Concert for Stepping Stones

Our choir's big annual gig is on Sept 19th, and as usual all proceeds go to a great cause - this time it's Stepping Stones Nigeria and we want to try to raise $10,000.

All of Stuart's choirs perform, the Woolaware High concert band is really brilliant, and there's usually a mass choir at the end. It's always a great night.

Tickets are $25 and $15 concession.
Email for your tickets: kerryn.cooper@gmail.com

One Love

A great clip from YouTube - As usual the Africans are the best singers.

Bobby Goes Pentatonic

This is a great vid - you may need to wait a while for it to upload. Bobby McFerrin (the "Don't Worry, Be Happy" guy) is making the point that the pentatonic scale is universal and innate. The pentatonic scale is do re mi so la.

I wish the audience had gone with him when he tried them on a harmony - ah well!

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Bobby does all kinds of great stuff - check the video bar on the right of this blog - it sometimes has his version of Ave Maria.

Who Stopped the Music?

Last Sunday there was an excellent program on ABC Radio National, which reported on the sorry state of music in our public schools in Australia, compared to the situation in many other countries.

Hosted by Stephen Crittenden, the program explores the many reasons for including music in the primary school curriculum, the way this was done in the past, and the way it has been eroded. It also includes some inspirational interviews from people such as Deborah Nicholson from The Song Room.

School music has fared badly in the wake of the recent "back to basics" movement in Australia. This is a seriously backward step. The radio program includes details of recent research which shows that if children do not have music before the age of 7, a critical period for learning is missed.

A hundred years ago our teachers were better equipped in this area than they are today.

You can read the transcript or play back the audio from here.

Image: 'So happy =)'
www.flickr.com/photos/97831130@N00/1066368855

PS22 - Forever Young

Check this out - these guys use contemporary songs, but have avoided all the usual pitfalls (eg inappropriate lyrics for kids, singing too low or too loud). They sing from the heart and they sing in tune with harmonies.

When should my child start an instrument?

As with most aspects of child rearing, everyone has their opinion on this point, and there are various different approaches. However, I believe it is often (never say always!) better to wait until the child is at least 7 before contemplating an instrument.

Here are my reasons:

• Fine motor skills: - Little children often have not developed the fine motor skills necessary to manipulate their instruments. In some cases, they are just physically too small to hold or play them properly. We know a little boy who has a saxophone that looks bigger than he is. He has to rest it on the case to play it. It doesn't look very comfy. I heard about another four year-old girl who desperately wanted to learn the recorder, but quickly became very frustrated because her little fingers wouldn't cooperate.
  

• The discipline of practice: - To stay with the lessons and practices over the long term requires a certain level of maturity.
  

• Musicianship: - Younger children are not likely to have the musicianship skills that can really help when learning an instrument. Unless they have good pitch, for example, they may not realise when they hit a wrong note.

Kodaly believed that the most important instruments for children are their voices and their bodies. They can happily develop their musicianship skills for many years through singing, moving, rhymes and games. It comes naturally to them. Voices and bodies are also portable, always available and inexpensive to use!

Once they learn to keep the beat and sing in tune, other musical concepts are introduced. After years of Do Re Mi classes, 7 year-olds are able to sight-read simple tunes on the stave. By this time they are ready to sail easily into learning an instrument. Because they are so familiar with musical notation and other musical concepts, they can concentrate more on learning how to operate the instrument they choose.

The first instruments we introduce to children in classes are percussion instruments, both tuned and un-tuned. These are satisfying for little children because they are able capable of playing them well.

Image: 'Vintage Postcard ~ Girl Playing Harp'
www.flickr.com/photos/7926983@N07/1161228939

Lounge Quintet

The Lounge Quintet is having a gig on June 28 in Coogee.

The idea is that you sit back, sip wine and nibble on food, and be entertained in the lounge-room of someone's home in Coogee. You get the address when you buy the tickets.

Songs by Elvis Costello, Leonard Cohen, John Lennon, David Bowie, Police, Coldplay, Rufus Wainright and Stuart Davis are performed with a string quartet and sung by Stuart. Awesome.

Tickets are $35 and space is obviously limited!

Ph. (02) 9665 8054
or email singup@optusnet.com.au

When should a child start music?

It is never too early to begin music with a child. Zoltan Kodaly famously said that ideally, the child's musical education should begin at the time of their mother's birth!

Just as it is never too early, it is also never too late. A lot of people have been put off singing early in life by a thoughtless adult. Kodaly believed that singing is for everyone - not just a select few - and that everyone can be taught to sing.

When a child is very young, there is a window of opportunity for helping them to find their voice. Later they will become self-conscious and embarrassed, but little children, who have not yet learned to be ashamed of free expression, can be taught to sing out and sing in tune. This is a gift they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Parents often wonder when a child should begin playing a musical instrument. Do Re Mi teachers prefer to help children find their voice first, develop the skill of singing and learn about the different aspects of music. Then, when they are older (about 7) they are well equipped to start an instrument. Through their Do Re Mi classes, they already know how to read notes on the staff, and understand the elements of music. They can sing in tune, which helps them self-correct when they make a mistake on their instrument. And importantly, they have developed an appreciation and love of different kinds of music. By the time they are 7 or 8 they have usually developed the fine motor skills necessary to manipulate their instrument well, without the frustration often evident in younger students.

