Free resources for teachers

Thank you to ICT Magic who has been pointing me to lots of free music resources online.
I particularly like this Theta Music Trainer site.

I also love this resource Aviary's Music Creator. Don't be intimidated - it looks a lot more complicated than it actually is to use. I think that my year 4s are going to love composing with this.

Music at Poplar on PhotoPeach



With grateful thanks to Pooky at Creative Education for suggesting photopeach. It is a free tool and is remarkably quick to upload pics to.

Teaching the recorder

Year 4 have responded really well to recorder lessons. We are able to play B, A & G making a good clear sound. We have minimised squeaks by covering the holes really well and controlling our breath. Incidentally - the classroom isn't usually set up with desks in rows facing front but after experimenting I find this the best layout for teaching 30 children

I want to record the class playing some pieces for 3 reasons

1. To create performance conditions
2. To give the children a chance to listen and evaluate their playing
3. To keep a record so the children can hear the progress

However is it dangerous to capture an example that may be poor quality? My instinct says not because it is the process that is important. My professional vanity though says maybe it is not ideal to have examples of less than perfect work on display?

Anyway, while I was wrestling with this particular dilemma I uploaded several audioboos without realising it sent out a message on twitter. So we are in the the public domain and the sky hasn't fallen in on us.

Henley music review

Found an interesting site today, Teaching Music which suggests that the Henley music review may be an opportunity to kill off some musical sacred cows such as "group composing". You can read the editorial here

Here is The Independent's take on the review

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I am currently working with pupils from years 3, 4, 5 & 6 to help us develop a strong singing culture at Poplar. I am training the children as “Singing Sherlocks” . This means that they will be able to spread a number of singing games in the playground. They will also be available to visit EY and key stage 1 classes to both perform and teach classes the songs.

We are at an early stage still but I am hoping that by Easter they will have built up a strong repertoire of songs and will be able to lead singing games independently & confidently in the playground.

To begin with I am joining them in the playground every Tuesday lunchtime at 1.00 at the singing stop to help them get established.

The idea for this came from the very inspirational Soo Bishop and I have used the Voices Foundation "65 Songs" as my starting point.

Isn't the internet great!

Just found a great interactive recorder fingering chart.Must remember to show year 4 this next Tuesday. Thank you Hampshire County Council!

Here goes!

Well, I've finally taken the plunge! I've decided to document my journey toward becoming a proper music teacher. In most primary schools bog standard teachers like me end up teaching every subject. Unless you are in a school with a specialist music teacher you are expected to teach your own music lessons. This is not a brilliant state of affairs unless you have some help and support. Self conscious about the fact I neither played an instrument or was able to read music I preferred to leave it to singing a few songs and listening to Peter and the Wolf. Not exactly delivering a music education to my class.

I had always enjoyed singing with my class. I'd had a great music teacher at primary school (Mrs Lake who used to teach at Gorringe)and still remembered many of the songs she had taught us. However I was very frustrated at my inability to help the children improve the sound. I then had the great good fortunate to run into Soo Bishop who was an advanced skills teacher who taught music. I saw first hand how she was able to help children find their singing voice, develop self discipline and create amazing sounds. Watching Soo and following her lesson plans gave me the confidence to have a go myself. To cut a long story short I was persuaded to start teaching music to year 3 and year 4. I have joined Soo's Merton teachers choir,started to learn to read western classical notation,signed up for a Voices Foundation 5 day course and begun teaching recorders to year 5. I plan to keep this blog as a diary of my progress.