Monthly Archives: March 2016

20/100 The Samba Page

Posted on March 28, 2016 by

I’ve started a Samba Page on the Music Jungle. The sections are Favourite Tutor Book, Top Tips, Signals, First Samba Rhythm (Samba Samba We love to Samba) Songs to Sambas   I’ll be adding to it from time to time. … Continue reading →

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19/100 Aeolian Harps

Posted on March 28, 2016 by

Last night we were treated to the excitement of “Storm Katie” – strong winds and heavy rain all night. We’ve just had our bathroom and lavatory refitted (I’ve been waiting 32 years for this, ever since we moved in!). One … Continue reading →

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18/100 Starting a New Piece; Meaningful Learning

Posted on March 27, 2016 by

I’ve just started teaching a piano student the Ballade from Burgmuller op 100. This one: You can hear someone playing it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTn04HtKXO0 It’s pretty straightforward to teach the notes, especially as almost every phrase is played twice – I call … Continue reading →

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17/100 Missing Words

Posted on March 19, 2016 by

I’ve a year 3 djembe class who need a lot of practice to develop listening and concentration skills. They struggle to learn some of the longer djembe rhythms, and their pulse keeping is not as steady as I would have … Continue reading →

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16/100 What do you keep in YOUR bag?

Posted on March 18, 2016 by

Anyone who knows me is not surprised when strange things fall out of my handbag… I’ve currently got a stray ocarina, a samba whistle and some cheapo finger cymbals rattling around in the deep dark recesses of my bag. And this … Continue reading →

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15/100 1,2,3 It’s Good to Be Me

Posted on March 17, 2016 by

Great song for Keystage 1 and Early Years; It is on www.singup.org, and also on youtube here, with words and signing; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igmU0b65WCU and here, as a backing track and words only; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYexa_3uFGc I haven’t tried signing properly it yet. I … Continue reading →

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13/100 Stone-passing game

Posted on March 2, 2016 by

I may not have got the tune or words exactly right – that’s what happens when things are transmitted by word of mouth. The words are (I think) from the Yoruba language in Africa, and go something like this: Obisana … Continue reading →

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14/100 Getting my Harpsichord to “talk”

Posted on March 1, 2016 by

It’s been interesting learning how to make my harpsichord “talk”. Let me admit, first of all, that it is a Roland digital harpsichord (as distinct from a keyboard switched to harpsichord sound) so the touch is very forgiving – completely … Continue reading →

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