Author Archives: G Turnbull

Music with Gordon 4 June: Secondary

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What to do today

Please join in with the activities below. The more who can join in, the more fun, too. Not all of the activities are for everyone, so just do the ones you enjoy and as many times as you like.

Play along using any kind of instrument or use body percussion – clapping, tapping, clicking, stamping your feet.

Activities (links below)

  1. Hello Song
  2. Bounce and catch
  3. Sing Charlie Over the Ocean. Watch the video first to see how to do it. Then you can get your own soft toys and join in or else watch and sing.
  4. Funga Alafia: Copy the actions in the videos and join in this song from Nigeria in West Africa. The words are in the Hausa language and mean “Give us peace/ thank you thank you”
  5. Instruments: Can you play along with your home-made instruments to Funga Alafia?
  6. Karaoke Corner: Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles. Look out for more Karaoke Songs in another blog post. Have fun!
  7. Time to move. Play the instruments along to the video or get up and dance. If you like, get a scarf to play with. This week’s classic is Shiny Happy People by REM, with guest vocals by Kate Pierson from the B-52s. Can you copy the dance everybody does together?
  8. Time to relax. This week we are listening to a piano piece called aisatsana by electronica and ambient pioneer The Aphex Twin.
  9. Goodbye Song

Hello Song

More ideas with this video

  • If you can’t tap along, maybe a friend can tap your arm or foot for you so that you can feel the beat of the music.
  • Can you stamp your feet to the music? Can you tap your shoulders or your head? Move your fingers
  • Maybe try playing along with a shaker, or tap something that makes a sound that you like. A box of cereal?

Bounce and Catch

Charlie Over the Ocean

Sing and join in: Funga Alafia

 Funga Alafia with home-made instruments

Sing: Here Comes the Sun

Time to move around or play your instrument

Chill and relax

Goodbye Song

Music with Gordon 4 June: Primary

Leave a reply

What to do today

Please join in with the activities below. The more who can join in, the more fun, too. Not all of the activities are for everyone, so just do the ones you enjoy and as many times as you like.

Play along using any kind of instrument or use body percussion – clapping, tapping, clicking, stamping your feet.

Activities (links below)

  1. Hello Song
  2. Bounce and catch
  3. Sing Charlie Over the Ocean. Watch the video first to see how to do it. Then you can get your own soft toys and join in or else watch and sing.
  4. Ride a Horse. Get a teddy bear or favourite soft toy to bounce on your knee for this song. Maybe a grown-up will bounce you on their knee.
  5. Funga Alafia: Copy the actions in the videos and join in this song from Nigeria in West Africa. The words are in the Hausa language and mean “Give us peace/ thank you thank you”.
  6. Instruments: Can you play along with your home-made instruments to Funga Alafia?
  7. Time to move. Play the instruments along to the video or get up and dance. If you like, get a scarf to play with. This week’s classic is Shiny Happy People by REM, with guest vocals by Kate Pierson from the B-52s. Can you copy the dance everybody does together?
  8. Time to relax. This week we are listening to a piano piece called aisatsana by electronica and ambient pioneer The Aphex Twin.
  9. Goodbye Song

Hello Song

It’s a time to settle down for some music and there are lots of ways to join in. Use it on its own or before doing another music activity.

  1. Join in and sing, clap, tap and move along to the song!
  2. Maybe you can try using your voice
  3. Sign hello
  4. Tap fast and slow
  5. Sign “Stop” at the end
  6. Have fun!

Words

Hello, hello
Very nice to see you
Hello hello,
How are you today?
Hello, hello
Very nice to see you
Hello hello,
How are you today?
We say “Hello”
We’re very pleased to see you
We say “Hello”

(can you say and sign hello?)

