With the rapid spread of Covid-19, musicians and music teachers across the globe have found themselves in the unprecedented position of being unable to teach face-to-face.
Here at Bangers & Smash, we continued to provide regular and bespoke music sessions in all our settings until they were asked to close by the government on 20 March.
Like many music providers, we are looking for ways to teach online during this difficult time as a way to provide parents, carers and settings with continuity and support for the children in their care. Please watch this space!
In the meantime, here’s an update on this month’s sessions up to 20 March.
Under the Sea at Bangers & Smash regular nurseries
At regular Bangers & Smash nurseries, Kitty delivered sessions on the theme of Under the Sea.
Children and staff enjoyed:
using a blue cloth to create small and big waves while singing Little Ripples
lifting the cloth over their heads and travelling down under the sea
counting to 10 on their fingers while singing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Once I Caught A Fish Alive
looking at a picture of a submarine while singing Yellow Submarine
thinking about animals that live under the sea and how they might sound and move (e.g. wobbling jellyfish, snapping shark)
making a soundscape using the above sounds and actions
looking at a picture of a nautilus and swimming slowly round in a circle to Nautilus by B Bumble & the Stingers
singing and performing actions to Baby Beluga by Raffi
Africa Project at Under the Willow
Meanwhile, at Under the Willow, we started rehearsing for our Africa Project Celebration, which was due to take place on 25 March but was sadly cancelled.
Children and staff were still able to enjoy:
singing:
Seven Continents
Haya Ma, a South African hello song
Nzama, Nzama, a Malawian song about cooking beans in a pot
three songs about animals, Monkey, Monkey, Up The Tree, Here’s A Great Big Lion and Alice The Camel
Bangers & Smash original, Funky Pharoah
three traditional songs, Sali Bonani (Zimbabwe), Kye Kye Kule (Ghana) and Ram Sam Sam (Morocco)
listening, playing and dancing to:
Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba (South Africa)
Walking With The San by Charlie Simpson & San Bushmen (Namibia)
a traditional Kalahari nomad chant (Botswana)
Ssematimba Ne Kikwabanga by Albert Ssempeke (Uganda)
traditional Sufi music (Egypt)
Fanga Alafia by Iya and the Kuumba Kids (Nigeria)
acting out the story of Handa’s Surprise (Kenya)
Short Breaks at Waterman’s Arts Centre
And finally, Kitty’s multi-arts project for children in the early years with additional needs came to an early close at Waterman’s Arts Centre.
In the last two sessions, parents and children enjoyed singing, playing and dancing to original live music as well as:
decorating garden trowels
playing with ducks and frogs in a sensory pond
doing frog life cycle puzzles
Aislinn helping children to decorate trowels
Kitty was joined by fellow early years music specialist, musician and storyteller, Steve Grocott, and arts psychotherapy student and creative support leader, Aislinn Jeffers, both of whom helped to create this exciting new education pilot as well as playing in the Short Breaks band!