Category Archives: Music

Much sought after MA Professional Practice (Voice Pedagogy) is now available.

Course Description:

The MA Professional Practice (Voice Pedagogy) is a partnership between the Welsh Institute of Work Based Learning, University of Wales (Trinity St David) and Voice Workshop. This innovative postgraduate pathway enables the academic study of vocal pedagogy and facilitates the research of new areas of learning. The modules allow for the design and implementation of new initiatives which seeks to contribute to an individual’s practice, organisation and professional network.

This MA combines technical voice teaching with focussed essays and individual research projects. All voice stimulus days are taught by leading specialists and students combine theoretical research with practice based application.  The course will consist of a number of formative and summative assessments.  This postgraduate pathway will provide you with a number of opportunities to develop your research interests.   

Dates and Venue: 

The course is part-time and is carefully structured to fit into a teacher friendly timetable and runs from 20th August 2018 until 28th March 2021.

Held on behalf of Voice Workshop Limited at The Training Suite, North Colchester Business Centre, 340 The Crescent, Colchester, Essex CO4 9AD. 

Fees:

  • To reserve a place on the course, you will need to pay £1,000 (VAT inclusive) non-refundable deposit. This is only payable after your application has been accepted. Your place will not be reserved until this fee is paid.
  • A registration fee of £2460 is directly payable to University of Wales Trinity St David before the start of the course.
  • The remaining fee of £4490 (VAT inclusive) is directly payable to Voice Workshop Ltd by 30/6/18.
  • Please be aware that the postgraduate loan company releases finances in fixed instalments. These dates are fixed for all postgraduate loans and cannot be altered. As this is a collaborative arrangement between Voice Workshop Ltd and Trinity St David, Instalment payments are not an option for this type of course.
  • You may be eligible for a student loan. https://www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
  • All fees will need to be paid in advance even where instalments are paid by the student loan company.

Booking and Additional Information:

deestallan@voiceworkshop.co.uk and https://www.voiceworkshop.co.uk/ma-professional-practice-voice-pedagogy/

 

Key Stage 2 Composing for Non-Specialists

KEY STAGE 2 COMPOSING is an exciting classroom resource for teachers delivering composition lessons in the primary school. This detailed and easy-to-understand book was written by a well-known composer who has researched and piloted new methods designed particularly for non-specialists. However, Music Co-Coordinators will also welcome the background information, practical advice and project ideas in the book.

A complete primary school composing resource

KEY STAGE 2 COMPOSING presents a creative course covering the entire KS2 composing curriculum in a way which is easy for non-specialist teachers to understand and use, and fun to deliver in the classroom. Detailed and timed lesson plans are complemented by thorough explanatory notes; no previous music knowledge is required. The book can form a complete year’s work, or be a resource for all the composing elements in KS2 music lessons.  It could also form the basis for an entire Key Stage 2 music syllabus.  It is based on the methods David Stoll developed when asked by the DfES to look into helping non-specialist teachers deliver composing lessons.

Suitable for music coordinators

The Introduction discusses music lessons and composing, and gives links to the primary school music curriculum.  This is followed by a term’s worth of timed and very comprehensive composing lessons, described in full detail with background notes.   There are then four projects which are likely to take a half-term each to complete, and six one-off short workshop projects for occasional lessons.  All necessary worksheets are included and copyable.

The book concludes with further guidance on inventing new projects, using rooms and equipment, giving performances, and answers to common questions from non-specialist music teachers.

The download price for KEY STAGE 2 COMPOSING is £17.40, including VAT.  This includes a licence for printing, copying and using the product in a non-commercial way within schools.

For more information, or to purchase the book as a download, please go to: https://www.davidstoll.co.uk/product/educational-key-stage-2-composing

Pinot! The Musical – Wimbledon June 2017

The only musical show that makes learning French exciting!

Hurry!  When they’re gone, they’re gone!

MAY – all 8 school shows now fully booked

JUNE – only 2 shows left: Wednesday 14 June 10.30am and 1.30pm 

  • 65 pupils seats and 7 adult seats at each performance

School groups pay £12.00 per pupil place.  1 adult free with every 10 pupils.   Email info@singinfrench.com if you have any queries

Click here to see details of Pinot The Musical at New Wimbledon Studio Theatre

Group Bookings at New Wimbledon Studio Theatre

click here to read the latest press release

Kind regards

Marie

07889 114056

PS. If your school is interested in funded seats for next season’s productions of Pinot! The Musical, please drop an email asap to info@singinfrench.com stating ‘Funded Seat Request’ in the subject box.

PPS.  if you would like a Pinot Workshop in your school, contact us using the form at http://www.singinfrench.com/contact

SING IN FRENCH LTD

E: info@singinfrench.com

W: http://www.singinfrench.com

T: https://twitter.com/Singinfrench

Pinot image sing in french logo
‘Pinot! The Musical’ is running at the New Wimbledon Studio Theatre between 2 – 6 May and 12 – 17 June 2017. Book your tickets at http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/pinot-the-musical/new-wimbledon-studio/

Research: students who use web-based testing progress at a faster rate

Students who regularly test their literacy and numeracy skills with web-based games progress fastest overall across the subjects

 According to recent research, carried out by Andrew Gallacher (an education coordinator at the University of Glasgow), students who regularly test their numeracy and literacy skills with web-based games progress fastest overall across the subjects.

Which is exactly why Education Quizzes exists – and why we are offering free sign up for schools to Education Quizzes for a whole year.

Our library of KS3 Music quizzes covers an extensive range of topic areas, making them ideal for revising what your students are being taught in their Music lessons, past and present.

Education Quizzes is also ideal to set as homework tasks as it involves little to no PPA time – giving you more time to focus on planning and preparing future lessons and assessing the work of your students from lessons which have gone before.

To see the KS3 Music quizzes that we have produced thus far, toggle through the topic area links below. Alternatively, you can email admin@educationquizzes.com to request more information.

If you would like to sign up free to Education Quizzes for a year, simply visit our schools’ registration page – www.educationquizzes.com/schools-uk-registrations/.


Topic area

 Composition 

Hooks and Riffs 

Jazz Chords 

Music and Media 

Soundscapes 

Variations 

The Concerto 

Time and Key Signatures 

Musical Cycles 

Fundamental Elements of Music

See more

Help students appreciate the beauty of live music

Music concerts of the highest calibre
in Birmingham available to students for a fraction
of the normal price

In the new year Birmingham is hosting two special high calibre classical music events with tickets available for your students at just £5 each.

The first is a concert in which Edward Gardner conducts Peer Gynt, Walton’s first symphony, and Elgar’s Cello Concerto on 17 January.

The second concert on 26 January sees the St Petersburg Philharmonic play Prokofiev and Rimsky-Korsakov: the most celebrated of Russian orchestras playing two of Russia’s most spectacular orchestral showpieces: Romeo and Juliet and Scheherazade.

In addition to the tickets being available at £5 tickets per student, the discount also applies to the seats occupied by yourself and your colleagues.  It doesn’t matter how many or how few students you are bringing along to an event, the tickets cost just £5 each.

Also, if it is more convenient for you, you can encourage parents to organise a home-school group so that parents can organise and arrange the trip themselves.

