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- St Philip Howard Catholic Primary School, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, AL10 8NN
French/Music
Is it raining outside? Are you wondering what to do today?
Please remember - you can always explore some of our wonderful school
Music and French & share it with your friends & families here!
We've chosen the very best songs, dances, activities & games
to bring you joy, hope, peace (& healthy exercise!!)
So please ENJOY our French/Music page and
sing (& play your instruments!) to your heart’s content!!
Please remember to use your Charanga logins (which are stuck into your Reading Records) to explore our Music Website this summer!
Its Homepage features some fantastic apps to experiment with & here are a few suggestions as to how to begin with Rhythm Grids, Music Explorer and Music Notepad:
Languages Discovery Day at Hatfield's Girls School
Journey across the world
On Tuesday 6th June, our Modern Foreign Language Faculty held the sixth Languages Discovery Day, which was delivered by 67 Year 10 Young MFL Leaders who shared their cultures, languages and linguistic interests with 120 Year 5 Boys and Girls from Oak View and St Philip Howard RC Primary Schools. The Key Stage 2 pupils had the opportunity to experience twenty-three different languages from all around the world including special workshops in British Sign Language, Semaphore, Greek dancing, Yoruba, Persian and Maori and many more from all round the world, reflecting and sharing our diverse heritages at the school. The day was divided in 162 workshops with 31 different language and cultural foci. By all accounts the day was a great success. Special praise is due to the Young Leaders for their infectious enthusiasm which gave the event such a buzz and celebrated the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of our school!
HOORAY!! Here's another of our favourites!
BRUNO MARS' "COUNT ON ME"
Year 2 have been singing this song in their Friendship Music lessons
(& I'm busy learning it on the ukulele!)
Below, you'll find a YouTube link to a singing and SIGNING version of the song
(& then I've posted the Lyrics with ukulele chords for you to play and sing along :)
Bruno Mars "Count on Me" lyrics and ukulele chords
Disney's "Lava"
I 'lava' this song and I hope that you're going to 'lava' it too!
Set in Hawaii (where Portuguese ukuleles were made popular) it features Mr lonely Volcano patiently wishing & waiting for his Mrs to appear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh4dTLJ9q9o
Its lyrics as well as its music give me goose bumps AND...
..Here, as promised... Ukulele sheet music to play along!
We all enjoy ONE Birthday
but did you know you also have 364 "un-Birthdays" per year (or 365 in a leap year?!!)
French Games
Would you like to discover all about the countries & people who speak French around the world?
Click on the following link & enjoy Language Angels' 'La Francophonie' game!
https://view.genial.ly/603e147d10c62f0d7e785856
Alternatively, you may like to find out about Bastille Day in France?
Click on the next link if you would like to learn about the history of The French Revolution
with Language Angels' 'Bastille Day' game!
Tommy's Samba rhythms on www.drumbit.app
SIMPLE BEATBOXING & drum patterns at www.drumbit.app
I’m hoping that this track will encourage you all to learn & master your beatboxing skills
Hopefully you’ll remember the recordings of your school friends’ new beatboxing patterns? Can you learn a different one as well (or even compose a rhythm yourself?!!) Maybe you can program a pattern into https://drumbit.app/
Be sure to try and ‘Air Drum’ along too, tapping your Right Foot to sound like the Bass drum’s “B” / your Right hand “ts” mimicking the Hi hat’s two cymbals, whilst your Left hand “C” imitates your snare drums!!
Finally, how about writing rap poems to accompany your own Beatbox airdrummed rhythms!!
P.S. I've added instructions below as to how to program our Beatboxing patterns
into the Drumbit app to help you all get started :- )
Time for another School favourite!! The Dingle Dangle Scarecrow
As promised, our Sound-Story-Poem - "HORRIBLE HOUSE"!!!
Matthew Lien Rainbow
At last! The notes to play one of your favourite songs!
...& here by popular demand… “RAINBOW” by Matthew Lien – more singing and SIGNING!!