We say “Hello”
We’re very pleased to see you
We say “Hello”

(tap along with the music, sign “Stop” at the end)

More ideas with this video

  • If you can’t tap along, maybe a friend can tap your arm or foot for you so that you can feel the beat of the music.
  • Can you stamp your feet to the music? Can you tap your shoulders or your head? Move your fingers
  • Maybe try playing along with a shaker, or tap something that makes a sound that you like. A box of cereal?

Bounce and Catch

Charlie Over the Ocean

Sing and join in: Ride a Horse

Sing and join in: Funga Alafia

 Try Funga Alafia with home-made instruments

Time to move around or play your instrument

 

Chill and relax

Goodbye Song

 

Activity ideas for the giant scrunchie or scarf

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Activity ideas for the giant scrunchie or scarf

We often often use a giant scrunchie in lessons (sometimes called a Magical Musical Circle). They help everyone move to the music or at least feel the rhythm together.

What’s a giant scrunchie?

These are large stretchy bands covered in fabric and you probably won’t have one at home. Instead you can:

  • Use one or more scarves tied together (see video)
  • Use your sewing skills to make one (there are a number of how-to videos online)
  • Purchase one (there are a number of people making them at home. Look at the Etsy arts and crafts website or Ebay)

You can make your own one very simply by tying a knot in a scarf. It’s best if it isn’t a special one, in case it stretches out of shape. You can use it with one or more partners or own your own. Maybe it’s possible to make a bigger one by using more scarves tied together. Try it and see.

Some classes like to sing Sally Go Round the Sun, so in this video Gordon shows that song. Remember, you can use the Magical Musical Circle in lots of ways. Have fun!

 

Activity ideas

The giant scrunchie (known as a stretchy band in America if you’re looking online) can be used in many different ways to encourage movement to music and songs. Once you have tried these, there are more on the internet and you can of course have fun making up your own.

  • Sit, on the floor or in chairs. Sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” doing the actions with the song while holding the stretchy band.
  • Any song with actions can be used: e.g. Wheels on the Bus, Wind the Bobbin Up, Over the Irish Sea, Hokey Cokey
  • Musical Stretchy Band: Tie a ribbon on the stretchy band and use hand over hand motion to pass the band around the circle while some music plays. When the music stops, the person closest to the ribbon makes up an action and everyone copies it.
  • Use the song, Ring O Roses while walking in a big circle. All fall down at the end, then get up and go the other direction to repeat.
  • Sing “If You’re Happy and You Know It” While the stretchy band goes round, march your feet (march in circle). (Other movement suggestions: gallop, skip, walk, jump). When the stretchy band goes up, make a yawn. (Lift stretchy band high). (Other movement suggestions: shout hooray, lift your leg, wiggle your shoulders, shake your head, do a dance)
  • Move to your favourite music different speeds. Keep the beat together and when something in the music changes e.g. the chorus, do another action (go high, low, side to side, in and out, pass the scrunchie around one way or the other). Try different types of music – pop, rock, Scottish country dance music
  • If someone doesn’t want to hold on at first, just let them feel the movement of the scrunchie against their leg, back or shoulders. For more ideas and videos, search the internet for giant scrunchie activities or stretchy band activities

Music with Gordon 1 June: Primary

Leave a reply

What to do today

Please join in with the activities below. The more who can join in, the more fun, too. Not all of the activities are for everyone, so just do the ones you enjoy and as many times as you like.

Play along using any kind of instrument or use body percussion – clapping, tapping, clicking, stamping your feet.

Activities (links below)

  1. Hello Song
  2. Bounce and catch
  3. Sing Charlie Over the Ocean. Watch the video first to see how to do it. Then you can get your own soft toys and join in or else watch and sing.
  4. Ride a Horse. Get a teddy bear or favourite soft toy to bounce on your knee for this song. Maybe a grown-up will bounce you on their knee.
  5. Funga Alafia: Copy the actions in the videos and join in this song from Nigeria in West Africa. The words are in the Hausa language and mean “Give us peace/ thank you thank you”
  6. Time to move. Play the instruments along to the video or get up and dance. If you like, get a scarf to play with. This week’s classic is Shiny Happy People by REM, with guest vocals by Kate Pierson from the B-52s. Can you copy the dance everybody does together?
  7. Time to relax. This week we are listening to a piano piece called aisatsana by electronica and ambient pioneer The Aphex Twin.
  8. Goodbye Song

Hello Song

It’s a time to settle down for some music and there are lots of ways to join in. Use it on its own or before doing another music activity.