And if you are bringing a group of 20 or more pupils or students you can in addition get two free tickets for the organisers.

Details of the Peer Gynt, Walton, and Elgar concert are to be found here while details of the St Petersburg Philharmonic concert are here.

To see the details of all the classical music concerts that are scheduled for the coming months please do take a look at our website page which outlines the events for which these discounts apply.

Then to book just call Group Bookings on 0800 358 7070 (10am – 5pm, Monday to Friday) or email groupbookings@thsh.co.uk.  

If you have any questions about these new discounts, please do call the group bookings number and we’ll be pleased to help you.

Finally, in case it is helpful to you I set out below a letter that could be emailed to parents informing them of the event.

Antony Pickthall

 

Dear Parents

I am pleased to say that the concert venue THSH in Birmingham has offered the school tickets for two classical music concerts in January, with the tickets for students available at the very discounted price of just £5 per student.

This is a rare opportunity for students in the school to witness live performances of the very best musicians performing popular works from the classical repertoire, and I am hoping that a number of our students will attend with me.

The first is a concert in which Edward Gardner conducts Peer Gynt, Walton’s first symphony, and Elgar’s Cello Concerto on 17 January.  Details are to be found here.

The second concert on 26 January sees the St Petersburg Philharmonic play Prokofiev and Rimsky-Korsakov.  This concert involves the most celebrated of Russian orchestras playing two of Russia’s most spectacular orchestral showpieces: Romeo and Juliet and Scheherazade.  Details of this concert are here.

I would be most grateful if you could email me back at xxxx@xxxxx by xxxdate to let me know if your son or daughter will be attending this concert.

Yours sincerely,

Classical concerts at a discount

When you bring students to a concert or event at Town Hall or Symphony Hall Birmingham, there are major discounts…

Week after week, month after month, THSH puts on the most extraordinarily diverse range of concerts.

And now, for the first time, we are able to offer an extraordinary set of discounts to go with our amazingly varied array of performances.

In fact we now have two separate ranges of discount available.

The first is the provision of £5 tickets per pupil or student – with the discount also provided for the seats occupied by yourself and your colleagues.  It doesn’t matter how many or how few students you are bringing along to an event, the tickets cost just £5 each.

Obviously the number of tickets available at this special rate for each concert is always limited, so early booking is advisable – just in case one or two other schools want to come to the same concert as the one you have chosen!

Second, if you are bringing a group of 20 or more pupils or students you can in addition get two free tickets for the organisers.

To see the details of all the classical music concerts that are scheduled for the coming months please do take a look at our website page which outlines the events for which these discounts apply.

Then, to book just call Group Bookings on 0800 358 7070 (10am – 5pm, Monday to Friday) or email groupbookings@thsh.co.uk.  

It really is as simple as that.

If you have any questions about these new discounts, please do call the group bookings number and we’ll be pleased to help you.

Antony Pickthall

Ready-made Whole-class Music-making…

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Give your children a ‘sound’ music education

Years ago, music was taught by singing or listening only. Children didn’t make music or explore sound in their lessons. As in Victorian days, it was expected that children should be seen and not heard!

Over the last few years OFSTED have said that too little actual music goes on in primary music lessons. Music is a language and the language of music should be dominant, but often isn’t.

Playing instruments is a great way to get all children making music. They can all play tunes and get a great sense of achievement. However, whole classes of trumpets & trombones, or violins & cellos make a very loud noise indeed. Even tin whistles & recorders are shrill in large numbers. And drums don’t play tunes, only rhythms.

Which Instrument should we use?

The English Ocarina is a really great instrument. The 4-hole Oc® has been judged by independent experts to be the Best Music Education Product. Here’s what the panel said…

The Ocarina “combines creative potential, ease of use, affordability and practicality” Best Music Education Product WINNER in the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence

The sound of the Ocarina blends beautifully in groups. If one child plays it badly, their Ocarina cuts out and is silent, so you only hear the best. And the sound of the Ocarina is the purest of any musical instrument, giving children the best feedback and immediate success.

If you would like to enable your children to play great music in class, in assembly, at the Christmas Concert or at community events, just order now. Ocarinas are supremely portable as children wear Ocarinas when they play. They are also lightweight and very easily stored.

But is it ‘proper’?

People who don’t fully understand music or children, may think that the Ocarina is not a ‘proper’ instrument. What is a proper instrument? Crumhorns are proper for medieval music, French Horns for orchestral music and Ocarinas for educational music. It’s “horses for courses”. There is no single instrument that is perfect for everything. However, Ocarinas are best in class.

Tuned, Accessible, Musical and Ready-to-play

There is nothing to go wrong – no reeds or strings that require setting up or mending – just kits of Ocarinas with music books, backing CDs, ready-made lessons and lots of musical fun.

Order an Ocarina Class Set today. Hand them to any teacher and within half-an-hour their class will serenade you with familiar tunes and play eight notes – seven more than they would play in half-an-hour on any other instrument! Or give them to the staff first and let the fun begin!

music@ocarina.co.uk | ocarina.co.uk | 01536 485 963
David Liggins B.Ed (Hons) | Christa Liggins BA (Hons), PGCE
Ocarina Workshop, PO Box 56 Kettering, NN15 5LX

Free sign up for a year to KS3 Music Education Quizzes

Our library of KS3 Music Education Quizzes is free for a whole year and covers an extensive range of topic areas including: Composition, Form and Structure, Hooks and Riffs, Jazz Chords, Music and Media, Music for Dance, and more!

To see our full range of Music Education Quizzes for KS3, click here.

Would you like to be able to offer Education Quizzes as home revision or homework to your students? Our Education Quizzes can be accessed by students on their home computers, tablets, and smartphones.

For free sign up for a year to our library of KS3 music Education Quizzes, please visit https://www.educationquizzes.com/schools-uk-registrations/. If you would like to know more, please do email admin@educationquizzes.com or call 01406 371799.

Colin King

Exceptional Music Teaching Resources

Drums for Schools

Music Education for the Whole School – From £1 per pupil including teaching support

All Drums for Schools Class Packs come with complete teaching support: teaching guides, lesson plans, video and audio tracks and with expert advice on tap. The support is so good and the approach so accessible that any enthusiastic teacher can successfully lead their class from basics through to first performance in just 10 lessons.

NEW for 2016 Our Class Packs are now configured on the “Buddies” principle with equal numbers of large and small instruments. The class can be split easily into “buddy” pairs, keeping everyone engaged and making your budget go twice as far.

Email: sales@drumsforschools.co.uk
Telephone:
01159 314 513
Postal address:
Drums for Schools, 21 Shaftesbury Avenue, Burton Joyce, Nottingham, NG14 5GL

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Ocarina Workshop – Award-winning Ocarinas

Tuned, Accessible, Musical and Ready-to-play

All your children will love the Ocarina and play full-octave tunes straight away. Ocarinas inspire the musician in everyone. Appropriate for transition to secondary school, enjoyed by boys as well as girls, the instrument is UK-made, robust and ready-to-play.

The Ocarina “combines creative potential, ease of use, affordability and practicality” – Best Music Education Product WINNER in the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence 2015

For just £10 each, everyone can have their own Ocarina and Book. Ocarina music gives immediate access to fluent playing and musical understanding, providing common ground for all the class.

