Author Archives: G Turnbull

Making music with apps 1

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There are lots of Music creation apps that our children might enjoy. As we head into the holiday, I wanted to show people a couple of free ones that you may find helpful.  I will add more ideas over the weeks, including ones for Android/ iOS. Many of the suggested activities can apply to any music-making app.

GarageBand (free, Mac and iOS only)

GarageBand - Pro Filmmaker AppsThis highly sophisticated app shouldn’t put anyone off. From recording, effects, multitracking, jamming with others and virtual instruments, it may seem overwhelming to some, but it is also easy to get started and begin playing around.

Virtual instruments include drums, bass, guitar, keyboards and orchestral strings. With lots of online tutorials on YouTube and elsewhere, it is possible to take it as far as you like.

Ideas to get you started:

  • Open up, select an instrument and just play. Try different settings within the instrument environment. What is your favourite?
  • What are the other instruments? Discover the instruments of the orchestra.
  • Build beats using the drum machines
  • Play relaxing music
  • Play music for dancing
  • Play along to a favourite piece of music
  • Use the microphone to record your voice and pass it through the various effects such as Robot or Alien. Which is the funniest? Which friend or relative sounds funniest?

Soundforest (Free, iOS)

Compose music using a collection of creatures, trees, flowers and shapes. Each icon/image represents a different sound which you add to the project area to create a piece. The vertical position of an icon will affect the pitch (even with rhythmic sounds). Soundforest is very visual, using graphic-style notation to represent your piece and perfect for younger students. The free version has limited projects.

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/soundforest/id1194745290

Ideas to get you started:

  • Create a forest landscape with trees and birds. What does it sound like?
  • Share the sounds with a friend
  • Take turns with a friend to add items to the Soundforest
  • Dance to the sounds you make
  • Using instruments at home or your own homemade instruments, play along to your Soundforest music.

Have fun and share your music with others!

Making instruments at home

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We’re going to make some musical instruments from things that you might find around the house.

You probably saw the video that Connie and I shared. Take a look at it again and remind yourself of the different ways of making sounds from household objects:

We can also find things in our recycling that we can use to make instruments. Get help from a grown-up in case there are any sharp objects.

Now watch this video and see what you can do to make an instrument to shake or tap.

What can you find that can make a good noise? Can you make a shaker or a rain stick? Or a type of drum? Ask a grown up to help you. Maybe you would like to decorate it as well.

You can then use these instruments any time and also in some of the Music activities. Have fun!

Music with Gordon: Secondary

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Hi everyone!

We’re all getting used to working in new ways away from our usual classrooms, but we can still have fun making music.

What to do today

Please join in with the activities below. The more who can join in, the more fun, too. Do the activities as many times as you like.

Activities (links below)

    1. Hello song
    2. Bounce and catch. You’ll need a ball for this.
    3. Tap and clap along to Cho-co-la-te
    4. Watch this video that Connie shared and clap and tap along to the sounds.
    5. Play the video again, but this time play along with some instruments – if you don’t have any, see what you can find around you that can make a good sound. We will look at some simple home made instruments later in the week.
    6. Time to get up and dance! Electroswing -Lost in the Rhythm, Jamie Berry Feat. Octavia Rose. Can you move your feet, arms and hands to the music like the dancer? You can play your instruments too if you like, or get  scarf to play with.
    7. And now, time to chill. Here’s another piece of music by the French composer Erik Satie. It was originally for piano, but suits the guitar as well. You may want to play it more than once.
    8. Goodbye Song. Time to say goodbye! Thank you for your music. Hope you had some fun, see you all next time!

Hello Song

Click and scroll down to see the video

Bounce and Catch

Tap and clap along to Cho-co-la-te

Watch, tap and clap and then play along

Time to move around

Chill and relax

Goodbye Song

Music Monday with Gordon: Primary

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Hi everyone!

We’re all getting used to working in new ways away from our usual classrooms, but we can still have fun making music.

What to do today

Please join in with the activities below. The more who can join in, the more fun, too. Do the activities as many times as you like.

Activities (links below)

    1. Hello song
    2. Bounce and catch. You’ll need a ball for this.
    3. Tap and clap along to Cho-co-la-te
    4. Watch this video that Connie shared and clap and tap along to the sounds.
    5. Play the video again, but this time play along with some instruments – if you don’t have any, see what you can find around you that can make a good sound. We will look at some simple home made instruments later in the week.
    6. Time to get up and dance! Electroswing -Lost in the Rhythm, Jamie Berry Feat. Octavia Rose. Can you move your feet, arms and hands to the music like the dancer? You can play your instruments too if you like, or get  scarf to play with.
    7. And now, time to chill. Here’s another piece of music by the French composer Erik Satie. It was originally for piano, but suits the guitar as well. You may want to play it more than once.
    8. Goodbye Song. Time to say goodbye! Thank you for your music. Hope you had some fun, see you all next time!

Hello Song

Click and scroll down to see the video

Bounce and Catch

Tap and clap along to Cho-co-la-te

Watch, tap and clap and then play along

Time to move around

Chill and relax

Goodbye Song

Music with Gordon this week: G8, G10

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Hi everyone!

We’re all getting used to working in new ways away from our usual classrooms, but we can still have fun making music.

What to do this week

This week,  please join in with the activities below. The more who can join in, the more fun, too. Do the activities as many times as you like.

Activities (links below)

    1. Hello song
    2. Bounce and catch. You’ll need a ball for this.
    3. Tap and clap along to the music on the YouTube video. This week we have a Brazilian classic by Sergio Mendes feat. Black Eyed Peas – Mas Que Nada
    4. Play the video again, but this time play along with some instruments – if you don’t have any, see what you can find around you that can make a good sound.
    5. Time to get up and dance! Move around to HAPPY – Pharrell Williams (feat. Minions)
    6. And now, time to chill. He’res a piece of piano music by the French composer Erik Satie. You may want to play it more than once.
    7. Goodbye Song. Time to say goodbye! Thank you for your music. Hope you had some fun, see you all next time!

Hello Song

Click and scroll down to see the video

Bounce and Catch

Tap and clap and then play along

Time to move around

Chill and relax

Goodbye Song

Music with Gordon this week: Primary

Leave a reply

Hi everyone!

We’re all getting used to working in new ways away from our usual classrooms, but we can still have fun making music.

What to do this week

This week,  please join in with the activities below. The more who can join in, the more fun, too. Do the activities as many times as you like.

Activities (links below)

    1. Hello song
    2. Bounce and catch. You’ll need a ball for this.
    3. Tap and clap along to the music on the YouTube video. This week we have a Brazilian classic by Sergio Mendes feat. Black Eyed Peas – Mas Que Nada
    4. Play the video again, but this time play along with some instruments – if you don’t have any, see what you can find around you that can make a good sound.
    5. Time to get up and dance! Move around to HAPPY – Pharrell Williams (feat. Minions)
    6. And now, time to chill. He’res a piece of piano music by the French composer Erik Satie. You may want to play it more than once.
    7. Goodbye Song. Time to say goodbye! Thank you for your music. Hope you had some fun, see you all next time!

Hello Song

Click and scroll down to see the video

Bounce and Catch

Tap and clap and then play along

Time to move around

Chill and relax

Goodbye Song

Gordon’s Hello Song

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Many of my music lessons begin with this song

This can be a stand alone activity or play the video before watching a music video, exploring instruments or doing another music activity.

The video is at the bottom of the page.

What to do

  1. Feel free to 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)

Other ideas

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