Music Activities

During the school shut-down, there are lots of free musical activities and games for your child to get involved with. The most important thing is that they -and you- have fun!

Here are just a few;

Singup are offering FREE singing resources with a song a week. Learn songs step-by-step with video support, in the comfort of your own home. Sign up for free for updates to further resources.

Here’s a video of their current song,

English Touring Opera are will shortly be running weekly online workshops for students with SEND. The whole family is invited to get involved in creative play exploring rhythm, sound and song. These inclusive, live workshops will be led by our Associate Artist in Learning & Participation Bradley Travis, who has extensive experience creating and leading workshops for children with SEND.
To sign up for the workshops, parents can email me and register their interest at jo.corrigan@englishtouringopera.org.uk

Royal Opera House are excited to launch their newly developed Create and Learn Programme, a weekly programme of activities for children and young people learning at home. Requiring no prior knowledge of opera and ballet, over the next 12 weeks this FREE series will explore the magical world of the theatre. Excellent for exploring both arts and crafts.

BBC Ten pieces has put together weekly activities for primary schools, home educators and parents to share with their students.
Each will include a Ten Pieces film to watch and enjoy and a linked creative activity that can be completed by children at home without any special materials or preparation. A perfect, simple and easy way to keep listening, enjoying and creating music at this time.

The organisation Soundabout have created Soundabout Live, twice-weekly interactive music-making sessions for people of all ages with SLD and PMLD. Accessed through their Facebook page, lots of fun sessions and activities are available.

Bring the Noise are offering a series of short films demonstrating different techniques for teaching music activities to SEND pupils. Check out their video about exploring the senses here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/bring-the-noise/SEND-music-sensory-activity/zdxtqp3

Beat goes on Beat goes On body percussion have started live sessions each week day at 11am to get children up and moving. Have a go and see how you get on! Subscribe to the page and set a reminder.

Here’s a video of a recent session.

Play it! Through BBC Bring the Noise, Play It! explores the different elements that make up a song. In fun, high energy activities, play or clap along with the music and then listen back to your own version of songs

Minute of Listening is now free throughout COVID-19, for all parents and educators who suddenly find themselves home-educating children.

Their collections feature music and sound from across the globe, with contributions from world-renowned composers, artists and musicians, seminal record labels and cultural organisations.

They want to support and enable as many children as possible to be able to experience a minute of creative listening every day, and are making five of their sound collections, as well as all lesson and activity plans, free of charge for use by any teachers and parents at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To get started simply:

Sign up for a free accounton the Minute of Listening website
Create a log in – this needs email confirmation, so check spam if it doesn’t arrive
Access your free minutes on the Listen by Collection page
Have fun listening!

Get free access to Classical 100

Classical 100 is a fantastic collection of 100 carefully selected pieces of music and activities for you to share with your families over the coming weeks. Each challenge includes a helpful guide and all the resources you may need to get started, so everyone can bring the magic of music into their homes. Click on the link here to get listening!

Daily piano recitals with Claire Alsop. Whilst we’re in lock-down professional pianist Claire Alsop is hosting daily piano recitals from her Facebook page so drop in and enjoy!

Visit Claire’s page

For those of you who have access to an iPad, I have collated some of the best apps for SEND users.

Apps:

Thumbjam Brilliant instrument emulator. Change the instrument, ‘span’ and controls to give player access to multiple controls (volume, vibrato, pitch bend). Great for all abilities

Bloom Create calming sound and colourscapes with app co-created by Brian Eno. A lovely app for PMLD users

Bebot Polyphonic synth with fantastic sounds and more depth than first appears. Great for SLD/PMLD users.

Loopseque Cyclical beat-maker with fantastic potential for exploring rhythm. Fantastic for budding DJ’s!

Garageband Songwriting app with virtual instruments, sequencer and easy to use sampler.

Figure Intuitive dance music creator.

Launchpad Easy to use sample sets.

Incredibox A super fun looper using sounds generated by the voice, including beatboxing, singing and special effects. Total winner.