Music to your ears
Music is something that can be enjoyed by the whole class no matter what their ability. This activity will give all the pupils a chance to make their own music to celebrate who they are and where they live.
Equipment
Gather together all the different instruments you have around the school. Drag them out of cupboards, blow off the cobwebs and even ask the pupils to bring any in from home, even if no-one knows how to use them. Even try making some of your own. Get some CD's or tapes of different types of music by Scottish bands, musicians and singers, e.g. ceildh, ballad, classical, pop, jazz, rap, fusion, bangra.
"You are the music while the music lasts"
T. S. Eliot
"Music can change the world"
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Exercise
- Give every pupil an instrument and let them try it out, making loud and soft sounds, fast or slow.
- Ask them to think about how the sound makes them feel, does it remind them of anything about Scotland?
- If they could write a song to go with the music what would the song be about? They can then discuss these things in a small group, and even write it down.
- You could play some of the CD's to the pupils and get them to play along.