Website: www.ocarina.co.uk
Email:
music@ocarina.co.uk
Telephone:
01536 485 963
Address:
Ocarina Workshop, PO BOX 56, Kettering, NN15 5LX

……………………………………………………………………………

CCLI

CCLI Collective Worship Licenses – offers licences, resources and ideas to help schools use songs and hymns during their times of Collective Worship in assemblies and special services.

Telephone: 01323 436100
Postal address:
CCLI, Chantry House, 22 Upperton Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 1BF

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UniTasterDays

Search Taster Day Events – helps Music teachers to discover an array of events to book students on to, such as university and college taster days, workshops, residentials, open days, outreach events and widening participation opportunities.

Email: info@unitasterdays.com
Telephone:
+44(0)208 798 0982

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ZigZag Education

Music Teaching Resources – publishers of teaching resources for schools.

Email: sales@ZigZagEducation.com
Telephone:
0117 950 3199
Postal address:
ZigZag Education, Unit 3, Greenway Business Centre, Doncaster Road, Bristol, BS10 5PY

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First and Best in Education

Teaching Rythm, Melody and Harmony – this 130 page book plus music CD will be an invaluable source of materials and methods for teachers of Key Stage 3 Music classes. Rhythm, harmony and melody are all presented as separate sets of activities which can be incorporated into lessons of any length.

Email: sales@firstandbest.co.uk
Telephone:
01536 399007
Postal address:
Hamilton House Mailings Ltd, Earlstrees Ct, Earlstrees Rd, Corby, Northants, NN17 4HH

……………………………………………………………………………

You can find more Exceptional Teaching resources at exceptionalteaching.org.uk.

Discount Music Software for Secondary School Music Departments

SOFTPLANET always guarantee you a personal service with free on-going support. Let us work with you – contact us to receive sound advice and extra information on the latest music software.

Here are our 5 top software packages for UK Music Departments.

Simply click on the titles / images below to find out more, or call us for a free demo.


Sibelius 8
sibelius 8

From £19 per seat.


Acoustica Mixcraft 7
Mixcraft 7

Mixcraft is The Student’s DAW – the ideal application for creating professional quality songs, mixes, and videos with ease. From £20 per seat each.


Pro Tools 12
Skoog

Award-Winning Music Production Software. Pro Tools 12 is everything you need to edit, record and compose, mix great sounding audio and film/TV soundtracks. From £179.00.


Listen Hear 10 site License
Listen Hear

The ultimate revision guide for all listening exams including 250 multi-choice Questions and Answers (for PC) – £99.00


Guitar Class 10 Site License
Guitar Class

Fully progressive guitar music and tips, backing tracks and print sheet music options – £79.00


ORDERING INFO

Purchase orders accepted – 1 month net.

Order by email – hq@softplanetgroup.com

by phone 01334 461244

By post:

SOFTPLANET LTD, Greenbank House, Prior Muir, St Andrews, KY16 8LP

www.softplanetgroup.com

What can be done to help pupils and students, who want to learn a musical instrument, learn more effectively?

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Next term a new, national, School Music Week is to be launched.  Not a Music Week to celebrate what the pupils in schools across the UK have done, but rather to encourage them in their work in the coming year and also to encourage more to make the musical journey

It is a website to help music teachers encourage pupils and students to practise and keep learning their chosen instrument.  It is also there to help parents and non-music teachers understand the huge benefits that accrue both to the school and to the pupils and students from the study of musical instruments.

Its aims also include helping parents understand the process of learning an instrument, how to go about buying an instrument, and how to maintain the enthusiasm for learning an instrument.

As part of our preparation for School Music Week next term, we are also undertaking some research into the range of instrumental tuition in secondary schools, looking at any difficulties schools might be facing due to falling pupil numbers and budget cuts –  and the opportunities for expansion.

The survey is, of course, completely anonymous but if you wish we can send you back a copy of the results once we have them analysed.

The questionnaire will only take two to three minutes to complete and doesn’t ask for any details about your school.  I do hope you will spare a moment to help us gather this information.

To take the questionnaire please just click here.

If you have any questions about the questionnaire please email hq@schoolmusicweek.co.uk or call us on 01536 505 622.

What can be done to help those children, who want to learn a musical instrument, learn more effectively?

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Next term a new, national, School Music Week is to be launched.  Not a Music Week to celebrate what the pupils in schools across the UK have done in the past year, but rather what they might well do in the coming year.

It is a website to help music teachers encourage children to practise and keep learning their chosen instrument.  It is also there to help parents and non-music teachers understand the huge benefits that accrue both to the school and to the children from the study of musical instruments.

Its aims also include helping parents understand the process of learning an instrument, how to go about buying an instrument, and how to maintain the enthusiasm for learning an instrument.

As part of our preparation for School Music Week next term we are also undertaking some research into the range of instrumental tuition in primary schools, looking at any difficulties schools might be facing and the opportunities for expansion.

The survey is, of course, completely anonymous, but if you wish we can send you back a copy of the results once we have them analysed.

The questionnaire will only take two to three minutes to complete, and doesn’t ask for any details about your school.  I do hope you will spare a moment to help us gather this information.

To take the questionnaire please just click here.

If you have any questions about the questionnaire please email hq@schoolmusicweek.co.uk or call us on 01536 505 622

Very special magic…

Once upon a time, there was a young musician called Robin. He loved to play the piano, because he knew music could be magical…

Then, one day, he began teaching music in schools. How the children loved playing music! But then, something terrible happened… he was asked to stage a show for all of the parents. Oh, how he was filled with fear!

Suddenly, the music teacher had an idea! His brother, Simon, was a writer and director of television programmes for ITV, Channel 4, and even the BBC! Perhaps if he and Simon worked together…

So, they created a show with very special ‘easy peasy’ magic. No-one had ever seen a play like it before – everyone agreed, it really was magical!

And what happened to the two brothers…? They wrote lots of Easy Peasy Plays that were used by hundreds of schools throughout the land! Yippee!

And this is where you join the story! Our latest Easy Peasy Plays are ready to delight your school! Even better, to celebrate the launch of our new summer collection you can enjoy a special discount of £5.00 off any play! Just enter the discount code save3 at checkout by 31 July 2016.

Perfect! Don’t you just love a happy ending…?

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Best wishes for an easy peasy day!

Robin and Simon

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PS: Only Easy Peasy Plays have easy peasy magic!

For, and on behalf of, Popcorn School Ltd.
Registered address: 9 Yelverton Close, Walsall, WS3 3XE.
Company number: 08534985.

Celebrate summer with music… Give pupils a lifetime of musical repertoire in weeks

IntroducingOcarinas

Ocarinas are the only musical instruments that can give pupils immediate musical success.

With most instruments, children play just a handful of notes after months of practice and tuition. With Ocarinas, children play a variety of recognisable (and easy-on-the-ear!) tunes after just a few lessons. Successful music-making becomes instantly achievable when whole classes play Ocarinas.

So if your class have had little opportunity to make music this year, now is the time. Play tunes in class, in assembly, at outdoor events. Play Skye boat song, Ode to Joy, Daisy Daisy and let your pupils entertain parents and friends to celebrate the end of the school year and a sunny summer.