Countless children have requested that I post a link to this wonderful song which we enjoy so regularly and frequently in school.
Hopefully they’ll be able to teach you the sign language we use as we sing,
PLUS there are an extra 4 lines before the final chorus that would be a lovely new addition to the song
for when we all sing it together again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x-4HGi3S2o
Hatfield House Chamber Music Concert
Here’s a link to an amazing concert with music from the 1600s to the present day,
performed by some incredibly talented young musicians.
Hertfordshire’s Purcell School’s musicians range in age from Years 6 to 13
and I am sure that they will inspire you all to practise your instruments or maybe even start lessons?
Can you name all the instruments played in the various pieces? I wonder which performance will be your favourite?
Maybe you will research some of the composers & their other compositions?
I shall very much look forward to hearing your thoughts & comments.
Love Shone Down
Here is a link to this very beautiful Christmas song sung by Jo Boyce & the late Mike Stanley. Please share it with your families & teach them the signings for the choruses :- )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyijhpaaEs8
If you practise really hard with the downloadable sheet music below, maybe you'll be able to play Love Shone Down by Christmas Day too?!
Pentatonix - Mary did you know
Another enchanting song link to enjoy for Christmas - infact, if you love Pentatonix's style, they have a fabulous collection of festive songs to listen to!
"Ho Ho Ho & Merry Christmas!!" - here's JINGLE BELLS!!
AT LAST we can officially play Christmas tunes and I'm giving you all a WHOLE MONTH to practise this so that you can treat your families to a marvellous Christmas Concert :- )
You can download the sheet music and lyrics (with harmonies & Guitar etc chords) below to sing & play along with our children. (There’s also a little tempo (speed) change challenge at the end for when you really master the tunes)
You can download the sheet music and lyrics (with harmonies & Guitar etc chords) below to sing & play along with our children. (There’s also a little tempo (speed) change challenge at the end for when you really master the tunes)
Cathy Berberian "Stripsody"
Year 5 and I had such fun learning about Cathy Berberian's work this week that they requested that I post some links for you all to share :- )
The first link is to a film of Cathy performing 'Stripsody' in which you can hear her amazing vocal technique AND see how she reads her sounds off the page, from a very visual comic book style score:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dNLAhL46xM
The second link is to a film of some French children's compositions, inspired by Cathy's 'Stripsody'
... Can you translate all their French sounds? & will you be inspired to write your own vocal sound story?!
Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Feet!! (en français)
Yet ANOTHER active French song for you all - and one of our most popular!
I do hope you & your families enjoy singing & exercising along to “La tête, les épaules, les genoux et les pieds”
I do hope you & your families enjoy singing & exercising along to “La tête, les épaules, les genoux et les pieds”
♫ "In Our School – a happy place to be!" ♬
Yet another rhythmic challenge! "Rhythm Piece No.1"
Pentatonix "Happy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ4diEohODE
Like Naturally 7 and BYU Noteworthy’s “a cappella” (without instruments) singing,
Pentatonix cleverly use just their voices to not only sing, but beatbox & sound like real instruments.
It's worth exploring this amazingly talented band as their music is very uplifting and often quite beautiful.
The Gruffalo’s official website
full of activities to download, games to play, books to order, video clips to watch
& Julia’s wonderful songs to sing…
The Voice Foundation’s Virtual Singing Assembly (#VFVirtualSing)
You can now find over 25 of these lovely 10 minute active vocal workouts (streamed during lockdown) on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO7pnaEsfWg&list=PLhjzi-p3BAmSlwL1CePY0wqV1GIIzZ84h, They feature the type of songs & activities our children enjoy in their (singing outloud) Music lessons
Julia Donaldson songs
'The Gruffalo Song'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCdVP9Qq6HM (with Makaton signing AND a special guest STAR!!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSc4TQshebk (featuring clips from the beautiful Gruffalo animated film)
'A Squash & a Squeeze'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6XGSDsDT1A
'Funny Face!!'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yunCNf1zTNU
Une autre chanson française active! Jean Petit Qui Danse
Another active French song! I hope you & your families enjoy exercising, singing & dancing along with "Little Johnny dances"
THE TWILIGHT TWINS’ “Leave you to it”
We are all still so very proud of our past pupil SPH Pop stars who wrote this song when they were in Year 5!
