Hello Poplar choir!

Hello choir!

Here is the recording we made from todays rehearsal. You are very fast learners! Because we are performing it next wednesday and Mrs Bennet won't be in school to practise with you can you please listen to it and sing along with our recording. This will help you learn the words and you can practise the actions.

Who can remember which phrase is the quietest?

listen to ‘A long, long way to go!’ on Audioboo

Thank you choir for taking the trouble to find the blog and listen. I think we need to create our own choir blog to put up useful information and some audio clips. What do you think?

Happy singing!

Music resource for early years/KS 1 - meet Mr Greg!

I recently discovered Mr Greg's musical madness on youTube whilst looking for some resources on dynamics for my classes. Have a look on his website for more videos to watch

Musical pebbles

Sophie Thomas is an ex pupil from Poplar Primary school. When she was just five years old her Daddy and her twin sister Louise were killed in a terrible car crash.


 Sophie is now 16 and she has set up a project to raise funds for Winston's Wish - a charity that supports bereaved children, in memory of Louise. Sophie hand paints words or symbols on pebbles and presents them beautifully in little organza bags.

I have commissioned her to produce me a pack I can use in music lessons. My key stage 1 classes love passing them around and using them to mark the pulse. Why not ask Sophie to make some for you? She sells them on ebay - click here  They are very reasonably priced £1.20 per pebble and postage only  79p for a bundle!

Perfect present for teachers!

 Sophie writes an incredibly moving and honest blog about her life called "The Pebble Garden Project" Please share with anyone you know who may be coping with childhood bereavement.

Christmas at school

Have been trawling through christmas music to help teachers with the christmas concerts they are arranging.Having waded through lots of cheesy and cheerless "musicals" I asked for help on twitter. Within minutes @SteveBrooks13 tweeted me a link to this And that is why I LOVE twitter

Three apps I have used this week in music lessons

I have been using my own ipad with music classes and have amassed many apps that are very popular with my classes. I have decided to blog each of the apps I use each week So here are this weeks offerings


  Soundrop.

I often use this as kids are entering the room. They build up complex rhythms which they can predict and copy. I started with the free version but am now using the paid for version as you can change the balls to different instruments.


  Rhythm Sight Reader Trainer

This is a fantastic tool for teaching note value. I use the Kodaly system and then demonstrate it with this great app. The kids adore clapping along and are keen to demonstrate their skill by competing to get 100%. You can adjust the metronome and set the level very easily so you can adjust for your most timid learners and your most confident learners. it shows you exactly what you have played next!

  Madpad

This is a fantastic app to demonstrate to the kids that music can be created out of the everyday life all around us. You simply use the ipad to record the sounds that all around you and then use these to mix up some great music. You can share the sets on twitter and use other peoples sounds as well. Incredibly creative.

Skyfall - a vocal cover

Impressive or what?