The Nutcracker Suite is such a wonderfully imaginative piece of music. It is an excellent teaching resource for all sorts of creative activities from poetry and painting to imaginative movement. Here I have chosen to look at the 7th movement, The Dance of the Toy Flutes. I thought it would be fun to write a piggyback […]
French Can-Can Song – Classical Music To Get Kids Moving
This little song set to the traditional French Can-Can music by Offenbach is just what you need to get everyone moving. And of course the kids just can’t resist jumping up and joining in! There is nothing like having a good dance. It’s something everyone can do together as it doesn’t need any special equipment […]
Music Theory Made Easy – Musical Hand Stave
Here’s a great way to help kids learn the notes on the lines and spaces of the stave from our Music Theory Made Easy series . The Musical Hand Stave is a convenient reminder and wonderfully portable too! Music Theory Made Easy – Musical Hand Stave By a happy coincidence our hands have […]
Why Kids Should Play With Chime Bars
Every child should have some chime bars (AKA resonator bells for US readers) or a xylophone to play with. They are such a wonderful tool for learning to listen, perform and read music. But they’re a good investment too, as they’re suitable for toddlers right up to children of 7 or 8 years old which […]
What’s The Note Mr Wolf? Note Value Guessing Game
Kids just love playing What’s The Note Mr Wolf? Note Value Guessing Game – And it’s such a good lesson too! Combines note recognition and time values with role play and a game of chase at the end! What’s the no-te Mr Wolf? Mr Wolf? Mr Wolf? What’s the no-te Mr Wolf? Tell us, tell […]
Birthday Cake Music Note Matching Game
Everyone loves a slice of Birthday cake and it’s a really easy way to explain the concept of note values to small children. Birthday Cake Music Note Matching Song Happy Birthday to you, Do you think it is true? That a whole note (semibreve) has 4 beats, Do you think it is true? (sing to […]
Ten Benefits Of Music Lessons
I know these benefits of music lessons to be true, first hand from years of experience teaching music and from raising my own kids. There are many excellent articles and studies on the subject of the benefits of music available from educational specialists far more qualified than me. There are some links at the bottom of […]
Hey Ho Here We Go! Learning So Mi
There are lots of great songs for learning So Mi and La, but I particularly like this Hey Ho Here We Go, it’s a fun circle and guessing game, and a song with movement is always such a great way to help with learning and understanding a lesson. Hey Ho Here We Go! is adapted […]
10 Little Soldiers Counting Song
10 Little Soldiers Counting Song is so familiar and easy to pick up because it borrows it’s tune from the well known ’10 Little Indians’ song . It’s excellent for number and counting practice and works very well alongside The Grand Old Duke Of York and our other marching activities for a soldier theme. 10 Little […]
The Grand Old Duke Of York
Children just love marching to music! The combination of the movement, the strong, steady beat and singing along is irresistible to a small child. The Grand Old Duke Of York ticks all of those boxes so it’s not surprising that it is such an old favourite and a song that kids love so much. The […]