notes of the scale; do, re, mi, soh … Continue reading

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