I am a specialist primary music teacher living and teaching in Devon.
I have 20 years experience of teaching and love creating resources. As well as creating my own resources I have also created resources for companies such as ABRSM. I am also a professional and published composer of Brass band and Concert Band music.
Check out my Youtube page - www.youtube.com/musicwithmrgray
I play trumpet professionally in a ska/reggae/dub band called The Kingstons (www.thekingstons.club).
I am a specialist primary music teacher living and teaching in Devon.
I have 20 years experience of teaching and love creating resources. As well as creating my own resources I have also created resources for companies such as ABRSM. I am also a professional and published composer of Brass band and Concert Band music.
Check out my Youtube page - www.youtube.com/musicwithmrgray
I play trumpet professionally in a ska/reggae/dub band called The Kingstons (www.thekingstons.club).
Let’s Rock is written for Recorder, Ukulele, Boomwhackers and tuned percussion.
This resource includes play along and backing tracks and sheet music (with and without note names)
This is a classroom arrangement of the South African song, Shosholoza.
It features three vocal parts and a music arrangement for classroom instruments including Djembes, tuned percussion and guitars/ukuleles. Boom Whackers could easily play the same parts as well. All notes are coloured to match Boom Whackers and various percussion instruments. Enjoy!
Get your class playing together with Smile!
Changes is written for Ukulele, Recorder, Boomwhackers and Tuned percussion.
Resource includes:
Sheet music (with and without written notes)
Play along and backing track
Boots n Cats is a duet for recorders that also includes some beatboxing!
Resource includes sheet music (with and without note names) and play along/backing tracks.
Boots n Cats is written for Ukulele, Recorder, Boomwhackers and Tuned percussion.
Resource includes sheet music (with and without note names) and play along/backing tracks.
This is a collection of 10 Body Percussion songs. All of these songs focus on different Body Percussion rhythms to accompany them.
Every song is designed to reinforce pitch, pulse and rhythm (either consciously or unconsciously) and will help with a range of social skills (turn taking, working with a partner or group etc).
The songs are all in an appropriate range for children. Most use a maximum of a 6-note range with some stretching to an octave.
These songs are more demanding than the other Active singing songs because of the Body Percussion rhythms so are more suitable for KS2.
These songs have also been designed to fit perfectly within the Kodaly methodology if teachers are using it (using common ta and ti-ti rhythms and incorporating familiar melody lines - so-mi / mi-so-la).
Scarf songs - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12564116
Passing songs - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12600356
Miscellaneous songs - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12564112
Rhythm stick songs - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12590879
Parachute songs - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12563992
Shaker songs - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12564118
Cup songs - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12585890
All 80 songs - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12564122
Recorder duet - Let’s Rock!
Uses the notes C, D, E, F#, G, A, B, C and D.
This resource includes play along track and backing track (perfect for performances) and sheet music.
This is a 6 week topic that aims to give the children an understanding of the song writing process.
This topic is designed to give the children the opportunity to write a song, from scratch, as a class over a six week process. It will help them to develop a good understanding of the process of writing a song, the “musical ingredients” (elements) that are needed and an appreciation of the time and skill that goes into writing a song.
The children will develop an understanding of how to structure a song, creating verses, a chorus and the opportunity to compose a bridge/middle 8 as well.
You do not necessarily have to be musical to do this but obviously some knowledge would help. It’s a great project for you to use for children who currently play an instrument as well, especially if you have been learning one via the wider opps/first access projects. Instruments can be easily incorporated into the topic. The topic also included opportunities for children to rap and beat box if they are not too keen on singing!
The first 1-3 lessons will be spent on writing some verses and a chorus. This will be followed by adding simple accompaniment using class percussion (tuned and untuned) and other instruments your class/children may have been learning how to play. The songs will be kept in C Major/A Minor (Using the common chords C, F, G & Am). This is perfect for their vocal range and for accompanying instruments.
Instrumental parts could also be added in between the verses and choruses.
By the end of the topic the class with have a complete song that they can record and perform to other years and their parents.
Links to curriculum/Possible assessment opportunities:
Use the voice expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes
Play tuned and untuned instruments musically
Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music
Experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music
Please note: I have used the font AR CHRISTY so you may have to edit some of the slides/fonts.
20 pieces for Whole Class Woodwind Tuition in a variety of different styles.
These pieces progress steadily and give children the chance to play a relatively large repertoire without using too many notes. The music covers the notes G, A, B, C and D and is enough for a years worth of tuition!
This resource includes the sheet music (PDF) and play along/backing tracks for pieces 11-20 and cover the notes G-D.
You can purchase pieces 1-10 here -https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12673513
20 pieces for Whole Class Woodwind Tuition in a variety of different styles.
These pieces progress steadily and give children the chance to play a relatively large repertoire without using too many notes. The music covers the notes G, A, B, C and D and is enough for a years worth of tuition!
This resource includes the sheet music (PDF) and play along/backing tracks for the first 10 pieces of music. The first 10 pieces cover the notes G, A and B.
You can purchase pieces 11-20 here -https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12673518
Clap, tap, click and stomp your way through Hubbub!
Hubbub is a body percussion piece of music written for 3 groups.
The resource includes sheet music and play along/backing tracks.
Ukulele chord poster.I use coloured dots with my Ukuleles (Red = C, Blue = F, Green = G).
I’ve found it makes progress quicker and locating chords easier. They still develop their muscle memory and when they’re confident they can just remove them! I’ve created this Ukulele chord sheet if anyone is interested
Here are 11 songs ideal for teaching children the notes C to A.
They are all traditional songs commonly used with the Kodaly approach. They use a mixture of Crotchets, Minims, Joined quavers and Crotchet rests.
Ideal to print out and laminate to hand out to children to be played on percussion/keyboard.
This topic aims to teach children how to use Garage Band on the iPads. It is ideal for KS2 and KS3.
It begins with step-by-step instructions for children to create a simple rock piece of music. Whilst doing this they are learning how to create a new song, add instruments, use pre-set patterns, add drums loops/tracks and play the Garage Band guitar.
The class are then given the opportunity to create their own compositions whilst exploring the other features on Garage Band.
The topic also teaches them how to use the Smart drums, Smart strings, Drums, Sampler, Keyboard and Microphone (audio recorder).