Animusic

My kids have been watching this over and over again tonight, as well as other clips from anmiusic.



I like this one because you can watch it in the same way that you watch real musicians, and you get lots of visual cues for the different parts in the music.

The one entitled Pipe Dreams is also mesmerising, and very clever.

Planet Music

Sorry for the long delay in posting - I have been on "Planet Music", otherwise known as the Autumn KMEIA NSW teacher training course. This was a week of intensive training in musicianship, conducting and teaching methods. It was extremely demanding but greatly worthwhile and wonderful. The teachers are always brilliant and I highly recommend the course for any music teachers in early childhood or primary school settings.

I am already accredited to teach young children, but I'm back this year to see what happens in early primary school - to see "where we're headed" with all the early childhood work.

Highlights of the course this time included:

• Meeting up with friends from all over the place who come together to study - this is the final year for many of us
• The opportunity to try out songs, games and dances for ourselves in the practicum classes
• Choir at the end of each day
• Ensemble work, and the notorious "sing and plays"
• Composing our own canons in musicianship
• A lecture from the beautiful Ms Jenone Nagy ("Insie") from the National Association of Hungarian Kindergarten Teachers.

Image: 'music rocks my world'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20005495@N00/61581047

Beat Lehmann workshop

This is awfully late notice (first session is happening ooh, right about now) but I promised my choir buddy Amanda last night that I'd put this up. Beat Lehmann is running workshops in acapella world music singing this weekend in Bondi Junction. You could still get to tomorrow's (Sunday's) session - details below:

- 10 am to 4 pm
- 61 Newland St Bondi Junction
- Cost for one day $70 ($125 both days)

For beginners and experienced singers, no music reading skills required. Beat Lehmann is an accomplished conductor from Queensland.

By the way, last night's concert was a blast.

What makes a great early childhood music teacher?

This is a bit presumptuous of me, but I reckon I have a few ideas about what makes a great children's music teacher. Bear in mind that this is just my opinion - a product of my experiences, both good and bad. I have taken my young children to half a dozen different music teachers over the years, so have a bit of experience. I am also studying the Kodaly approach, so I am looking at this through a Kodaly lens. I am not saying, however, that the only good teachers follow that approach.

So - here is my list of the characteristics of a great music teacher for young children (under 6). I might expand on some of these points in future posts.

• Likes the company of children
• Gets along with your child
• Loves music, and generates enthusiasm for music
  
• Great musicianship (can sing in tune, play an instrument, read music)
• Detailed understanding of child development
• Makes their own detailed lesson plans, but does not have a "script" that must be followed
• Has an overall plan for helping children to develop over the long term (7 years), with musical objectives and general developmental goals
• Limits the group size to levels appropriate for the age of the children
• Provides a varied and interesting lesson
• Helpfully and cheerfully answers your questions and offers useful advice
• Is relaxed about younger siblings, tantrums, and those times when your child would rather not participate.

There are probably other things I will remember later. If so, I'll add them.

Personally, I also prefer that the teacher is not part of a franchise. I know that all teachers are paid for their work. However, there is a difference between a professional association and a franchise. A professional association (like KMEIA), exists to educate teachers to a high standard, and advocate for children and teachers. There is no pressure on this type of organisation to endorse a teacher if their work is not up to scratch. A franchise exists mainly to make money. There are probably some great teachers who happen to belong to a franchise, but it's better to be aware of the difference.

Anyway, that's my list as of 12.25 am tonight. Let me know if you agree/disagree.

Image: 'The pianist'
www.flickr.com/photos/8034873@N07/1499953615

Acapella Gig - Friday April 3

Um.... I think it was meant to say 7.30 PM. Should be a fun night.

See my earlier post for info on the charity we are supporting with the proceeds from this concert.

Paul Jarman

On the weekend I took the kids to a sensational workshop run by Paul Jarman. The kids loved his sense of humour, awesome musicianship and wonderful collection of quirky woodwind instruments from around the world. If you ever get a chance to see him, grab it!

I was also impressed with the workshop for another reason. The participants were mostly Central Coast Children's Choir members between the ages of 5 and 8. Paul had them doing complicated body percussion, four part rounds in various languages, and harmonies. There seemed to be nothing these kids couldn't take on. They didn't even really think about it - they just did it! It was testimony to the power of the Kodaly approach, and to their teachers, Jenny Bell and Joanne McMahon.

Paul concluded the workshop by showing the kids how to make a woodwind instrument out of a drinking straw. We demolished half a packet of straws when we got home. The four year-old just kept cutting them into little pieces, but the 8 year-old was blowing raspberries through his straw for quite a long time. Such a soothing sound! Thanks Paul......