With it, they became one of the Top 10 Nationwide finalists of The Song Academy’s Young Songwriter Competition 2014 & performed live on stage at London’s Westfield shopping Centre!
Maybe their song will inspire you to write your own?!
Maybe you’ll include some beatboxing & an original rap poem?
Will you play your own instruments or use your voices like Naturally 7 & BYU Noteworthy?
Might you be able to record your finished song ready for us to listen to?
With it, they became one of the Top 10 Nationwide finalists of The Song Academy’s Young Songwriter Competition 2014 & performed live on stage at London’s Westfield shopping Centre!
Maybe their song will inspire you to write your own?!
Maybe you’ll include some beatboxing & an original rap poem?
Will you play your own instruments or use your voices like Naturally 7 & BYU Noteworthy?
Might you be able to record your finished song ready for us to listen to?
A special song treat from WIGGLY WOO!!
Once again, in response to many requests, please enjoy another one of our most popular songs with your families :-)
"AMAZING GRACE, MY CHAINS ARE GONE"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MZgXXUW08Q
-it literally AMAZES me what a profound emotional response our children have to this wonderful modern version – from passionately singing the choruses to literally being so calm at the end that you could hear a pin drop!!
This link will take you to a YouTube film with lyrics AND guitar chords :- )
So PLEASE, all our Rocksteady Rock Stars & other fantastic musicians, do play along too!
(P.S. I also found this BEAUTIFUL a capella version to continue to inspire
your beatboxing & vocal instrumental sounds as well!)
DR. KNICKERBOCKER – NUMBER 9!
He likes to dance & keep in time...
Can you join in with the rhythm of your hands etc?!
It’s a fabulous workout for you & your family!!
Can you join in with the rhythm of your hands etc?!
It’s a fabulous workout for you & your family!!
KYE KYE KULE
Can you challenge yourselves like our Year 3s on the attached recording?!!
If you download the sheet music, maybe you can sing AND play this Ghanaian action song on all your instruments too?
If you download the sheet music, maybe you can sing AND play this Ghanaian action song on all your instruments too?
Naturally 7’s BEAUTIFUL version of Coldplay’s Fix You
I hope you enjoy this song & that it inspires you to mimic musical instruments with your voice.
It is quite incredible to believe when listening that ALL the sounds in the recording
are created by the human voice – especially the electric guitars & drums!
PENGUINS
Have you ever had a penguin come to tea?
Take a look at me – a penguin you will see!!
PENGUINS ATTENTION!! PENGUINS BEGIN!!
Take a look at me – a penguin you will see!!
PENGUINS ATTENTION!! PENGUINS BEGIN!!
Our final (&most difficult yet!!) African Body drumming - The Respectful Step
Ready for another challenge?! Hopefully you'll remember this step from our Music lessons as well?
Once again, as you body drum, do remember to chant these instructions
to remind you of its actions & rhythm pattern.
"Right "(step) “and Clap”
"1, 2, 3" (tapping knees) “Left” (foot) “Clap” “Ankle” (left hand touches Right ankle)
"Right "(step) "Right "(step) “Clap
"1, 2, 3" (tapping knees) “Left” (foot) "Back" (clap behind) “Ooooh!”
...I really hope you’re busy composing your own Body Drumming Steps? Have you noticed what wonderful Human qualities Tribal Groove’s Steps celebrate? (Patience, Truthfulness & Respect) I wonder what name you’ll give yours? ...I’m so looking forward to YOU teaching ME!!
Once again, as you body drum, do remember to chant these instructions
to remind you of its actions & rhythm pattern.
