This #MusicBookReview looks at a brilliant book for children about the history of music. Full of engaging and informative facts about all sorts of music throughout the ages, the authors have written a great, fun book that any music loving child will really enjoy.
DIY Wood Block- Decorate Your Own Kit from Baker Ross
Making a woodblock with my 4 year old using DIY Baker Ross Mini Wooden Block kit. A fun way to spend a rainy afternoon, spending family time together.
Composition Game to Play with your Children
Musical games to play at home. A fun way to get your children to have a go at composition, and to make their own music. Great for homeschool music composition class.
Music Book Review: Lift-the-flap Questions and Answers about Music
This month’s Music Book Review looks at Usborne Books’ Lift-the-flap Questions and Answers about Music. This is a good book for younger readers to learn more about music. It is a lift-the-flap book which will engage even younger readers.
What do children study creative arts for?
Why do we teach children creative arts? If children are not going to be professional artists or musicians etc is it worth teaching them these subjects? My answer is a resounding yes, for the reasons outlined in this post.
Facts about the Clarinet
Fun facts about instruments of the orchestra - this time a member of the woodwind family, the clarinet. How much do you know about this musical instrument?
Facts About the Oboe
This month’s featured instrument of the orchestra is a member of the woodwind family: the oboe.
Hello Bird, Hello Fish! Review of new Work In Progress Opera from B’Opera
A review of the new work in progress opera Hello Bird, Hello Fish by Birmingham based children’s opera company B’Opera.
Interview with Zoë Challenor, B’Opera
In this post I interview Zoe Challinor, one of the founders of an opera company for under 5s and their families based in Birmingham, UK.
Music Book Review: Rhythm Rescue by Vicky Weber
Tala is a little girl who lives in Music Metropolis and who has special powers through the power of music. Read my review of the book Rhythm Rescue by Vicky Weber and illustrated by Geneviève Viel-Taschereau.
Music Book Review – The Story Orchestra, Four Seasons In One Day by Jessica Courtney-Tickle
A review of Four Seasons In One Day, one of The Story Orchestra series of books that bring famous musical words to life for young children.
Facts about the flute
How much do you know about the flute? Some interesting facts about my favourite wind instrument (the one I play myself).
Music for Winter – Playlists
A couple of winter themed music playlists to listen to with your children. Grab an instrument and play or sing along, dance around, grab pens and paper and make art inspired by the music you hear. Whatever you want to do, I hope you enjoy this playlist at home, or in your music homeschool.
Facts about the Trombone
How much do you know about the trombone? Here are some trombone facts to increase your musical general knowledge on this brass instrument.
Living In A Musical House
What are the consequences of children being encouraged to enjoy music? Well yours will never be a quiet home if that is the case. Actually, it is quite fun!
Happy New Year 2022!
A very happy new year to all of you who read this blog! This time last year my family were all recovering from our Christmas Covid infections, and so we knew we would not be returning to school straight away. Of course we went straight into a lockdown with schools closed for a while. This... Continue Reading →
Fun facts about Christmas Music
How many times have you listened to the same Christmas songs in the shops? They start being played earlier and earlier each year, don't they? But how much do you know about our musical festive favourites? Here are some fun and interesting seasonal facts about Christmas music.
Interesting facts about the piano you should know
How much do you really know about the piano? Here are some fun and interesting facts about this family favourite musical instrument.
Music Book Review: Once Upon a Tune Stories from the Orchestra
Ever wonder what inspired some of the most famous pieces of music? Well in this wonderful book, Once Upon A Tune: Stories From The Orchestra by James Mayhew, the stories behind many brilliant pieces of music, including The Sorcerer's Apprentice, The Flight of the Bumblebee and The William Tell Overture, are told.
Baker Ross DIY Castanets Kit
Reviewing a DIY castanets kit from Baker Ross, and demonstrating how to make your own castanets.
Black History Month – Composers
A tour through music history from the classical period highlighting the music of Black Composers, in celebration of Black History Month.
Music Book Review: Wheels on the Bus from Cocomelon
This Music Book Review looks at the board book of children's favourite song Wheels On The Bus. This version of the song if from YouTube children's animation channel Cocomelon. I challenge you not to sing along when reading this with your children.
Music Product Review: Kazoo that Tune game
A review of a silly, fun musical game- Kazoo That Tune!
Singing songs in rounds – a fun way to introduce harmony to your children
Have you seen the viral #GraceKellyChallenge and want to have a go either yourself or with your family. Perhaps you have never tried singing in harmony before and don’t know where to start. Singing a #songinrounds is a great way to start off singing together with other people.
About practice
Why is practice so important for learning a musical instrument? What benefits are there to practising? How can I, as a parent, support my child learning to play a musical instrument? What if I can’t play myself, can I still help with musical instrument practice?
Music Book Review: The Bear and the Piano
In this blog post I review the gorgeous book The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield.
Interesting facts about the violin you need to know
How much do you know about the violin? Here are some fun and interesting facts about the violin.
I have joined TikTok
I have joined TikTok. What will this be used for? Read more here and have a look at my first TikTok linked to in this post.
Spotlight on Halilit Calypso Band set for babies over 6 months old
Reviewing a gorgeous set of baby instruments, this set of shakers and tambourines are made specifically to be baby safe musical instruments.
A big hello from me!
In this blog post I introduce myself and let you know a little about my work and home life.