As teachers ourselves, we have made sure Ocarina-playing can be taught by any teacher to any group of children. And this accessibility for both children and staff is the reason we received the Best Music Education Product award in 2015. Here’s what the expert panel of judges said…

 The Ocarina “combines creative potential, ease of use, affordability and practicality” Best Music Education Product WINNER in the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence

So if you’d like to give your children the chance to play, just go to www.ocarina.co.uk

Your class set of Ocarinas will last for years…

As a school investment, Ocarinas and Ocarina music books last for decades and can be played by each succeeding year group. Children love them so much that their parents may like to buy them to take away at the end of term. The four ‘p’s say it all…

   ✔ pleasant sound

   ✔ proper music

   ✔ playing for fun as well as achievement

   ✔ performing from the word ‘go’

Ocarina Rainbow Starter Boxes are just £10 per child and come with free teaching resources, or the Star Buy equips every child with an Ocarina and two books with over 50 proper tunes to play, for just £15 each – and of course the teacher is fully resourced with everything needed to teach whole class music. All orders are despatched immediately for delivery to your school within 2-3 days.

 

Ocarinas are Tuned, Durable, Musical, Accessible and Ready-to-play
for Boys, Girls and Teachers too

music@ocarina.co.uk | ocarina.co.uk | 01536 485 963
David Liggins B.Ed (Hons) | Christa Liggins BA (Hons), PGCE
Ocarina Workshop, PO Box 56 Kettering, NN15 5LX

What can you say when the pupil or student turns up with a new, but unplayable, instrument?

It is one of the most embarrassing moments – when a pupil or student who is enthusiastic to learn to play a musical instrument comes to the first lesson with something that is, quite simply, unplayable.

How does one tell the parent – and indeed the child – that lessons can’t meaningfully start now, because the instrument is not up to standard?

There is only one complete way around this problem and that is to tell the parents exactly what they need to buy, and what they need to avoid, before the process starts.

Of course, you may well already have this in hand, and if so I won’t take up more of your time.  But if you feel that some parents with pupils or students in your school may be tempted to go out and buy an instrument that is completely inappropriate for their son or daughter, then we’ve an idea that may help you.

Please click here to find some advice which you may want to send out to parents and/or put on your school website – a letter which warns parents about the hazards of buying a particular type of musical instrument.

If you wish to hand it out to parents, or email them when they sign up to start lessons, please do so.  You can, of course, put it on headed pager if you wish.

The letter does include a mention of ourselves, as a source of instruments, which I hope you will find acceptable within the context.

If you have any questions or queries about the services and instruments we offer, we are of course very happy to oblige.

Lance Tunley

Exceptional Music Teaching Resources

Exceptional Banner - Bigger

Ocarina Workshop – Award-winning Ocarinas

Tuned, Accessible, Musical and Ready-to-play

All your children will love the Ocarina and play full-octave tunes straight away. Ocarinas inspire the musician in everyone. Appropriate for transition to secondary school, enjoyed by boys as well as girls, the instrument is UK-made, robust and ready-to-play.

The Ocarina “combines creative potential, ease of use, affordability and practicality” – Best Music Education Product WINNER in the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence 2015

For just £10 each, everyone can have their own Ocarina and Book. Ocarina music gives immediate access to fluent playing and musical understanding, providing common ground for all the class.

Website: www.ocarina.co.uk
Email:
music@ocarina.co.uk
Telephone:
01536 485 963
Address:
Ocarina Workshop, PO BOX 56, Kettering, NN15 5LX

……………………………………………………………………………

Drums for Schools

Music Education for the Whole School – From £1 per pupil including teaching support

All Drums for Schools Class Packs come with complete teaching support: teaching guides, lesson plans, video and audio tracks and with expert advice on tap. The support is so good and the approach so accessible that any enthusiastic teacher can successfully lead their class from basics through to first performance in just 10 lessons.

NEW for 2016 Our Class Packs are now configured on the “Buddies” principle with equal numbers of large and small instruments. The class can be split easily into “buddy” pairs, keeping everyone engaged and making your budget go twice as far.

Email: sales@drumsforschools.co.uk
Telephone:
01159 314 513
Postal address:
Drums for Schools, 21 Shaftesbury Avenue, Burton Joyce, Nottingham, NG14 5GL

……………………………………………………………………………

CCLI

CCLI Collective Worship Licenses – offers licences, resources and ideas to help schools use songs and hymns during their times of Collective Worship in assemblies and special services.

Telephone: 01323 436100
Postal address:
CCLI, Chantry House, 22 Upperton Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 1BF

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

UniTasterDays

Search Taster Day Events – helps Music teachers to discover an array of events to book students on to, such as university and college taster days, workshops, residentials, open days, outreach events and widening participation opportunities.

Email: info@unitasterdays.com
Telephone:
+44(0)208 798 0982

……………………………………………………………………………

ZigZag Education

Music Teaching Resources – publishers of teaching resources for schools.

Email: sales@ZigZagEducation.com
Telephone:
0117 950 3199
Postal address:
ZigZag Education, Unit 3, Greenway Business Centre, Doncaster Road, Bristol, BS10 5PY

……………………………………………………………………………

First and Best in Education

Teaching Rythm, Melody and Harmony – this 130 page book plus music CD will be an invaluable source of materials and methods for teachers of Key Stage 3 Music classes. Rhythm, harmony and melody are all presented as separate sets of activities which can be incorporated into lessons of any length.

Email: sales@firstandbest.co.uk
Telephone:
01536 399007
Postal address:
Hamilton House Mailings Ltd, Earlstrees Ct, Earlstrees Rd, Corby, Northants, NN17 4HH

……………………………………………………………………………

You can find more Exceptional Teaching resources at exceptionalteaching.org.uk.

 

Can you imagine a party without music?

Ocarina_Best_Music_Education_Product_HH

A world without music? Learning without music?

In education today it’s easy to put music to one side – it’s something for the ‘specialists’. We teach numeracy and literacy ourselves – others can do the music.

However, current brain research shows that learning to play a musical instrument creates pathways in the brain that strengthen literacy and numeracy skills and make children more intelligent. The actual size of the brain grows.

At Ocarina Workshop we have known this for over 30 years, which is why we left our regular teaching jobs to develop the Ocarina, Ocarina music and Ocarina teaching resources for everyone to enjoy.

Our award last year for Best Music Education Product is like a lifetime achievement award for us. We’d love to share with you the success of this simple instrument that can revolutionise music-making in any school. Here’s what the expert panel of judges said…

The Ocarina “combines creative potential, ease of use, affordability and practicality” Best Music Education Product WINNER in the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence

So if you don’t know what you are missing… go to www.ocarina.co.uk to find out more.

Can EVERY Child really play a Musical Instrument in Class?

Yes, especially when Class Teachers do the teaching!

If children see their teachers are uncomfortable with maths, they will be uncomfortable. If children come from homes where reading is non-existent, their reading suffers. If teachers engage happily with music, children ‘catch music’ and all its benefits…

All your children will love the Ocarina and play tunes straight away. And all your teachers can confidently teach whole-class music with Ocarinas, whether they ‘feel musical’ or not.