"Right "(step) “and Clap”
"1, 2, 3" (tapping knees) “Left” (foot) “Clap” “Ankle” (left hand touches Right ankle)
"Right "(step) "Right "(step) “Clap
"1, 2, 3" (tapping knees) “Left” (foot) "Back" (clap behind) “Ooooh!”
...I really hope you’re busy composing your own Body Drumming Steps? Have you noticed what wonderful Human qualities Tribal Groove’s Steps celebrate? (Patience, Truthfulness & Respect) I wonder what name you’ll give yours? ...I’m so looking forward to YOU teaching ME!!
Joy of the Holy Spirit – MORE singing & signing!!
Time for another favourite hymn for you & your families. Simply click the link below
and it will open Mike Stanley’s beautiful “Joy of the Holy Spirit”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUJv4q4sr_4
Bind us together, Lord
I hope you’ve enjoyed remembering ‘Hot Cross Buns’ & ‘As I kneel before you’ from our recorder lessons?
(Sheet music downloadable from this French/Music page)
Practising a tune a day on any instrument will improve your playing amazingly!
PLUS you’ll notice on this music that there are guitar/ukulele etc chords AND a page of harmonies, so please work on it hard with ALL your instruments and any other family members who can play or sing along!!
THE TELEPHONE GAME - A wonderful game for you and your family!
Can you teach your families & friends our Telephone game to enjoy playing together?
Hail Mary - singing and SIGNING!!
Please enjoy one of our favourite hymn-prayers with your families. If you copy & paste the following link, it will open Mike Stanley’s beautiful “Hail Mary” song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PglEF7mTf2E
You all know the words, so can you now learn the SIGN LANGUAGE to go with them?!
Ave Maria, gratia plena... As I kneel before you
We hope you enjoy our children's angel voices, harmonies and instrumental playing... & please, do play along with this track on ANY instrument you have... The sheet music is posted below
Another African Body drumming Challenge - The Truthfulness Step
Ready for something a little harder? Hopefully you'll remember this step from our Music lessons too? As you body drum, do remember to chant these instructions to remind you of its actions & rhythm pattern.
"Right "(step) “Clap” "Left" (step) "Left" (step) “Clap” “Duh Duh” (thigh taps) x3
"Right "(step) “Clap” "fold" “Up” (arms)
“Down" (arms again) “Slap” (thighs)
"Left" (step) "Back" (clap behind)
...Maybe you’ll be inspired to compose your own Body Drumming Step? I’d love to learn some new ones!!
"Right "(step) “Clap” "Left" (step) "Left" (step) “Clap” “Duh Duh” (thigh taps) x3
"Right "(step) “Clap” "fold" “Up” (arms)
“Down" (arms again) “Slap” (thighs)
"Left" (step) "Back" (clap behind)
...Maybe you’ll be inspired to compose your own Body Drumming Step? I’d love to learn some new ones!!
Down in the Jungle
Join in singing along with Mr Elephant, Mrs Crocodile & the snakes... And don't forget your Bass Guitars!!
Fun French & Music for Everyone! Gouzi-Gouzi (the French Hokey Cokey)
Here's another song to enjoy exercising, singing & dancing along with your family!
Fun French & Music for Everyone! Jump Jim Joe!
Please enjoy exercising, singing & dancing along with "Jim Jim Joe" Perhaps you can teach it to your family?
African Body drumming - The Patience Step
How about a musical challenge that keeps you fit? Hopefully you'll remember this step from our Music lessons? Chanting the following instructions will not only remind you of the actions, but also help you to keep the rhythm pattern going too!!
"Right "(step) "1234" (thigh taps) "Left" (step) "and clap" (hands)
"Right "(step) " thighs" (tap both) "clap" (hands) "fold" (arms) "up and down" (arms again)
"Right "(step) "1234" (thigh taps) "Left" (step) "and clap" (hands)
"Right "(step) " thighs" (tap both) "clap" (hands) "fold" (arms) "up and down" (arms again)