Workshops announced for the Norfolk Music Hub Expo

Sing Up

All children and young people can benefit greatly from singing. Sing Up Membership provides access to hundreds of specially arranged songs, teaching tools and supporting resources for all your singing needs, in and out of school.

In this practical session, Charlotte Law, Learning Executive at Sing Up, will explore the Sing Up website with you, demonstrating how to navigate it and get the best out of Sing Up membership. You will also look at ways of increasing staff confidence relating to singing and teaching a song and there’ll be a range of techniques and guidance on how to sing through the school day, including; transitions, topics and assemblies. This training is suitable for anyone working in a primary school setting, who wants to increase their own confidence and incorporate more singing into their everyday practice.

Outcomes for teachers

• Greater confidence in teaching singing
• Deeper knowledge of the website and the Song Bank and how to choose appropriate material
• Practical tips and songs to use straightaway
• Greater understanding of how to support the curriculum with singing in lessons

Using the Sing Up approach will support pupils to develop

• Greater confidence in singing
• Concentration and focus
• Memory skills that will benefit the wider the curriculum

JDT Music Academy

Rory Marsden – The Music Trail

There are five books in the series:

• The Music Trail– a classroom curriculum course for Years 5 and 6.  The course is taught through songs and games, and through playing the electronic keyboard. By the end of the course, all children should be able to play simple tunes on the keyboard, using both hands, and should have an excellent understanding of rhythm, chord shapes and pitch. Every song is an ensemble arrangement, using keyboards and some percussion. There is a Teacher’s Handbook to go with the scheme.
• The Theory Trail– a course for the ABRSM theory exams, from complete beginner to that all-important Grade 5. There are exercises in the book, so that the pupil can move seamlessly on to the ABRSM Practice Papers.
• The Harmony Trail– a course for ABRSM theory exams, Grades 6 to 8.
• The Ukulele Trail– a course for ukulele beginners, taking them up to a level where they can start to prepare for Rockschool ukulele exams. Both chords and TAB are taught, and pupils are encouraged to sing the words and to play in parts. Ukulele techniques are explained, and the chords are taught by means of coloured dots – both on the instrument itself and in the book.
• The Keyboard Trail– a course for beginners on electronic keyboard, taking them up to a level where they can start to prepare for Trinity College London exams. All the songs are entirely original and fun to sing and play.

In the presentation, author Rory Marsden will demonstrate the books using keyboard and ukulele ,and explain the teaching and learning ethos behind them. Delegates are welcome to bring their own ukuleles to ‘have a go’!

Charanga

This workshop is a discussion of how Charanga technology can help with the transition into KS3 and also help to prepare young people for the journey through secondary school, ultimately helping with the uptake of and delivery of GCSE music. Max Wheeler will give an overview of the technology, some case studies as well as some practical opportunities to make music on the day. The main focus of the talk will lay on the opportunities this new cloud based approach brings for inclusion and engagement and the lessons Charanga have learnt from consultation with Teachers, Music Education Hubs, Students and Exam Boards in terms of what they are all looking for from technology in a music lesson.

Delegate learning objectives:

• Learn ways to engage students with technology
• Learn Rap lyric writing and teaching techniques
• Learn Dance Music and electronic production teaching techniques
• Learn about VIP Studio Sessions and the possibilities it gives for online sharing.

Max Wheeler is a musician/producer, consultant, author and youth music tutor, specialising in Hip Hop & electronic music, soundtracks, remixes and peer-to-peer education projects. He has worked with Charanga to create VIP Studio Sessions – a groundbreaking new way to teach at KS3 & KS4. He has conducted thousands of workshops across the country teaching Rap, beatmaking, songwriting and production to everyone from inmates and young offenders to social workers and in primary schools, special needs projects and community groups.

ACM Gospel Choir

Making music shouldn’t be hard! It should be an activity that brings joy to all – the makers, the players and the listeners. Join Mark De-Lisser and the ACM Gospel Choir as they inspire you to create new music and bring a fresh direction to music making in this choir based workshop.

The ACM Gospel Choir was formed in 2005 at the Academy of Contemporary Music by vocal coach Mark De-Lisser. The choir rose to fame when they reached the semi-finals of BBC One’s Last Choir Standing series in 2008. Dubbed the youngest, hippest choir and the “Stars” of the show they have gone on to tour with Russell Watson, perform with Beverley Knight, JLS, Diversity, Alexandra Burke, record with Robbie Williams, Scouting For Girls, Olly Murs and sung as special guests for HRH The Queen on numerous occasions. The choir won the Urban Music Awards for Best Gospel Act 2014 and set a New World Record for the highest Carol Concert on a Plane. The choir bring a fresh new slant to Gospel staples but are as equally at home with contemporary pop covers. Adding their own harmonic arrangements to  bring the songs new life.

Louder than Life

Japanese Taiko
Japanese Taiko Drum Workshops are fun and energetic, using huge powerful drums. The size of these enormous drums and their distinctive low-end boom makes them a fun instrument to play. After warm-ups and stretches, participants will learn a series of authentic patterns along with useful Japanese words to allow them to embrace the Japanese Culture and the power of Taiko drums.

Steel Pan
Played like drums using sticks, Steelpans produce ringing, bell like tones, to bring a carnival feel to your workshop.  Give familiar songs a different sound and experience music in a new way. The unique Louder Than Life colour system enables all participants, regardless of age or ability, to fully take part and enjoy the Steelpans workshop.

Using Music to Support Social & Emotional Wellbeing

The challenges of a 21st century childhood are increasingly contributing to issues such as isolation, cyber-bullying and peer-pressure and increasingly we are hearing reports of children being affected by poor emotional health at a younger and younger age. Neuroscience is now showing us that every human interaction a child experiences affects their developing brains; in fact 40% of the ‘Thinking Brain’ is dedicated to social and emotional learning, meaning that those of us who live and work with children have an enormous impact on their healthy development and wellbeing.

Modern imaging techniques is also showing us that music has an enormous impact on the brain; in fact music-making is recognised as the most brain-enhancing activity one can do, at any age. Creative practitioners also tend to ‘attune’ very well by nature, and musicians; utilising the brain’s natural propensity to respond to both music and supportive human relationships; can therefore be extraordinarily powerful in supporting the social and emotional health in children and young people.

Musical Futures

• How to deliver outstanding lessons that are rooted in active music making
• Explore ways to ensure that students are fully engaged in lessons
• Develop classroom approaches that provide a catalyst to involve all students, including disadvantaged groups in extra curricular music making
• Build essential performance skills amongst students that will promote achievement and attainment in music

Designed to demonstrate how easy techniques and minimal equipment can offer maximum participation in practical music-making activities that can form the basis for developing key musical skills. Using the Musical Futures: Just Play approach delegates will have the opportunity to take part in an ensemble performance with ideas that they can take back to use in their schools immediately. Ever tried chair-drumming? Well now’s your chance!

Digital Strategy/Connect:Resound

Soundtrap

A practical music workshop will model new ways to collaborate creatively online using cloud-based platforms across a range of devices. We aim to show how use of Soundtrap will open up new ways to embrace self taught learning within the more formal structures that traditionally exist within music education.