The Ocarina is child-friendly, the holes small enough to cover, each note is easy to produce with a steady breath, and ocarina music shows exactly which holes to cover. Ocarinas are UK-made, colourful, robust and fun to wear – for boys as well as girls.

Tuned, Accessible, Musical and Ready-to-play

Order an Ocarina Class Set today. Hand them to any teacher and within half-an-hour their class will serenade you with ‘Twinkle Twinkle’ and play eight notes – seven more than they would play in half-an-hour on any other instrument! Or give them to the staff first and let the fun begin!

David Liggins B.Ed (Hons) | Christa Liggins BA (Hons), PGCE

music@ocarina.co.uk | ocarina.co.uk | 01536 485 963

Ocarina Workshop, PO Box 56 Kettering, NN15 5LX

With music, it’s not just the child’s talent and enthusiasm that counts. It’s also the parents’ support.

Well, we’ve all seen it time and time again. The enthusiasm and excitement about the opportunity for the child to learn a real musical instrument.

But when the initial vision of an instant ability to play the instrument fades, the notion of practising at least five days a week loses its appeal – and ultimately another budding musician, who had the ability to achieved a lot as a musician, gives up.

So what, practically, can be done to reduce the drop-out rate?

There’s been a huge amount of research into this issue, and the best answer focuses on giving the parent the tools to motivate and encourage the young musician week by week and day by day.

In this way, “go and practise the violin” becomes an engagement between parent and child.

However, like so many ideas, this is one that can sound great in principle but is not always that easy to put into practice.

Which is why Caswell Strings has developed a series of short articles each of which can help parents to encourage and motivate their children to keep practising and keep playing – no matter what the instrument and no matter what style of music is being taught.

This series of articles is now appearing on the Facebook page of Caswell Strings, and I do hope that you will have a moment to look at them.

Then either print them off to give to parents or you can simply direct the parents to the page, so they can read for themselves.

The first article on “How can I persuade my child to practise?” is now on the site, and new articles will be added each week to build up into a full set of ways of enhancing the enjoyment and success of pupils and students as they learn to play an instrument.

You can find the first article by clicking here.

Take a world that is completely different from ours – and those creatures completely different from ordinary people like us

David Stoll  (SEALSONGS, DICK OTTINGTON) has a new song collection for Primary Schools available for download from First & Best. The package also contains a specially written story script for a narrator which weaves all the songs together.

Thus THE CUCKOO ROCK SONGBOOK can be used as a basis for individual songs to be sung in assembly or simply within the class, or it can be a complete production for presentation to parents and the rest of the school – without any need for complex staging, special lighting or any other effects that may or may not be available.

The collection includes twelve settings of poems by Phil Bowen. These magical poems are full of unusual characters, colourful scenes and surprising wordplay; the original book was short-listed for the CLPE prize.

The music has echoes of 60’s rock as well as various contemporary styles. The SONGBOOK includes both printed piano accompaniment and pre-recorded full backing tracks with permissions for use.

You can see an extract from the songbook here http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/primary/CUCKOOROCKsample.pdf and you can hear the backing track here http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/primary/01 cuckoo rock.mp3

A copy of the complete collection of songs and the narrator’s script is available as a download from http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=820

The price is £16.95 plus VAT (the VAT can be reclaimed in most cases by the school).

THE CUCKOO ROCK SONGBOOK is distributed by First and Best in Education, part of the Hamilton House group. If you have any enquiries you can call 01536 399 011, or email sales@firstandbest.co.uk or write to us at First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct, Earlstrees Rd, Corby, Northants NN17 4HH.

The full range of First and Best books can be seen at www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk

Please can we do more Music Theory?

 Add An Email Address
The Mighty Maestro
Interactive Music Theory
Free 3 Month Trial of our Colourful Interactive Activities
Without a solid understanding of basic theory, students often struggle to perform together both in the classroom and on a wider scale. It’s usually far more difficult to learn how to play pieces of music, and sharing compositions can be haphazard at best. By helping them over the initial hurdles, The Mighty Maestro opens up a world of possibility for all your pupils. Those confusing symbols start to make sense, the music played as a group can become tight and dynamic, and the mass of resources online and in the real world made accessible.

The Mighty Maestro uses a variety of enjoyable lessons, games and races to guide students through the basics of music theory, without the jumps in logic that see many learners fall by the wayside. Having fun as a class, you may use the program to build up an understanding together. Working individually, students are guided step-by-step through the concepts (and you can even follow their progress via our Group Admin pages).

Like to have a go? Please email us today for a FREE 3 month trial. You may test all the activities yourself, let students try a few themselves, or even set up a group and track the progress of all your students through the first 8 activities, at no cost whatsoever.

Please email dan@TheMightyMaestro.com for your free Shared Login and further details.

Many thanks
Dan Collingbourne

The Mighty Maestro

Visit www.TheMightyMaestro.com

ORB Education
EMAIL:  enq@orbeducation.co.uk
FAX: (0161) 667 0540
POST:Suite 7485, PO Box 4336, Manchester M61 0BW

What’s the most effective method to help young children overcome speech problems?

We’d all agree that repetition of key phrases and sounds is crucial and of course if we can encourage parents and carers to continue this practice at home, the results can often be spectacular.

The problem is twofold; first we have to inspire the parents/carers and then we have to make it simple for them. Bearing in mind that most parents/carers have a full day and many of them feel they don’t have extra time to spend doing speech exercises.

But what if we could make it fun and easy? What if it could be done first thing in the morning, at breaktimes, at lunchtime and just before going home.

We believe we have the answer! A collection of songs specifically aimed at young children with speech and language problems. A collection of songs composed by a well known children’s songwriter in association with a team of Speech & Language Therapists. A collecton of songs that won an award as an innovative project.

If you’d like to know more go to: http://calmerchildren.com/Speech_Development_Songs.html

Where you’ll be able to hear samples and purchase & download this wonderfully effective collection of songs. They can be used on media players and smart phones or you can burn your own CD with the songs in any order you choose.

The collection of songs costs £6.99 and school workshops/teacher training sessions are available for £195 plus travelling expenses. You’re also very welcome to invite Parents/Carers along to the workshops. The more the merrier!

If you have any questions or queries about these Speech Development Songs or Workshops please do call me on 07801 067386. Or  email: vo.fletcher@btinternet.com

Vo Fletcher

SOFTPLANET LTD – Sibelius Site Licenses

AVID official resellers and agents


Sibelius 8 Multi-Site Licenses at only £19.00 per upgrade!

Add new seats to your Sibelius License – Now discounted to only £69.00 per seat.

Photoscore and Audioscore Bundles Available.

Sibelius 8

Sibelius First

Sibelius First for your pupils only £75.00


FREE Ongoing School Support Through SOFTPLANET and AVID

ORDERING INFO

Purchase orders accepted – 1 month net.

