TUNES FOR TOTS
Pre-School Projects
Our hugely popular programme "Tunes For Tots" has been devised by musician and animateur, Naomi Atherton. This is a series of storytelling musical workshops aimed at introducing pre-school children to the instruments of the orchestra. Naomi has worked with the Sinfonietta as project leader for our Lottery-winning Façade project and is an experienced practitioner of music education.
The professional musicians are hand picked from the Lancashire Sinfonietta and make up versatile ensembles of three players - one string, one wind and one brass. With specially commissioned music from composer James Manson, Naomi and her trio of musical friends take the children on a journey into a fantastical world of myths and monsters.
Two of our projects are based on Homer's Odyssey. One takes the children on their own journeys whether it is by car, train or on foot. The other tells stories of fantastical creatures and magical monsters. Another project is all about dinosaurs, but whatever the story - their imaginations literally run wild!
The stories are brought alive through music, movement, song, artwork and above all FUN!
The players introduce themselves and their instruments to the children. They teach the children action songs and help them to learn to play percussion instruments. Different characteristics of the orchestral instruments relate to forms of travel and to incidents along the way.
Tunes for Tots does the following:
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Introduces the children to instruments they may not have seen before.
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Identifies different types of instruments, learning how to use them to make differing styles of music.
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Teaches the children about musical opposites e.g. fast/slow, loud/quiet, high/low, play/stop, smooth/bouncy.
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Encourages the children to play alongside the professional musicians.
The workshops are huge fun for the children and teachers alike!
Teachers are sent guide material in advance including a pre-recorded musical CD based on the story which will be developed during the musicians’ visits. These workshops involve 2 workshop visits and a performance visit which can be shared with parents and other students.
For further details contact Fiona Sinclair (General Manager) on 0161 432 7925.
Comments from parents/guardians/grandparents:
“The workshop was very interesting and it was lovely to see the children being involved with instruments they may not come in contact with. It was nice to see a story book being used in such an unusual way.”
“Very nice to hear music in pre-school. The children seemed very enthusiastic. .. This kind of workshop would be great to see again in the future.”
“I enjoyed watching all the children participating with the music and dancing. They all seemed to enjoy it very much. I hope that there will be more of them in the future.”
“The performance was really good. I was very pleased with the way the children interacted with the musical instruments. My son is a lot more interested in music and dinosaurs!”
“… The enthusiasm seen during the workshop also carried on at home, and seemed to really capture the children’s attention. Thank you”
From children involved in “Tunes for Tots – Dinosaur Romp”: (ages 4 & 5)
“What did you like best?”
“I liked the trumpet, the dinosaurs and the eggs.”
“When you guessed what instruments were playing with the eggs.”
“The green dinosaur and the trumpet.”
“I liked the pteranadon and the violin.”
“I liked the flying one, a banging drum thingy, and the stomping one.”
“I liked all the instruments and the pteranadon.”
From teachers and musicians involved in the project:
"Brilliant - superb. Hope you can come again!"
“I thought all the sessions were extremely successful and the children concentrated brilliantly every time for the duration of the session. Even children that were ‘quiet’ seemed to have less inhibitions by the end.”
"A big thank you for the music sessions you have provided for our children. The children have really enjoyed the sessions and lots of discussion has taken place on the instruments, the songs and of course the staff going round singing "copy me, copy me" because we cannot get it out of our heads! It really has been brilliant."
"Absolutely brilliant! Nicola and Anthea were brilliant - hope we can have them again. Many thanks."
“The content was excellent and was all at the children’s level with lots of fun activities to keep the children interested.”
“This was a change in the children’s usual routine, but they managed very well due to the fun activities available.”
“A fantastic experience for adults and children involved. Please come back soon!”.
“The live performance using the instruments is an experience some children may never get again.”
© blue frog 2007