Monthly Archives: November 2013

Issue 113: Welcome to the Jungle

Posted on November 24, 2013 by

We are getting more and more Christmassy as November approaches December. Here we go: posts on “Jingle Bells“, Piano Teaching and “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night“. Just a few minutes left on my laptop battery, so I’d better … Continue reading →

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Issue 113: Jingle Bells

Posted on November 24, 2013 by

This is Jingle Bells time of year with a vengeance. Last week I taught it on recorders, boomwhackers, chime bars, keyboards, ukuleles, xylophones and glockenspiels. And on piano. And in samba. Mostly, I used the letters; here it is for … Continue reading →

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Issue 113: Lessons from my piano teacher (2)

Posted on November 24, 2013 by

Here’s another instalment from the lessons I had from my old piano teacher (hey – not so much of the “old” – there are actually only about ten years difference in age between us, as I was round nine years … Continue reading →

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Issue 113: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night

Posted on November 24, 2013 by

How many tunes do you know for this carol? This one is the traditional Winchester Old: You can find Lyngham here. It’s a “fuguing” tune, because of the way the voices split in the second part http://www.hymnary.org/tune/lyngham_jarman You can also fit this … Continue reading →

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Issue 112: Welcome to the Jungle

Posted on November 17, 2013 by

Hello again – after missing a week, I’m back as before. Three posts; a warm-up game, a bit of mess-making, and some lessons from my former piano teacher. Have a good week, and wrap up warm – the forecast for … Continue reading →

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Issue 112: Coffee and a Chat

Posted on November 17, 2013 by

Here’s a nice little warm-up activity, for exploring all kinds of musical elements including improvisation and dynamics. Everyone sites in a circle. In the middle you have two instruments. They can be anything; I often use a couple of xylophones or … Continue reading →

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Issue 112: More paper tearing

Posted on November 17, 2013 by

Last weekend I was involved in delivering a fireworks-themed workshop for young music-makers, aged about seven years old. One of the activities that I lead was creating a fireworks display using my favourite ad-hoc instrument of all – scrap paper! … Continue reading →

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Issue 112: Lessons from my piano teacher (1)

Posted on November 17, 2013 by

I promised that I would pass on what I learned when my piano teacher came to stay a few weeks back – and here’s a first instalment. The teacher in question is Valerie Dickson, who was over here from the … Continue reading →

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