Order by email – hq@softplanetgroup.com

by phone 01334 461244

By post:

SOFTPLANET LTD, Greenbank House, Prior Muir, St Andrews, KY16 8LP

Prices subject to VAT and Delivery.

www.softplanetgroup.com

Edexcel AS & A2 Music Set Works 2015-2016

Our set works analysis resource is now available! Join the scores of teachers who are now using our
products to help plan and deliver their lessons

As before each CD-ROM contains:

1.       Tables listing stylistic features under the appropriate heading

2.       Extracts from the score highlighting key terms and features

3.       Vocabulary sheets

4.       Exam questions

5.       Mark schemes

6.       Help sheets for composition and harmony

7.       Composer profiles highlighting key biographical information about each of the composers,
putting each set work into a historical context

All of this is provided at the follow prices:

AS (containing all the AS set works) – £60

A2 (containing all the A2 set works) – £60

AS & A2 (containing all set works for both AS & A2) – £99

Each resource is supplied in both editable word and PDF formats and can be used freely throughout the purchasing establishment.

To view sample pages and to place an order visit www.tempopublishing.co.uk

Purchase orders can be sent to sales@tempopublishing.co.uk or you can ring me with a purchase order number on 07564 291815.

‘The layout is clear and easy to process, the use of musical examples will give deeper understanding to students’ – Claire Smith private tutor

‘A very useful, clearly laid out resource, which is the best revision aid I have come across’. Roger Muttitt – Director of Music Durham School

‘These resources are very succinct and easy to understand, the students are able to see the key information clearly’ N Gray – Head of music Roundwood Park School, Harpenden

We are sure you will find the CD-ROM invaluable as you guide your students through their exams.  If you have any queries please contact me and I will be happy to help.

Kind regards

Jason Boyd – Managing Director Tempo Publishing

Free instruments for your school

Would you like this djembe set, worth £299, for free?

Every school who books a free CD recording project with us receives this 12 player djembe set worth £299, totally free of charge.

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You will receive six 40cm and six 30cm authentic, solid-wood djembe and as you can see, the djembe are of a good size and suitable for both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 children. The djembe would be a great addition to any hand percussion you may already have and assist in teaching rhythm, playing as an ensemble as well as other areas of the Music National Curriculum. Plus if you were to ever host a drumming workshop at your school, you can use your own djembe.

Our professional recording engineers come to your school with studio recording equipment, and spend the day recording your CD with you, for free. Our Interactive Recording Guide shows the huge educational benefit in the project for the children, and makes planning the project really simple with everything set out for you.

All you need to do is decide what you’d like to include on your CD – a performance or event, instrumental groups, the whole school singing, each class singing their favourite song or even your drumming. The CD is a treasured memento to be proud of, a great showcase for the school’s talents, and the recording is an amazing day for the children. You can even raise funds for your school from the sales of your CD. I have included some recent feedback from schools at the end of my email so you can see what other teachers have thought of recording with us.

The summer term is very popular for schools who want to record school performances and it is of course the last chance to record your year 6. Your CD could be as simple as each class singing their favourite song, along with any instrumentalists or whole school songs.

So you don’t miss out on this fantastic djembe set, it’s important to note that you need to record your CD in May, June or July. That leaves plenty of time to plan your recording but you’d need to register your interest with us soon so we can get the ball rolling.

If you’d like more information, you can give me a call or drop me an email and I’ll forward you our Interactive Recording Guide. I can also check the availability of any particular dates you may like to record your CD.

Kind regards,

Ann-Marie Lawrence
My School CD
Tel: 01925 321 800
Web: www.MySchoolCDRecording.co.uk
Email: Ann-Marie.Lawrence@MySchoolCD.co.uk

“Our experience with My School CD has been nothing short of amazing and the whole school was thrilled with the outcome. We received excellent support and advice and the recording itself was extremely satisfying. We felt like real professionals and the quality of the finished CD was superb. We also received a lovely set of African percussion as a gift from My School CD, which has been very well received by the children”. Joe George, Astwood Bank First School.

“We are so excited that our school CDs are here! They’re being played in all the classrooms, and they sound amazing – thank you very much for helping us so much in this exciting project. Thanks also for your help and calm efficiency along the way. Parents and children are delighted with the CDs!” Jenny Griffin, Ashley Down Primary School.

“Thank you for all your help with our school CD recording. The children had a great time recording. It has really helped to raise the profile of music in our school.” Vicky Lambert, Compton C of E Primary School.

“Thanks so much for the wonderful CDs that arrived! We love them! The whole process has been brilliant and you’re fantastic to work with.” Laura Brereton, Tufnell Park Primary School.

 

Does it really matter which pantomime you choose to put on with the children?

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Informal research over the past few years has suggested that most schools that put on a pantomime choose the story they wish to produce on the basis of personal favourites and a certain amount of  rotation so that the same panto is not offered two years running.

However, where the aim of the event is not just to put on a performance but also to provide a learning experience which offers the children specific insights, some pantomimes are more appropriate than others.

If we are going down this route, one of the most obvious places to start is with Dick Whittington which as a story has the benefit of being based on a real person (although not necessarily a real cat).

Thus we have a historical plot and the possibility of examining everything that is inherent within the panto. The tradition, the staging, the scenery, the props, the lighting, the use of the provided music against new songs, or new lyrics, dance, movement, acting… all can then become topics for study.

Of course, each topic is an option – it is possible to present Dick Whittington as a pantomime with the normal rehearsals and production to the parents and no further explanation. Or you can take one or more of the issues inherent within the panto and look more deeply at that.

This is the background to our decision to produce a pack based around Dick Whittington, but now re-written as Dick Ottington and his famous cat Tommy, by David Stoll and Michael Hinton.

The package includes:

  • a Director’s Script, with detailed page-by-page production notes
  • a Pupils’ Script
  • a Vocal Score containing thirteen new songs with piano accompaniment, as well as an overture and incidental music
  • a complete set of high-quality fully orchestrated backing tracks and sound effects.

The Director’s Script also has an extensive introduction to pantomime itself as a topic for study, including the traditions and conventions of this type of theatre.

There are also helpful notes on all aspects of putting on a school production from casting, organising rehearsals, writing new lyrics, making props and sound effects through to involving the audience. The material, therefore, can be used for a term’s study as well as forming the basis of the end of term production.

David Stoll is a well-known composer and songwriter who has also worked extensively with primary school teachers and pupils on creative projects.  His SEALSONGS are favourite assembly material, and his book on how to teach composing at KS2 is acknowledged for its helpful notes and suggestions. To go to his website please click here.

Michael Hinton is a teacher, writer and musician with many years’ experience of writing educational materials for schools abroad and in the UK. He works as Music Director with amateur dramatic societies and children’s theatre groups, helping them to stage musicals and pantomimes, and is the composer of hundreds of educational songs.

There are sample pages at http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/authordownloadsamples/Dick Ottington samples.rar

Dick Ottington and his famous cat Tommy is published as a download so that you can receive immediately a copy onto your computer which you can share with colleagues as often as you want.  You can also put it on your school learning platform so all staff can access it.

You can obtain Dick Ottington and his famous cat Tommy by going to http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=804

The price for the full package is £24.95 plus VAT (the VAT can be reclaimed in most cases by the school).

Dick Ottington and his famous cat Tommy is published by Novello & Co Ltd and distributed by First and Best, part of the Hamilton House group.  If you have any enquiries you can call 01536 399 011 or email sales@firstandbest.co.uk or write to us at First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct, Earlstrees Rd, Corby, Northants NN17 4HH.

The full range of First and Best books can be seen at www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk

Why the reproducing of song words and music during Collective Worship requires specific copyright permission.

Many of the songs that are popular in school assemblies are protected by copyright.

Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) is the agency which administers licences on behalf of the vast majority of publishers and copyright owners whose songs are reproduced during Collective Worship in assemblies. CCLI already cover all state-funded schools in England under the Government’s National Licence Scheme.

Collective Worship is not covered by the Schools Printed Music Licence (SPML) currently administered by the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA). Therefore, many independent schools as well as state-funded schools and academies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are unwittingly infringing copyright law when they reproduce or project the words of hymns, worship and assembly songs.

For these schools, CCLI’s Collective Worship licences are the most convenient and cost-effective means of obtaining copyright permission to use the majority of hymns and faith-based songs in assemblies.
For annual licence fees and terms click here.

To find out more and apply for CCLI licences:

Please quote reference AD054 in all correspondence.

You can also find out more about CCLI and the other agencies which provide copyright licences for schools on the copyrightandschools.org website.

 

What’s the most effective method to help young children overcome speech problems?

We’d all agree that repetition of key phrases and sounds is crucial and of course if we can encourage parents and carers to continue this practice at home, the results can often be spectacular.

The problem is twofold; first we have to inspire the parents/carers and then we have to make it simple for them. Bearing in mind that most parents/carers have a full day and many of them feel they don’t have extra time to spend doing speech exercises.

But what if we could make it fun and easy? What if it could be done first thing in the morning, at breaktimes, at lunchtime and just before going home.

We believe we have the answer! A collection of songs specifically aimed at young children with speech and language problems. A collection of songs composed by a well known children’s songwriter in association with a team of Speech & Language Therapists. A collecton of songs that won an award as an innovative project.

If you’d like to know more go to: http://calmerchildren.com/Speech_Development_Songs.html

Where you’ll be able to hear samples and purchase & download this wonderfully effective collection of songs. They can be used on media players and smart phones or you can burn your own CD with the songs in any order you choose.

The collection of songs costs £6.99 and school workshops/teacher training sessions are available for £195 plus travelling expenses. You’re also very welcome to invite Parents/Carers along to the workshops. The more the merrier!

If you have any questions or queries about these Speech Development Songs or Workshops please do call me on 07801 067386. Or  email: vo.fletcher@btinternet.com

Vo Fletcher

SOFTPLANET LTD – Sibelius Site Licenses

AVID official resellers and agents


Sibelius 8 Multi-Site Licenses at only £19.00 per upgrade!

Add new seats to your Sibelius License – Now discounted to only £69.00 per seat.

Photoscore and Audioscore Bundles Available.

Sibelius 8

Sibelius First

Sibelius First for your pupils only £75.00


FREE Ongoing School Support Through SOFTPLANET and AVID

ORDERING INFO

Purchase orders accepted – 1 month net.

Order by email – hq@softplanetgroup.com

by phone 01334 461244

By post:

SOFTPLANET LTD, Greenbank House, Prior Muir, St Andrews, KY16 8LP

Prices subject to VAT and Delivery.

www.softplanetgroup.com

Every week we answer the key questions that music teachers are asking. And we do it all without charge.

Each week we look at a key issue in the work of music teachers in primary and secondary schools across the UK, dealing with questions such as how to help a non-musical parent encourage a child to practise an instrument at home.

Or how exactly to measure whether KS3 students are improvising and composing at a suitable level to satisfy an Ofsted inspector.

Or returning to the sort of questions parents can ask, how to answer the question, “How do I know if my child is really talented?” Or indeed, “what can I do for a student who is very talented musically but simply can’t sight read?”

All these questions and many more will be tackled each week in the free Music Education Newsletter which is published with the kind support of Caswell’s Strings.

To read the letter all you have to do is click here – there’s no form to fill in, although if you find anything that we are doing helpful, it would be great if you could log in and tick the “like” button.

What we really want to do is discover topics of concern and answer any questions you may have by simply putting your question on the newsletter (we won’t publish your name or email address – just your question) and then publishing the replies from fellow music teachers.

So if you want thoughts on tackling a particular set work, the best value to be found in primary school percussion instruments, suitable insurance policies for instruments that are carried to and from school by pupils and students, or anything else to do with music education, we’re hoping we will be able to help you find the answer.

And again, let me assure you that the newsletter is free and will remain free. There’s no sign up, and no catch about a “one month free trial…” – this is a free service.

To read the letter all you have to do is click here

If you would like to talk to us about the newsletter please email Jenny@hamilton-house.com and if you would like to know more about our sponsor (without whom we couldn’t be running this service) you can read about them here.

Jenny Burrows

Imagine a musical instrument that anyone can play immediately, but which can also be used to create every type of music imaginable.

Give most children a chance to paint or draw and they’ll take it.   Give them a chance to dance, and they will throw themselves into it.

Of course the same technique can be used with music in terms of percussion, but a percussion instrument in the hands of a child has a far smaller range of possibilities than the child will find in dance, painting etc.

So how can we introduce special needs children to the infinite variety of options and possibilities that music has to offer?

This was the question we faced, and which led to the development of the Skoog, a musical instrument that can bring forth an infinite array of sounds without any preparation or practise, but which can be developed and refined over time to produce the most magnificent results.

As a result everyone can be involved in music, creativity comes to the fore, there is a focus on self-directed learning to see how the instrument works, and concentration is enhanced.

If you would like to see more about how and what this instrument is and what it can do just take a look at this

You will see how the Skoog promotes inclusive music practice and musical expression, boosts learning, creativity and language development, improve concentration, and co-ordination.

It is mountable, robust and can be played with any part of the body, including using the student’s own voice to explore sequencing and vocal interaction and it can be customised to the individual for a wide range of interaction possibilities

It is also a valuable tool for non-verbal communication and self-expression, which is easily personalised to maximise emotional engagement and participation and helps to encourage self-awareness, empathy and social skills

If you would like to know more please

Call us on 01334 461244

Email hq@softplanetgroup.com

Write to us at
SOFTPLANET LTD
Greenbank House
St Andrews
KY16 8LP

 

How can assembly songs provide a positive and hugely creative experience for young children?

SEALSONGS is a collection of assembly songs which aims to get children engaged through the experience of making and creating music. The lyrics were written with considerable input from Year 4 and 5 pupils, so speak from children to children, and the musical backing tracks were professionally recorded.

But the resource goes further and offers teachers detailed advice on writing new lyrics, leading singing and other ways that SEALSONGS may be used in the classroom. Thus it enables teachers to give young children the positive experience of working with others in creating new songs within the SEAL framework. There is also guidance for non-specialists in how to teach songs.

The SEAL themes are:

Song 1: New beginnings
Song 2: Getting on and falling out
Song 3: Say no to bullying
Song 4: Going for goals!
Song 5: Good to be me
Song 6: Relationships
Song 7: Changes

Two further general songs – one about writing songs and one providing a Rhyme Game – are also included in the pack.

SEALSONGS was written by David Stoll, a well-known composer of music for the concert hall, the theatre, and for television and radio. He also writes children’s songs and for school ensembles, and designs projects in creativity for schools, higher education and the corporate sector. His music is now being published by Novello & Co.

JENNY MOSLEY (Founder of Quality Circle Time) said “SEALSONGS is a wonderful gift to any adult who wants to truly help their class or school embed SEAL as a way of ‘being’ with ourselves and others. We all know that song can lift you to a different spiritual dimension – David Stoll has given us the perfect package to help even the most music-shy amongst us to engage young people in the process of creating heart-warming songs as part of a creative team….. This is an excellent resource.”

HOWARD GOODALL (National Ambassador for Singing) said “These SEALSONGS have the authentic ring of children’s ideas and feelings in every line. This, for me, makes it a valuable and empowering set of musical tools….. with excellent supporting materials and explanations.”

Purchase of SEALSONGS includes a licence for full use of all the material within the school, including recording new versions of the songs.  The complete package is split into different files so that schools may choose which elements they wish to record or print.

Sample music can be downloaded from www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/music/SEALSONGSSamples.rar

You can purchase SEALSONGS in the following ways:

1. As a download, price £10 plus VAT

2. As a copiable book plus CD, price £19.99 plus £3.95 delivery

 

Discount Sibelius 8 now available

There has never been a better time to upgrade or add seats to your Sibelius License!

Sibelius 8-upgrade from any version £19.00

Add new Sibelius seats £69.00

And how about buying the best and easiest to use sequencer for your Year 1 and 2 classes. (Also suitable to GCSE and A level students)

Acoustica Mixcraft – it really is a fantastic program for pupils learning to use MIDI and Audio to create new music from £20.00 per copy

Typical School License 5-24 copies £26.00 per copy.

Get in touch or send orders to hq@softplanetgroup.com

1 month terms-simply send a Purchase Order.

SOFTPLANET, Greenbank House St Andrews, KY16 8LP

Or call us on 01334 461244

www.softplanetgroup.com

Charanga wins MIA Award 2015

It is with great pride we can announce that Charanga won the Music Industries Association Music Maker Award 2015 at the MIA annual awards last week. This follows the Music Teacher Award for Excellence we received earlier this year and further confirms Charanga’s position as the UK’s leading provider of quality musical digital technology for music education.

“The first music scheme I’ve understood in 35 years!”
John O’Donahue, Teacher, East Riding school

Musical School trial

If your school doesn’t have a Musical School licence you can sign up now for a no-obligation, 30-day free trial. The most a Musical School programme will cost is £195 per calendar year, sometimes it’s less depending on whether your local music service is a Charanga premier partner. Why not download a quote?

“Charanga is the answer to my prayers! I am a non-musical class teacher who needs all the help I can get.”
Dawn Davidson, Teacher, Aberdeenshire school

Musical School app

Many schools can’t access performance music in halls or areas used for performances due to limited Wi-Fi access. This app allows teachers with Musical School licences (or trial licences) to access the audio tracks they need for performances, via their phone or tablet without the need for internet access. The app can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play.

“I have already taught my class Mamma Mia and they are playing it in parts which sounds wonderful! It’s going down a storm with the staff! What a brilliant resource!”
Lucy Rose, Head of Year 4, Warwickshire school

Games Track

Charanga’s Games Track harnesses the idea that music is repetition and skills based. Game play is used to encourage teachers and students to explore and embed pulse, rhythm and pitch within the different songs in imaginative ways.

“We have been so pleased with just how empowering Charanga has been to our pupils and staff. Since implementing the Musical School programme within our school, we have seen a remarkable improvement in the children’s musical abilities and attitude towards music. All Staff now feel more knowledgeable and confident at teaching outstanding music lessons. The training and technical support has been friendly and professional and we feel very valued as a customer. We would recommend them to any school that wish to provide their pupils with high quality and interactive music lessons.”
Carmen Hopkins, Deputy Head, Essex school

So if you’re looking for a modern, exciting resource to help teach the primary music curriculum, look no further than Charanga Musical School.

“I eat the quavers and an expert plays the quavers but with Charanga Musical School I can really teach music and take risks, you can just dive in to the point where you can be Captain Von Trapp.”
Peter Harrison, Head, Cumbria school

With best wishes,

Marina Dussek
General Manager

info@charanga.com

01273 823900

Take a world that is completely different from ours – and those creatures completely different from ordinary people like us

David Stoll  (SEALSONGS, DICK OTTINGTON) has a new song collection for Primary Schools available for download from First & Best. The package also contains a specially written story script for a narrator which weaves all the songs together.

Thus THE CUCKOO ROCK SONGBOOK can be used as a basis for individual songs to be sung in assembly or simply within the class, or it can be a complete production for presentation to parents and the rest of the school – without any need for complex staging, special lighting or any other effects that may or may not be available.

The collection includes twelve settings of poems by Phil Bowen. These magical poems are full of unusual characters, colourful scenes and surprising wordplay; the original book was short-listed for the CLPE prize.

The music has echoes of 60’s rock as well as various contemporary styles. The SONGBOOK includes both printed piano accompaniment and pre-recorded full backing tracks with permissions for use.

You can see an extract from the songbook here http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/primary/CUCKOOROCKsample.pdf and you can hear the backing track here http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/primary/01 cuckoo rock.mp3

A copy of the complete collection of songs and the narrator’s script is available as a download from http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=820

The price is £16.95 plus VAT (the VAT can be reclaimed in most cases by the school).

THE CUCKOO ROCK SONGBOOK is distributed by First and Best in Education, part of the Hamilton House group. If you have any enquiries you can call 01536 399 011, or email sales@firstandbest.co.uk or write to us at First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct, Earlstrees Rd, Corby, Northants NN17 4HH.

The full range of First and Best books can be seen at www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk

First and Best in Education
Earlstrees Road
Corby
UK
NN17 4HH

Website: www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk
Email: sales@firstandbest.co.uk 

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A different world – The Cuckoo Rock Songbook

David Stoll  (SEALSONGS, DICK OTTINGTON) has a new song collection for Primary Schools available for download from First & Best. The package also contains a specially written story script for a narrator which weaves all the songs together.

Thus THE CUCKOO ROCK SONGBOOK can be used as a basis for individual songs to be sung in assembly or simply within the class, or it can be a complete production for presentation to parents and the rest of the school – without any need for complex staging, special lighting or any other effects that may or may not be available.

The collection includes twelve settings of poems by Phil Bowen. These magical poems are full of unusual characters, colourful scenes and surprising wordplay; the original book was short-listed for the CLPE prize.

The music has echoes of 60’s rock as well as various contemporary styles. The SONGBOOK includes both printed piano accompaniment and pre-recorded full backing tracks with permissions for use.

You can see an extract from the songbook here http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/primary/CUCKOOROCKsample.pdf and you can hear the backing track here http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/primary/01 cuckoo rock.mp3

A copy of the complete collection of songs and the narrator’s script is available as a download from http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=820

The price is £16.95 plus VAT (the VAT can be reclaimed in most cases by the school).

THE CUCKOO ROCK SONGBOOK is distributed by First and Best in Education, part of the Hamilton House group. If you have any enquiries you can call 01536 399 011, or email sales@firstandbest.co.uk or write to us at First and Best, Hamilton House, Earlstrees Ct, Earlstrees Rd, Corby, Northants NN17 4HH.

The full range of First and Best books can be seen at www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk
First and Best in Education
Earlstrees Road
Corby
NN17 4HH

Website: www.shop.firstandbest.co.uk
Email: sales@firstandbest.co.uk