Workshops

1. Dig Those Sticks! Whole Class Rhythm and Movement

A practical workshop demonstrating how sticks of all shapes and sizes can be used to develop rhythmic and performance skills. Participants will experience a wide range of exciting rhythmic activities using a variety of big sticks, little sticks, broomsticks, chopsticks, wind sticks, coloured sticks, plastics sticks and many more! Lots of original ‘hands on’, ‘tried and tested’ ideas to take back to the classroom.

2. Warm-Ups, Ice-Breakers, Attention Grabbers and Fun Stuff

This workshop is a hands-on, high energy game playing session of new and old warm-ups, fast-paced stocking fillers, silly songs and fun things to do with all age groups to entertain, break the ice, fill in the gaps, teach listening skills, and enhance your music lessons.

3. CLUED IN – Developing Quality Singing with Children

These workshops will be practical and lively sessions covering children’s vocal development at KS1 and KS2. The workshops will cover vocal warm ups, singing activities and repertoire, including materials from the recent Singing Sherlock Books 3 and 4.

4. Can You Sing Without Your Voice?

Singing is a wonderful activity that any child of any age or ability level can both participate in and, crucially, learn from. This workshop seeks to introduce you to, and help you to learn, some new ideas for group singing in your schools with a particular focus on the use of Sign Language as a strategy to differentiate your whole class singing sessions. It will be suitable for all teachers and will provide you with some resources to further promote singing within your schools. Everyone can sing!

5. Early Years Syllabic Singing

Gain confidence to use syllabic singing creatively, as a way of boosting children's enjoyment, musical play and innate musical talents. Learn how to create simple, effective musical phrases to enliven story-telling, or in quick response to any situation. Draws on effective musical approaches used among young children in Finland, India and Venezuela. Suitable for those working with children in Early Years or Foundation stage.

6. Group Music Making for Brass, String and Woodwind Teachers

Starter music for wider opportunities moving on to beginner band music for 5-note players. We will progress to Junior Band Music from 4-part to multi-part by using the workshop as a play- through session. Please bring an instrument to play!

7. Creative Music Technology for All!

This hands-on workshop will explore how any pupil can create their own multi media extravaganza. Using Magix Music Maker for PC, delegates will put together a structured song in a style of their choosing. This can then be further enhanced by adding video, photos and text. No prior experience needed. Delegates will be encouraged to go at their own pace and will be supported by Phil.

8. Creating Something from Nothing

Think improvisation is a scary word but feel you ought to bring improvisation into your lessons? Stuck for creative composition activities that don’t need hours of written work or the ability to play an instrument well? Need to get your groups working together? Improvisation and composition are often overlooked as an essential part of instrumental teaching and classroom activities yet it’s simple to get your pupils improvising if you have a few basic ideas…Please bring an instrument to this workshop.

9. SoundBeam

Special schools throughout the UK and abroad have been using Soundbeam for over twenty years. This session will include film of some of the most interesting examples of good practice to have emerged over this time, as well as an opportunity for delegates to try the technology out and experience the musical liberation which Soundbeam makes available first hand.

10. Charanga / Digital Learning

In this entertaining workshop, Mark Burke from Charanga will show you some of the award-winning interactive resources from Bristol Arts and Music Service’s digital learning website www.bristolmusicinteractive.co.uk with comprehensive whole class music teaching programmes for a wide range of instruments and ensembles to cool Hip Hop apps and TV classroom quizzes the session will give you the practical knowledge you need in order to be able to provide your pupils with contemporary music learning in school and at home. Everyone attending the workshop will receive a USB key preloaded with interactive resources that you can try out back at school.

11. Engage, Immerse, Respond, Challenge

Using the four stages of the Learning Cycle, participants will explore the possibilities that music has to offer throughout and across a rich and diverse curriculum(as part of Understanding the Arts, National Curriculum 2010), with particular focus on ways of enhancing and enriching writing.

12. Finding Music in Everything

Explore young children's creativity through sound - how to engage little ones in music-making, using their voices, listening and interacting. Keep your Early Years pupils interested, develop their musical potential, and...find music in EVERYTHING!'

13. Exploring Music BTEC and the Creative and Media Diploma

An opportunity to explore a new way of teaching Music at key stage 4, and to discuss the implications of vocational courses with two colleagues currently delivering them. This session will include a short presentation on the BTEC Music course and the C&M Diploma, followed by a chance to see actual student portfolios. Additional elements will include examine assignment brief writing, schemes of work and lesson plans.

14. Rehearsing, Conducting and Techniques for Instrumental Music and Choirs

Most musical, and very often non-musically trained teachers find themselves at sometime or another, (either voluntary or required), in front of a group of children who are eager to make music in preparation for a concert, school service, class activity, assembly, end of year plays, musicals, etc. This workshop is designed to provide teachers with advice on how to improve on rehearsal and conducting techniques plus methods to maximise the most of valuable and often limited rehearsal time. The workshop will provide valuable support for all levels of experience from those with little knowledge of rehearsal technique and conducting skills to the experienced. Help will be given on planning repertoire and rehearsals, enabling highly musically gifted pupils to feel fulfilled alongside less gifted, rehearsal techniques and etiquette, maximising rehearsal time, conducting skills right through to the actual performance.