Gig - Friday April 3

On April 3 there will be a concert in Kensington featuring two acapella choirs run by Stuart Davis. All proceeds will go to a wonderful charity - the Kantha Bopha Foundation in Cambodia, run by Dr Beat Richner. This amazing man has built several hospitals for children in Cambodia, and every week he also puts on a cello concert to raise money to continue his work.

Details of the concert:

- Ising On the Cake and Sea Minors (Stuart's youth choir) will perform.
- 7.30 pm
- Entry by $5 donation
- St Martin's Church Hall, Kensington (Sydney).

The Song-head syndrome

Years of singing in choirs with 4-part harmonies has led to a condition I am calling the song-head syndrome. It is not the individual who suffers with this syndrome, but their family and friends, and sometimes even their neighbours.

You see, I return home from a rehearsal, enthusiastic about a new song we are learning. All week I sing it. But I'm singing the Alto part. Over and over again. I can hear the other parts in my head - to me it is a rich experience. However, for the innocent bystander it becomes very grating.

Things do not improve if I attempt to sing more than one part at the same time (sometimes I can't resist pinching a juicy bit from another section). This just annoys people further.

My children often ban me from singing altogether for whole afternoons. This makes me grumpy, and also I forget about the ban and burst into song anyway when they least expect it. Somehow, it's not nearly as satisfying to me if every part is confined to my head.

Sadly, it appears that this condition is hereditary. On a recent fishing expedition my son drove my dad bananas as they sat together in a small boat for a long time.

Feel free to comment if you are a fellow sufferer (or family member thereof) and have any suggestions for alleviating this condition. Perhaps we can form a support group.

Image: 'heavy rain'
www.flickr.com/photos/38834306@N00/2710328924

Music from the trio

As previously reported, Jane, Shona and I did a bit of recording a while ago. Well, here are the results.

I tried to get the songs into a gadget in the side bar, but the technology is proving a bit too involved for my ability level. I will keep trying and possibly convince the hubby to help (he will roll his eyes at my efforts and hopefully take pity).

In the meantime I am trying to at least link you to the songs from a post. So let's see if this works....

Only Living Boy (Simon and Garfunkel). The first two voices you hear are Jane and Shona and I come in later. Guitar by Jane. We love doing this one, it's like meditating.

More Than Words (Extreme). Jane has the tune, I'm doing the harmony and Shona comes in here and there. Guitar by Jane. Our version is a bit different to the original. We recorded this song last in a long session, and we were a bit wilted, so we don't sound as "together" as we think we normally are. Still, I think it's my favourite one.

Closer to Fine (Indigo Girls). I'm doing the tune for the most part, with Shona doing the third verse and Jane on harmony and (you guessed it) guitar. I have trouble listening to myself on those pitchy low notes, but I'm showing you, so that means I think it's OK for airing!

Happy Together (Turtles). Shona takes the lead on this one, with Jane and I on harmonies, Jane on guitar and me on shaker (I'm so skilled). This was the first song we recorded and we sound a bit tentative.

There was one other song - acapella version of You Send Me - but we nicked ideas from someone else's arrangement, so I'm not too comfortable publishing it here without asking their permission.

So anyway, I hope this works, and please leave constructive criticism in the comments! Next time we're going to try separate mics for each voice so it can be mixed and balanced. That said, I don't reckon it's a bad first effort!

Image: 'Groove Salad'
www.flickr.com/photos/40732566596@N01/109538354

What every singer already knew....

Research has shown that putting your feelings into words, or singing about them, helps you cope better with life. It makes you calmer and gives you more self control. Anyone who has ever sung about new love or lost love or anger or despair or dizzy happiness knows this already!

In another colllision of art and science, a New Scientist article argues that when a group of people synchronises its movements or speech (or singing, I presume) the individuals in the group feel a heightened sense of belonging. This helps explain how dictators control the populace. It may also explain why I travel 90 k every Thursday night to rehearse with my fellow choir members!

So to conclude, groups who gather to move and sing together feel good and bond well. As far as I'm concerned it's not rocket science, but it is wonderful.

Thanks Sandy for the first link.

Image: 'Bearded Singer'
www.flickr.com/photos/35237096343@N01/184460005

Stuck for words?

There are some great databases of children's songs on the net. Here are a couple:

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences website

Kididdles

The first one is American and the second is Canadian. Happy singing!

Michael Rosen

Here's the wonderful Michael Rosen performing the classic "Bear Hunt".



This is a great adventure to act out with a group of children. The main theme uses the minor third interval (so-mi) which is very natural for children to sing. The song is great for reinforcing beat competency (ability to keep the beat). At the end, when everyone re-traces their steps, kids must use their sequential memory skills. This is a great echo song. There is also scope to go from here to a pitch exercise by referencing the running up and down stairs. And it's massive fun!

There's more about Michael Rosen's books and poems on his website.

If I was doing this in a group I would pitch it a bit higher so the kids could join in more easily.