  1. Join in and sing, clap, tap and move along to the song!
  2. Maybe you can try using your voice
  3. Sign hello
  4. Tap fast and slow
  5. Sign “Stop” at the end
  6. Have fun!

Words

Hello, hello
Very nice to see you
Hello hello,
How are you today?
Hello, hello
Very nice to see you
Hello hello,
How are you today?
We say “Hello”
We’re very pleased to see you
We say “Hello”

(can you say and sign hello?)

We say “Hello”
We’re very pleased to see you
We say “Hello”

(tap along with the music, sign “Stop” at the end)

More ideas with this video

  • If you can’t tap along, maybe a friend can tap your arm or foot for you so that you can feel the beat of the music.
  • Can you stamp your feet to the music? Can you tap your shoulders or your head? Move your fingers
  • Maybe try playing along with a shaker, or tap something that makes a sound that you like. A box of cereal?

Bounce and Catch

Charlie Over the Ocean

Sing and join in: Ride a Horse

Sing and join in: Funga Alafia

Time to move around or play your instrument

 

Chill and relax

Goodbye Song

 

Music with Gordon 1 June: Secondary

Leave a reply

What to do today

Please join in with the activities below. The more who can join in, the more fun, too. Not all of the activities are for everyone, so just do the ones you enjoy and as many times as you like.

Play along using any kind of instrument or use body percussion – clapping, tapping, clicking, stamping your feet.

Activities (links below)

  1. Hello Song
  2. Bounce and catch
  3. Sing Charlie Over the Ocean. Watch the video first to see how to do it. Then you can get your own soft toys and join in or else watch and sing.
  4. Funga Alafia: Copy the actions in the videos and join in this song from Nigeria in West Africa. The words are in the Hausa language and mean “Give us peace/ thank you thank you”
  5. Karaoke Corner: Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles. Look out for more Karaoke Songs in another blog post. Have fun!
  6. Time to move. Play the instruments along to the video or get up and dance. If you like, get a scarf to play with. This week’s classic is Shiny Happy People by REM, with guest vocals by Kate Pierson from the B-52s. Can you copy the dance everybody does together?
  7. Time to relax. This week we are listening to a piano piece called aisatsana by electronica and ambient pioneer The Aphex Twin.
  8. Goodbye Song

Hello Song

More ideas with this video

  • If you can’t tap along, maybe a friend can tap your arm or foot for you so that you can feel the beat of the music.
  • Can you stamp your feet to the music? Can you tap your shoulders or your head? Move your fingers
  • Maybe try playing along with a shaker, or tap something that makes a sound that you like. A box of cereal?

Bounce and Catch

Charlie Over the Ocean

Sing and join in: Funga Alafia

Sing: Here Comes the Sun

Time to move around or play your instrument

Chill and relax

Goodbye Song

Karaoke Corner! 1 June

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Welcome to Karaoke Corner!

Here is this week’s selection of favourite karaoke songs for you to enjoy singing at home.

Remember to bring your shakers and if you would like to a make a simple, fun microphone click on here.

Do you have any suggestions for songs you would like us to post up on Karaoke Corner?
Leave a reply and we’ll post up your favourite songs as well.

Enjoy the selection today!
Remember to try the warm up before you begin.

https://youtu.be/jVaQmsiqUg0

 

Music with Gordon 28 May: Secondary

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What to do today

Please join in with the activities below. The more who can join in, the more fun, too. Not all of the activities are for everyone, so just do the ones you enjoy and as many times as you like.

