Monthly Archives: August 2014

Issue 138: Welcome to The Jungle

Autumn has arrived – was that the wettest August Bank Holiday on record? Probably not, but it must have been a close contender! One more week, and then we are into the fray. Here are my Wider Opportunities Ukulele plans, in … Continue reading

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Issue 138: When I was one I had some fun

This is a lively and popular song, especially with younger children. There are ten (or as many as you like) verses. I usually sing these ones; 1 – had some fun; 2 – buckeld my shoe; 3 – grazed my … Continue reading

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Issue 138: Animal Fair

This is a popular little song. Once you get to the “Monkey, monkey, monkey” bit at the end, one group continues singing (or playing) this as an ostinato while the others sing the song again. I wrote this arrangement for … Continue reading

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138: Four weeks of Ukulele Planning

This is what I have sketched out for myself for the first four weeks of Wider Opportunities Ukulele lessons. I’ll be teaching several keystage 2 (age 7-11) classes in two different schools. SESSION 1 Intro – expectations, ground rules etc … Continue reading

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Issue 137: Welcome to the Jungle

We were away last week staying near Shrewsbury, in an isolated cottage with no television, no radio, and no signal! But here I am, back in the land of internet and wi-fi, and here’s another issue of the jungle.

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Issue 137: Cake-walk – Theme and variations

I’m out of musical inspiration this week, so here’s a recipe for cake instead. Take 1 (small) pot of plain yoghurt, 2 yoghurt pots (use the same pot) of self-raising flour, 1-and-a-half yoghurt pots of sugar, Quarter of a yoghurt pot … Continue reading

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Issue 137: The history of music with kittens

Now that we are required to teach the history of music, here’s some help: http://www.classicfm.com/discover/music/music-cats-gifs/ I bet you laugh at least once.

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Issue 137: Skeleton Wider Opportunities Planning

This is my skeleton plan for the first four weeks of a Wider Opportunities Programme. My objectives are to establish the ground rules, and get the children playing their instruments as quickly as possible. I think it is too, too … Continue reading

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