Category Archives: Clarinets

Issue 17: Easy Christmas Carols and Tunes

This is a bit of a post-in-a-hurry; but here are a few ideas; Mary had a Baby, yes, Lord Mary had a Baby, yes my Lord Mary had a Baby, yes Lord The people keep-a-coming and the train done gone. … Continue reading

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Issue 15: Miss Mary Mack – a versatile singing game

You can find the tune for this song in several books; Young Voiceworks (OUP) and Okki-Tokki-Unga (A C Black) to name just two. Here it is anyway;  There are a couple more verses; She asked her Mother, Mother, Mother for … Continue reading

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Issue 14: 101 things to do with “Rain on the Green Grass”

There’s a nice little 3-note round on the www.singup.org website; Rain on the green grass          Rain on the tree          Rain on the house tops          But not on me. If you want to see the notation, have a look at the website. … Continue reading

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Issue 10: The Lokey-Cokey (Or “Left hand on Top”)

Hands up if you know the “Hokey Cokey”? Here’s a version to sing as a warm-up before clarinet and recorder lessons: WORDS ACTIONS You put your Left Hand in Put your left hand in You put your Left hand out … Continue reading

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Issue 5: Dishing Out The Instruments

I reckon this is about the most complicated part of your average music lesson.  I learned how to manage this “the hard way”.  Actually, I am still learning how to do this – but it is getting easier as the … Continue reading

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Issue 5: Hi Low Chickalow

This is a little playground clapping game which I learned from my daughter when she was a junior school.  Some children know it as part of a longer clapping rhyme. Arrange the children in pairs, and get them to shake … Continue reading

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Issue 4: Here come the aliens – catch them if you can!

Question: What’s the difference between playing a computer game and playing music? Answer: Almost nothing.  Let’s investigate further; Playing a Computer Game Playing  Music The scenes scroll past your eyes The page doesn’t move Your eyes don’t move Your eyes track across … Continue reading

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Issue 2: The “Putting Your Clarinet Together” song

Teaching thirty-five children to put their clarinets together, simultaneously, is a real test of control;  your class-control skills, and the children’s self-control skills, never minding other important skills such as “listening to instructions” and even “following instructions”. You need to have … Continue reading

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