Monthly Archives: January 2013

Issue 74: Welcome to the Jungle

Posted on January 25, 2013 by

In spite of snow, ice, frost, rain, sleet, hail…………………. here we are again! Joys of teaching, Music of the Spheres, and a djembe piece this week. Have a good weekend.  

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Issue 74: At last! One of the joys of teaching

Posted on January 25, 2013 by

I’m as interested in teaching “how to learn” as I am in teaching music. This week, I have been very pleased to have seen my efforts bear fruit: The grade 8 sixth-former who has done a really thorough and careful … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning, Lessons that have happened | Leave a comment

Issue 74: Sounds of the Solar System

Posted on January 25, 2013 by

This is on youtube – I came across it via @quikipdia on twitter: All the planets make musical notes as they revolve. This music video is based on them http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ORH9UuKEodQ The piece is composed by Giorgio Costantini and called “Alba Mundi” … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Issue 74: A Djembe Rhythm in triple time – The Volcano

Posted on January 25, 2013 by

I have been experimenting with teaching this djembe piece. I called it “Triple Whizz” because I needed a catchy title in a hurry, but one class is using it to link in with their Volcano topic – and I think … Continue reading →

Posted in Djembe | Tagged | Leave a comment

Issue 73: Welcome to the Jungle

Posted on January 19, 2013 by

So, this week: A Miles Davis quotation, thoughts about seating plans for your classes, and, Snow! have a good week.  

Posted in The Jungle | Leave a comment

Issue 73: Quotation – and thought for the week?

Posted on January 19, 2013 by

“Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there.” I took this Miles Davis quotation from the quotation site http://www.brainyquote.com I was actually looking for a different quotation at the time, but I’ll save that for another week. The quote seemed to be too clever … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning | Leave a comment

Issue 73: Arranging the class

Posted on January 19, 2013 by

By this I mean how and where the children sit. I think my favourite way is for us all to sit in a circle on the floor. This works well for me for groups of up to about thirty, give … Continue reading →

Posted in The organised teacher, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Issue 73: The Snow is Dancing

Posted on January 19, 2013 by

This is a lovely piano piece by Debussy from the suite “Children’s Corner” (which is where the more famous “Golliwog’s Cakewalk” comes from). I was in London on Friday. From my window, in the morning, I could see across the roof-tops … Continue reading →

Posted in Listening Music, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment