Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Year 4 are learning to play the recorder

Blue class "A cat sat on a mat"



What a great afternoon Blue class. We learnt a new song, created some brilliant illustrations and have begun to write our own verses. Look back here next week to see what we came up with. Ella is going to write a verse about ants. Can you guess the rhyme she came up with ?!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Blogs for music lessons

I have put a lot of energy into creating blogs for my key stage 2 classes. It is early days but i think it is beginning to pay off. Firstly it is a way to connect with the keen kids who want to learn more. They are able to follow the links and access the resources. Secondly parents are starting to find the blog and leave supportive comments. It is such a joy to see the children enthusiastic and excited about their music projects. Here are 2 blogs I 've started. I'd be really grateful if you could had a quick look and leave a comment for the children.

Year 4 Opera Olympic project

Year 5&6 song writing project

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

"Put your coat on!" by Blue class

I found this song on Sing up. Year 2 enjoyed dressing up their class teddy Henry while they sang on the song. Have a look at the pictures while you listen to the class sing it. Thank you sing up for introducing us to another new song!



Put your coat on! on PhotoPeach


"Put your coat on!" (mp3)

Learning to read!

Friday, January 13, 2012

World War 2 songs & clips for yr 6






Lyric to Run Rabbit Run by Flannegan and Allen


On the farm, ev'ry Friday
On the farm, it's rabbit pie day
So ev'ry Friday that ever comes along
I get up early and sing this little song...

Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run
Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run
Bang, bang, bang, bang! goes the farmer's gun
Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run, run (x2)

(Instrumental)

Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run
Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run
Bang, bang, bang, bang! goes the farmer's gun
Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run, run

Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run
Don't give the farmer his fun, fun, fun
He'll get by without his rabbit pie
So run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Just the black notes - the pentatonic scales

Soo Bishop, the Deputy Director of Merton Music Foundation shared the info below:

The link below is worth listening too, especially if you are doing work on the pentatonic scale ( e.g. KS2 ‘Dragon Scales’ unit). There is a good explanation of how the pentatonic scale is used in spirituals and that white composers took this scale ( the ‘slave’ scale’, possibly originating in West African music) to compose spirituals. Wintley then sings Amazing Grace’…it is FAB!


At Carnegie Hall, gospel singer Wintley Phipps delivers perhaps the most powerful rendition of Amazing Grace ever recorded. He says, "A lot of people don't realize that just about all Negro spirituals are written on the black notes of the piano. Probably the most famous on this slave scale was written by John Newton, who used to be the captain of a slave ship, and many believe he heard this melody that sounds very much like a West African sorrow chant. And it has a haunting, haunting plaintive quality to it that reaches past your arrogance, past your pride, and it speaks to that part of you that's in bondage. We feel it. It's just one of the most amazing melodies in all of human history."

After sharing the noteworthy history of the song, Mr. Phipps delivers a stirring performance that brings the audience to its feet!
Take a look -

Thanks Soo!