Play along using any kind of instrument or use body percussion – clapping, tapping, clicking, stamping your feet.

Question: Do you have any suggestions for songs to appear in the Karaoke Corner? Let me or Connie know and maybe we can choose one for everyone to enjoy.

Activities (links below)

  1. Hello Song
  2. Bounce and catch
  3. Clap, tap and sing along to Old King Glory.
  4. Funga Alafia. Copy the actions and sing along to this song from Nigeria. The lyrics mean “Give us peace/ Thank you, thank you”
  5. Karaoke Corner: Times Like These by The Radio 1 All Stars and the original version by The Foo Fighters. Which version do you prefer? Can you spot Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters in the first video? Look out for other Karaoke Corner blog posts for more songs.
  6. Time to move. Play the instruments along to the video or get up and dance. If you like, get a scarf to play with. This week is a sunny mellow classic, Weather With You by New Zealand band Crowded House.
  7. Time to chill. This week we are listening to Celeste by Roger and Brian Eno. Brian Eno played with Roxy Music and worked with U2. He also invented ambient music and the two brothers often create music together. If you like this, you might enjoy making music on the Bloom app, which Brian Eno created.
  8. Goodbye Song

Hello Song

More ideas with this video

  • If you can’t tap along, maybe a friend can tap your arm or foot for you so that you can feel the beat of the music.
  • Can you stamp your feet to the music? Can you tap your shoulders or your head? Move your fingers
  • Maybe try playing along with a shaker, or tap something that makes a sound that you like. A box of cereal?

Bounce and Catch

Old King Glory

Funga Alafia

Sing and join in: Funga Alafia

Karaoke Corner: Times Like These

Karaoke Corner: Times Like These by The Foo Fighters

Time to move around or play your instrument

Chill and relax

Goodbye Song

 

Music with Gordon 28 May: Primary

Leave a reply

What to do today

Please join in with the activities below. The more who can join in, the more fun, too. Not all of the activities are for everyone, so just do the ones you enjoy and as many times as you like.

Play along using any kind of instrument or use body percussion – clapping, tapping, clicking, stamping your feet.

Activities (links below)

  1. Hello Song
  2. Bounce and catch
  3. Sing Charlie Over the Ocean. Watch the video first to see how to do it. Then you can get your own soft toys and join in or else watch and sing.
  4. Ride a Horse. Get a teddy bear or favourite soft toy to bounce on your knee for this song. Maybe a grown-up will bounce you on their knee.
  5. Funga Alafia: Copy the actions in the videos and join in this song from Nigeria in West Africa. The words are in the Hausa language and mean “Give us peace/ thank you thank you”
  6. Time to move. Play the instruments along to the video or get up and dance. If you like, get a scarf to play with. This week we have two old ska classics from Jamaica by The Ethiopians that have a train theme — Last Train to Skaville and Engine 54. Can you move like a train to these?
  7. Time to relax. This week we are listening to Celeste by Roger and Brian Eno. Brian Eno played with Roxy Music and worked with U2. He also invented ambient music and the two brothers often create music together. If you like this, you might enjoy making music on the Bloom app, which Brian Eno created.
  8. Goodbye Song

Hello Song

It’s a time to settle down for some music and there are lots of ways to join in. Use it on its own or before doing another music activity.

  1. Join in and sing, clap, tap and move along to the song!
  2. Maybe you can try using your voice
  3. Sign hello
  4. Tap fast and slow
  5. Sign “Stop” at the end
  6. Have fun!

Words

Hello, hello
Very nice to see you
Hello hello,
How are you today?
Hello, hello
Very nice to see you
Hello hello,
How are you today?
We say “Hello”
We’re very pleased to see you
We say “Hello”

(can you say and sign hello?)

