<h3>Sounds Funny! (children's choice of elements that contribute to musical character) </h3><p>How can we make music sound funny? The children could first listen to this piece of music, played on the piano, and put hands up to give their opinion on these points:</p><ul><li>Is it happy, funny or sad music?</li><li>What makes it sound happy, funny or sad?</li><li>Does the character change at any place in the music?</li></ul><p>The title is Mr Happy Go Lucky and the music was composed by Sandre. I think most children will agree that it's either happy or funny music but accept any sensible, alternative viewpoints as being valid. Things that might be noticed in this music:</p><ul><li>The short, 'spiky' notes</li><li>The quick tempo</li><li>The change in the middle section to being a bit more serious</li><li>The return to the jolly tune for the last part of the music.</li></ul>                                                                                                                                    <h4>Make Up Funny Music</h4><p>Here's a chance for the children to make up some silly sounds. Tell them that their mission today is to invent music that makes you laugh. Depending on the children's experience they could ideally work in small groups, choosing and mixing the sounds from any source they wish (instruments, found sounds, body sounds, vocal sounds). It's a challenging task and working in groups has its own demands so supervision is essential, to ensure that no child dominates and no child gets left out.</p>                                                                                                                                                <p>This picture is one of my favourites. It's by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@benwhitephotography?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Ben White</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/funny?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>.</p>

Sounds funny! - Song

<h3>Body Percussion</h3><p>Musicians and teachers are helping children to enjoy life here. These children are beginning body percussion in time with the Radetsky March by Johann Strauss which is often played at a big New Year's Day concert in Vienna.</p>                                                                                                                                                                                <p>The children here have obviously been practising! You will need to start simple but, once the children have begun body percussion, they will love it and it's a good way to help them to feel and move in time to the pulse. You could use any suitable piece of music that you like and there are loads of suggestions on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Q0XxBPi41WtXheh6Pqybg">Maria Jose Sanchez Parra Youtube channel</a>.</p>

Body percussion - Video

<h3>Who Can Help Us?</h3><p>The children could produce a Who Can Help Us? podcast using Garage Band. The children are all allocated a line to say:</p><ul><li>I need help to cross the road!</li><li>Who can help?</li><li>I can help - I'm a lollipop man!</li></ul><ul><li>I need help!</li><li>I'm lost!</li><li>I can help - I'm a policewoman!</li></ul><p>Here are some instructions for creating a podcast using Garage Band. Be aware that, as updates are rolled out, the format may change:</p>                                                                                                                                                                    <p>If life feels too short to tackle Garage Band, instead the children could make a big chart on which they write the statements and stick on pictures of the people who can help us.</p>                                                                

Beginners guide to garage band - Video

<h3>Sounds Funny! (children's choice of elements that contribute to musical character) </h3><p>How can we make music sound funny? The children could first listen to this piece of music, played on the piano, and put hands up to give their opinion on these points:</p><ul><li>Is it happy, funny or sad music?</li><li>What makes it sound happy, funny or sad?</li><li>Does the character change at any place in the music?</li></ul><p>The title is Mr Happy Go Lucky and the music was composed by Sandre. I think most children will agree that it's either happy or funny music but accept any sensible, alternative viewpoints as being valid. Things that might be noticed in this music:</p><ul><li>The short, 'spiky' notes</li><li>The quick tempo</li><li>The change in the middle section to being a bit more serious</li><li>The return to the jolly tune for the last part of the music.</li></ul>                                                                <audio class="lazy_av" controls="" controlslist="nodownload">    <source src="https://rippleeducation.blob.core.windows.net/media/Sandre-Mr-Happy-Go-Lucky.mp3" type="audio/mp3"></source></audio>                                                                <h4>Make Up Funny Music</h4><p>Here's a chance for the children to make up some silly sounds. Tell them that their mission today is to invent music that makes you laugh. Depending on the children's experience they could ideally work in small groups, choosing and mixing the sounds from any source they wish (instruments, found sounds, body sounds, vocal sounds). It's a challenging task and working in groups has its own demands so supervision is essential, to ensure that no child dominates and no child gets left out.</p>                                                                    <div class="img img_sml">        <img class="lazy_img" src="https://rippleeducation.blob.core.windows.net/media/ben-white-4K2lIP0zc_k-unsplash.jpg" alt="Ben White 4 K2L Ip0Zc K Unsplash">    </div>                                                                <p>This picture is one of my favourites. It's by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@benwhitephotography?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Ben White</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/funny?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>.</p>

People Who Help Us Level: Key Stage 1 - Creative music

Year 1

Year 2

Music

March of the spoons - Video

Music Playtime has been created by a Key Stage 1 and Early Years Music education specialist. The schemes are built in recognition of the fact that most primary teachers are not music specialists. Access the knowledge and the ideas you need to feel confident teaching music.