Category: Music Therapy

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Soundscape: The Meadow

Today’s soundscape has a meadow theme. We have provided this picture of a peaceful meadow as a visual stimulus but perhaps you would like to close your eyes and imagine your own meadow. You may be lucky enough to be able to look out of your window and see a meadow or fields. Do you have anything at home that reminds you of the sounds you might find in a meadow or perhaps some flowers or smells that would make you think of the meadow.

Please relax, listen to the music, look at the picture, imagine your own meadow and take deep breaths.

Mr Blue Sky: Part 3 – Verses 2 and 3 

Today we are going to learn two more parts of Mr Blue Sky, fortunately they have the same tune and we can practise them all in the same video. The words are;

Runnin’ down the avenue
See how the sun shines brightly in the city
On the streets where once was pity
Mr. Blue Sky is living here today, hey hey

Hey you with the pretty face
Welcome to the human race
A celebration, Mr. Blue Sky’s up there waitin’
And today is the day we’ve waited for.

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Familiar Song: Rain is Falling Down

Rain is falling down is a very popular anticipation song with many of our pupils. Can you follow the song, sing along and make your own Splash noise? You could even have an imaginary puddle to jump into if you would prefer this to playing an instrument on the SPLASH!

Mr Blue Sky: Part 2 – Verse 1 

Today we will learn the first part of Mr Blue Sky. Here are the words;

Sun is shinin’ in the sky
There ain’t a cloud in sight
It’s stopped rainin’ everybody’s in the play
And don’t you know
It’s a beautiful new day, hey hey

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Vocal Warm-Up: Blowing Up a Balloon 

This week’s vocal warm-up is not as much to do with the use of our voice but about controlling our breath. This can also be a very useful calming and focusing exercise also. Put your hands on your head, take a deep breath in and blow up your balloon, once your balloon is full it pops and all of the air comes out! What colour is your balloon?

Mr Blue Sky: Part 1 – Chorus

This week we are going to be learning another song from our pupil choices at Orchard Brae School, Mr Blue Sky by the Electric Light Orchestra. Today we are going to learn the chorus of the song. Here are the words;

Mr. Blue Sky please tell us why
You had to hide away for so long (so long)
Where did we go wrong?

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Musical Story

This week’s Musical story is the Farmyard Hullabaloo by Giles Andreae and David Wojtowycz.

When we go through the story can you see if you can make the noises for all of the different animals? Which animal is your favourite?

Proud – The Whole Song 

We hope you have enjoyed learning this week’s song. It is now time to put the whole song together. Good luck and have fun! Even if you have learnt the sign proud this week and can join in with that – that would be brilliant!

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Familiar Song: The Big Ship

This is a very well-known tune. When we are singing it today we are going to try and come up with our own actions. An action for the big ship, one for the captain, one for sinking and one for dipping our hair. Can you think of your own actions at home and do them along with Emmeline playing?

Proud: Part 4 – Verse 3 

We are going to learn the third part of Proud today. It is slightly different from the other parts. The words are;

We need a change
Do it today
I can feel my spirit rising
We need a change
So do it today
Cause I can see a clear horizon

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Soundscape: Thunderstorm

Today’s soundscape has a thunderstorm theme. We have provided this picture of a thunderstorm as a visual stimulus but perhaps you would like to close your eyes and imagine your own thunderstorm. Do you have anything at home that reminds you of the sounds in a thunderstorm. Perhaps something for the sound of rain, thunder or lightening.

Please relax, listen to the music, look at the picture, imagine your own thunderstorm and take deep breaths. The thunderstorm will start off gently and gradually develop before it fades away again.

Proud: Part 3 – Verse 2 

Today we are going to learn the second verse of Proud. Here are the words;

Still so many answers I don’t know
Realize that to question is how we grow
So I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I am on my way
Can’t stop me now
And you can do the same

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Round and Round the Drum 

This is a little song with a drum that many pupils enjoy during their sessions. Once we know the song we can experiment with singing it faster and slower as well as loud and quietly. See if you can match your drum playing with the volume of your voice.

Proud: Part 2 – Verse 1

Today we are going to learn the first verse of Proud. The words are;

I look into the window of my mind
Reflections of the fears I know I’ve left behind
I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I am on my way
Can’t stop me now
And you can do the same.

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Vocal Warm-Up: My Mum Made Me Mash My M&Ms 

This week’s vocal warm-up is going to be singing the riddle;
‘Mummy made me mash my M&Ms’.

We are going to gradually move up the scale singing this, see how high you can sing it. Maybe higher than Emmeline!

Proud: Part 1 – Chorus

“This week’s Makaton Song is going to be ‘Proud’ by Heather Small. We have chosen this song as we think everyone should be feeling very proud of themselves at the moment. Today we are going to learn the chorus of the song. The words are below.

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
It’s never too late to try
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
You could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
What have you done today to make you feel proud?

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Musical Story: Commotion In The Ocean

Today’s musical story is going to be ‘Commotion in the Ocean’ by Giles Andreae and David Wojtowycz. Much like ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ this book lends itself to becoming music very easily because of the rhyming, rhythmic patterns.

Here is an ocean soundscape from YouTube for you to listen to after hearing the story if you would like to. Can you hear or see any of the sea creatures from the story in the soundscape? Which sea creature is your favourite?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGuBBKEGu9o

All The Small Things: Part 5 – Whole Song

Let’s try and put all of All the Small Things together today. Good luck everyone and thank you to whoever chose this song for the new challenge!

Here are today’s musical activities from Emmeline.

Familiar Song: She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain

Almost everyone is familiar with the song “She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain”. Today we are going to be making up our own version of the song and encourage you to come up with your own version afterwards. After she has come round the mountain we are thinking about;

1. 1. What did she travel on?
   2. What was she wearing?
   3. What did she have to eat?
   4. What did she have to drink?

After you have listened to Emmeline’s version of the song can you come up with your own version?

All The Small Things: Part 4 – Verse 3

This is the last verse of All the Small things we need to learn before we put the whole song together tomorrow. Luckily we already know the first two lines of it!

Say it ain’t so, I will not go
Turn the lights off, carry me home
Keep your head still, I’ll be your thrill
The night will go on, my little windmill