Monthly Archives: March 2014

Issue 126: Welcome to the Jungle

I started working on this issue some time ago, but was side-tracked and never finished it. So, here are four – yes, FOUR posts to make up for the delay. There is a little arrangement of the anthem “God be … Continue reading

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Issue 126: God be in my head

I’m directing a little village church choir throughout Lent with a view to them singing at a special service on Maundy Thursday (Thursday before Easter Sunday). As I had no idea how many people were coming (we had a choir … Continue reading

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Issue 126: Surprisingly good listen and copy game

When I am teaching young children, I try and keep a careful balance between sitting still, moving around, action activities, songs, listening, and doing. So what do you do when you need some kind of action activity in between quieter, … Continue reading

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Issue 126: And when your mp3 player won’t work…

So that was nearly a disaster – ten minutes before the lesson, and I discovered that my new mp3 player was flat. As in no charge, not as in tonally flat. I’m not sure if we are going to get … Continue reading

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Issue 126: More ideas for the Large Class – Rhythm cards

Teaching a noisy subject like music to a class of nearly 40 children crammed into a small classroom can be a complete nightmare. You can end up spending most of the lesson bellowing “I’m waiting for you to settle down … Continue reading

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Issue 126: There was an old woman who…

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe,She had so many children, she didn’t know what to do.So she gave them some broth without any bread,And whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed.      Of … Continue reading

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Issue 125: Welcome to the Jungle

I’ve been working with children who are preparing for Grade exams later this term. I do all the piano accompanying at a local primary school, so after half term we start rehearsing together. I’ve also got a couple of piano … Continue reading

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Issue 125: Kerplunkers at the Keyboard

You must know what I mean? When your students play their “hands-together” scales, and the fingers of each hand aren’t coordinated, so that the notes don’t sound together at the same time? The solution to so many technical problems is … Continue reading

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