A roundup of the music-based events happening in and around Birmingham in December 2023.
December What’s On For Kids In Birmingham
Composer of the Month – Benjamin Britten – Factfile
A Factfile on Composer of the Month - Benjamin Britten
Facts About The Harp
What do you know about the harp. Learn more about this fabulous instrument - how to play it; which famous people play it; what is it made from; what is its history?
Music Book Review: Welcome to the Opera by Carolyn Sloan and illustrated by Kaly Quarles
A review of the brand new book Welcome to the Opera by Carolyn Sloan.
What’s On For Families In Warwickshire – November
A round up of the music and music-based events taking place in Warwickshire in November 2023.
November What’s On For Kids In Birmingham
A roundup of the music-based events happening in and around Birmingham in November 2023.
Facts About The Ukulele
What do you know about the ukulele. Learn more about this fabulous instrument - how to play it; which famous people play it; what is it made from; what is its history?
Music Book Review – Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood
This month for my Music Book Review I have read and reviewed the book Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood and illustrated by Sally Wern Comport.
October What’s On For Kids In Birmingham
A roundup of the music-based events happening in and around Birmingham in October 2023.
Composer of the Month – What to listen to: Caroline Shaw
Do you want to listen to the music of Caroline Shaw, but you're not sure where to start? Here is a suggested playlist to get you started.
Venue Guide for Parents – Midland Arts Centre, or MAC
A Venue Guide for parents (and anyone really) to my most local venue, Midland Arts Centre, or MAC in Birmingham, UK.
Composer of the Month – Caroline Shaw – Factfile
A Factfile on Composer of the Month - Caroline Shaw.
Music Book Review – Change Sings by Amanda Gorman
A review of the book “Change Sings” by Amanda Gorman.
Review of National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain Children’s Band performance – Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space in Symphony Hall
Reviewing a performance by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain Children's Band which took place in the Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space in Birmingham's Symphony Hall.
September What’s On For Kids In Birmingham
A roundup of the music-based events happening in and around Birmingham in September 2023.
Facts About The Guitar
What do you know about the guitar. Learn more about this fabulous instrument - how to play it; which famous people play it; what is it made from; what is its history?
Music Book Review: I Am Nefertiti by Annemarie Anang
Reviewing the fabulous book I Am Nefertiti written by Annemarie Anang and illustrated by Natelle Quek.
July and August What’s On For Kids In Birmingham
A roundup of the music-based events happening in Birmingham and Solihull in July and August 2023.
Composer of the Month: Finding Inspiration as a Composer; Holst’s The Planets Suite
Where do composers find their inspiration? I look at this question briefly together with the inspiration behind one of Gustav Holst’s most famous pieces of music, The Planets Suite.
10 More Nursery Rhymes To Sing With Your Baby
Last year I did a post about 12 Nursery Rhymes you could sing with your baby, link below, and this has been a very popular post! Clearly a lot of you have had the same experience I did when first having a baby, finding yourselves on your own with them and wondering what on earth... Continue Reading →
Facts About The Double Bass
In January I wrote about the different families of musical instruments, or ways of categorising musical instruments. You can read my post by clicking here: Facts about Families of Musical Instruments I have spent the first few months of this year looking at the different instruments of the string family. I have already written about the... Continue Reading →
Composer of the Month – Gustav Holst- Factfile
Composer of the Month Factfile Date of birth: 21 September 1874. Place of birth: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK. Parents names: Adolph von Holst (professional musician) and Clara Cox. Siblings: Gustav Holst had one brother, Emil, who became known as Ernest Cossart. He also had two half brothers, Matthias and Evelyn from his father’s second marriage after... Continue Reading →
The Enchanted Pig by Jonathan Dove at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
On Saturday night I went to see The Enchanted Pig by Jonathan Dove in The Bradshaw Hall of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. I should say, at the outset of this review, that I was invited to come to see the opera, and that I was gifted the tickets. The review is, however, entirely my own and... Continue Reading →
Hitting a milestone!
If you are a regular reader of this blog firstly thank you, and secondly, you will have noticed a distinct lack of blog posts for the last 3 weeks. There is a reason for that. And the reason is that I was on holiday with the family. This wasn’t just any holiday for us. It... Continue Reading →
Music Book Review: Why Beethoven Threw The Stew by Steven Isserlis
A review of this fantastic and fun book about music history and the lives of 6 Composers of Classical Music.
May What’s On For Kids In Birmingham
A roundup of the music based events happening in Birmingham (and adding a few from Warwick Arts Centre too) in May 2023.
Facts About The Viola
What is a viola? What do you call people who play the viola? Which famous composers also played the viola? Read on for the answers to these questions and more.
Music Book Review: The Story Orchestra -The Magic Flute
A review of a book from the fantastic Story Orchestra series- The Magic Flute based on Mozart’s opera of the same name. A great and fun, sound book for kids!
April What’s On For Kids In Birmingham
A roundup of the music based events happening in Birmingham (and adding a few from Warwick Arts Centre too) in April 2023.
Composer of the Month – What to listen to: Nina Simone
Do you want to listen to the music of Nina Simone, but you're not sure where to start? Here is a suggested playlist to get you started.
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