Tag Archives: wider opportunities

Issue 19: Mega Whole-Class Singing Activity – Singing Playgrounds

Posted on December 30, 2011 by

On the website, www.singup.org, is a set of playground singing games called “Singing Playgrounds”, which is a wonderful resource for at least half a term’s work. At its simplest level, there are five songs to sing through, which all work … Continue reading →

Posted in Clarinets, Keyboards, Lessons that have happened, Listening Music, Recorders, Songs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Issue 14: Being a Beginner

Posted on November 18, 2011 by

For reasons which are too long to explain, I have started to learn the trumpet. It must be very like being a child on a Wider Opportunities Programme. I need to learn, not because I want to, but because I … Continue reading →

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

Posted on November 18, 2011 by

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 →

Posted in Clarinets, Composition, Djembe, Keyboards, Lessons that have happened, Ocarina, Piano, Recorders, Songs, The organised teacher, Theory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Issue 12: The “galloping djembe rhythm”, and learning skills

Posted on November 4, 2011 by

I taught the galloping djembe rhythm, set out in the last issue, to a year 5 and 6 group who were already familiar with the straight 4/4 version. It was a great success; and I think that it will work … Continue reading →

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Issue 11: Outline Plans for a Short Samba Course

Posted on October 28, 2011 by

I shall soon start teaching a 6-week taster course in Samba.  This school has a long-standing practice of offering small groups of year 6 children an opportunity for extra music on Friday afternoons.  Up to now, I have been teaching a … Continue reading →

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Issue 10: “Teacher Moments”

Posted on October 21, 2011 by

What do I mean by a “Teacher Moment”?  It is a phrase used by a teacher that I know, to describe those moments which make everything all so worthwhile. Years ago, at a school where I taught class music, there was a lad … Continue reading →

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Issue 9: Musical Multiples

Posted on October 14, 2011 by

I have been experimenting in my year 5 & 6 djembe class with poly-rhythms as a warm-up activity in recent lessons.  I was delighted when the class came back next lesson and performed a new piece to me which they had … Continue reading →

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Issue 8: Stamp Stamp Clap Clap

Posted on October 8, 2011 by

This is a nearly foolproof (nothing is ever completely foolproof in my experience!) for teaching children to identify whether a piece of music has four beats in a bar, or three beats in a bar.  I was amazed at how quickly the … Continue reading →

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