We say “Hello”
We’re very pleased to see you
We say “Hello”

(tap along with the music, sign “Stop” at the end)

More ideas with this video

  • If you can’t tap along, maybe a friend can tap your arm or foot for you so that you can feel the beat of the music.
  • Can you stamp your feet to the music? Can you tap your shoulders or your head? Move your fingers
  • Maybe try playing along with a shaker, or tap something that makes a sound that you like. A box of cereal?

Bounce and Catch

Charlie Over the Ocean

Sing and join in: Ride a Horse

Sing and join in: Five Buzzy Bees

Sing and join in: Funga Alafia

Time to move around or play your instrument

 

Chill and relax

Goodbye Song

 

Make Music with GarageBand dance loops

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iPad music appsGarageBand is a powerful music making app that comes free  for iPad or iPhone.

There are lots of areas to explore, from virtual instruments like guitar, keyboard, drums and orchestra.

This week I am going to show you how to make dance music using loops.

  • You can swap sounds in and out
  • You can layer your music to build it up.
  • There are lots of live effects possible (see the FX button)
  • Take turns with someone else adding in or changing the sounds one at a time.
  • As well as playing it live, you can record it and listen back later.
  • Use it as a soundtrack for a video.

Good for: This would be a good activity to create fun music to dance to or to create a party atmosphere and share with others.

 

 

Music with Gordon 25 May: Primary

Leave a reply

What to do today

Please join in with the activities below. The more who can join in, the more fun, too. Not all of the activities are for everyone, so just do the ones you enjoy and as many times as you like.

Play along using any kind of instrument or use body percussion – clapping, tapping, clicking, stamping your feet.

Activities (links below)

  1. Hello Song
  2. Bounce and catch
  3. Sing Charlie Over the Ocean. Watch the video first to see how to do it. Then you can get your own soft toys and join in or else watch and sing.
  4. Ride-O Ride-O Ride-O. Get a teddy bear or favourite soft toy to bounce on your knee for this song. Maybe a grown-up will bounce you on their knee.
  5. Five Buzzy Bees. Sing along and copy the actions. Can you make your buzzy bee go up and down, backwards and forwards, left and right, buzz all around?
  6. Over the Irish Sea. Join in or hold on to a scarf with a partner to move to the song.
  7. Time to move. Play the instruments along to the video or get up and dance. If you like, get a scarf to play with. This week we have two old ska classics from Jamaica by The Ethiopians that have a train theme — Last Train to Skaville and Engine 54. Can you move like a train to these?
  8. Time to relax. This week we are listening to Celeste by Roger and Brian Eno. Brian Eno played with Roxy Music and worked with U2. He also invented ambient music and the two brothers often create music together. If you like this, you might enjoy making music on the Bloom app, which Brian Eno created.
  9. Goodbye Song

Hello Song

It’s a time to settle down for some music and there are lots of ways to join in. Use it on its own or before doing another music activity.

  1. Join in and sing, clap, tap and move along to the song!
  2. Maybe you can try using your voice
  3. Sign hello
  4. Tap fast and slow
  5. Sign “Stop” at the end
  6. Have fun!

Words

Hello, hello
Very nice to see you
Hello hello,
How are you today?
Hello, hello
Very nice to see you
Hello hello,
How are you today?
We say “Hello”
We’re very pleased to see you
We say “Hello”

(can you say and sign hello?)

We say “Hello”
We’re very pleased to see you
We say “Hello”

(tap along with the music, sign “Stop” at the end)

More ideas with this video

  • If you can’t tap along, maybe a friend can tap your arm or foot for you so that you can feel the beat of the music.
  • Can you stamp your feet to the music? Can you tap your shoulders or your head? Move your fingers
  • Maybe try playing along with a shaker, or tap something that makes a sound that you like. A box of cereal?

Bounce and Catch

Charlie Over the Ocean

Sing and join in: Ride-O Ride-O Ride-O

Sing and join in: Five Buzzy Bees

Sing and join in: Over the Irish Sea

Time to move around or play your instrument

 

Chill and relax

Goodbye Song