How much do you know about Sonata Form. Read all about this musical structure here.
Facts About Rondo Form
Want to know more about different musical structures that you could use for your composition? This post is about the Rondo Form musical structure.
Facts About Binary Form
Want to know more about different musical structures that you could use for your composition? This post is about the Binary Form musical structure.
Facts About Theme and Variations Structure
The first in a new series of Facts About…. posts, this time about different musical structures. This post is about the Theme and Variations musical structure.
Facts About Big Band
Want to know more about Big bands? What is a Big Band? Who plays in a Big Band? What music do they play? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more.
Facts About Swing Band
Want to know more about swing bands? What is a swing band? Who plays in a swing band? What music do they play? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more.
Facts About Brass Bands
Want to know more about brass bands? What is a brass band? Who plays in a brass band? What music do they play? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more.
Facts About Wind Bands
Want to know more about wind bands? What is a wind band? Who plays in a wind band? What music do they play? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more.
Facts About The Choir
What is a choir? Who sings in the choir? When did the first choirs start forming? Read on for the answer to these and more questions.
Music Book Review: Where Are All The Black Female Composers
A review of the fabulous book Where Are All The Black Female Composers by Nathan Holder, featuring the Why Squad of Musical Explorers.
Facts About The Orchestra
In my series of posts about different musical instruments, I have, over time, managed to cover most of the most common instruments that feature in Western music - those instruments that your children are most likely to be learning to play, or to come across in some way during their time in education at least.... Continue Reading →
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.
MAC Makes Music: Autumn Events at Midland Arts Centre
A round up of the Autumn programme of inclusive music making opportunities for children and young people at MAC in Birmingham, UK.
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 Oboe
This month’s featured instrument of the orchestra is a member of the woodwind family: the oboe.
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.
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 Book Review: The Story Orchestra – Swan Lake
This Music Book Review tells the story behind Swan Lake with excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s music for the ballet.
An Introduction to Classical Music – Playlist
An introduction to music from the Classical period in music history. This playlist includes music from Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, CPE Bach and Gluck to give you a flavour of the music from this time.
Why Listen to Nursery Rhymes?
Should you listen to nursery rhymes with your little children? And why are they good for your child to listen to or sing? These questions are explored and suggestions made for some nursery rhymes to choose in this blog post.
Call And Response Games To Play With Your Children
Playing music games is a great way to pass some time at home, and with the educational benefits of call and response rhythm games. A fun way to teach your child turn taking.
Spotlight on Sleigh Bells / Jingle Bells
A post shining a spotlight on a festive favourite instrument- sleigh bells. Make music with your children to get you into a festive mood with sleigh bells.
Music Book Review: Welcome to the Symphony
My Music Book Review for today is the sound book Welcome to the Symphony by Carolyn Sloan and illustrated by James Williamson. It is an exploration of both the instruments that play in a Symphony Orchestra, and also the 5th Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven. You almost certainly have heard this symphony before as it... Continue Reading →
Spotlight on Mini Tambourines
Mini tambourines are a good instrument choice for smaller children. They are easier for small children to hold onto, and therefore play independently; and for very small children who mouth objects, enclosed mini tambourines are available, which are much safer for them to use on their own. What Is a Tambourine? Tambourine means little drum,... Continue Reading →
Spotlight on Wooden Sticks
How to learn music with wooden sticks. Developing a sense of musical pulse, motor skills and turn taking with wooden sticks.
Animals in classical music
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com I have previously put together a playlist of children's songs that have animals as their subject matter. Animals are not only a good subject for children's songs, but also provide great subject matter for composers of classical music. Here are some classical music pieces that feature animals as their subject.... Continue Reading →
Animals in Children’s Songs
A children’s music playlist-songs about animals.
Back to school
The children are back at school and now it is time to get back to normality! Well some normality at least.
Classical Music for Autumn/Fall Playlist
Playlist: classical music written about and for Autumn or Fall