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SONGBOOKS

Songscape
Marsh, Lin

The Songscape series is the perfect resource for Classroom singing. Each book offers an invaluable resource to aid teachers at Key stages 1-3 in classroom music making. Each book contains over twenty arrangements or original compositions by Lin Marsh covering a range of topics and styles. Songscape is ideal for bringing confidence into classroom singing and for concerts, with vocal ranges suitable for the age group. Several songs have optional additional vocal parts and the keyboard accompaniments are well within the grasp of pianists of moderate ability. The accompanying CDs include complete performances and backing tracks for all the songs.

“A ‘dip into’ book for classroom singing, school assemblies or additional material for concerts, aimed at the 5–11 age group…A good collection for the kids with a demo CD that leaves a lot for the teacher to experiment with.”

Junior Songscape: MP PRO, October 2002

“This is a great publication for teachers who want to extend singing repertoire either in class or in a choir. The book is packed full of memorable melodies enhanced by well-written part singing, which would suit both a very able choir at Key Stage 2 and a confident choir at Key Stage 3.”

Songscape: Music Teacher, April 2002

The Joy of Singing
Rattray, Brenda

Brenda Rattray is an inspirational facilitator who can instill confidence in budding singers and remove inhibitions from those who consider themselves unable to sing. She also challenges and stimulates more confident singers with unconventional methods and ideas. Brenda works in nurseries, schools, hospitals, prisons and churches as well as with The BBC Singers, English National Opera and Youth Music, and is the composer of ‘The smile behind the eyes’ from Singbook.

At long last Brenda's incredible energy has been distilled into book form! The Joy of Singing is aimed at children, young people and adults in primary schools, secondary schools, youth groups and churches who would like to build a singing community. Whether musician or non-specialist, the 21 songs in this collection will bring variety and confidence to any choir.

Everyday Songbook
Diamond, Eileen

Faber Music are proud to be continuing Eileen Diamond's legacy with the publication of her Everyday Songbook.

Through a musical career spanning four decades, Eileen Diamond taught and entertained a great number of children, including those with special needs. She is the author of the acclaimed songbook Singing Numbers and the popular Let’s Make Music Fun series, among others. Her charming songs have an instant appeal for children, and have been used on many children’s TV programmes including Play School and the Tweenies.

The book/2CD package includes 29 action songs, feel-good songs, rhythmic songs and funny songs – all in Eileen’s tuneful and catchy style. Ideal for use at home or in nurseries and primary schools, the songs cover everyday topics appropriate to the Early Years to Key Stage 2 age groups, and have been carefully designed to stimulate language development, creativity, co-ordination, memory, rhythmic responses and concentration.

No musical knowledge is required as demonstration and fun backing tracks are provided, performed by singer Colleen Daley who is well known as the voice of ‘Fizz’ from CBBC’s Tweenies. Actions and follow-up activities are also included, as well as simple percussion parts to some of the songs. For music specialists, the two enhanced CDs also include piano accompaniments to download.

We are delighted that two of the songs from the book have been chosen for inclusion in the Sing Up! songbank - the government's national singing campaign. So visit www.singup.org for a taster!

TEACHING GUIDES

Improve your teaching!
Teaching Beginners
Harris, Paul

Improve your teaching! is a ‘must have’ handbook for all instrumental and singing teachers. Packed full of comprehensive advice and practical strategies, it offers creative yet accessible solutions to the challenges faced in music education. It outlines Paul Harris's innovative strategy of 'Simultaneous Learning': a method that encourages the development of musical insight by making connections between all aspects of musicianship and discusses topics including lesson preparation, aural and memory work, effective practice, improvisation and composition, sight-reading and group teaching.

Cleverly fusing established teaching techniques with fresh and exciting ideas
Improve your teaching! represents a modern and holistic approach to musical instruction.

Teaching beginners is a huge responsibility and challenge, but also reaps enormous rewards. Today there are a host of colourful tutors to choose from – but none tackle how to teach beginners …

Energising and inspirational, Teaching Beginners is a “must have” handbook for all instrumental and singing teachers. Distilled from years of the author’s personal experience and research, it looks at all the issues concerning the teaching of beginners, outlining a series of principles, ideas and strategies upon which the best foundations can be laid.

Topics covered include how to approach the first lesson, practice ideas for beginners, introducing the tutor book and notation, taking stock and moving forward, inheriting pupils, improvisation and composition for beginners.

I wouldn't normally write copious notes in the margin of a new book, or underline sections whilst reading it for the first time, but such is the inspirational level of Paul Harris' latest book that I felt it was essential to take in his wise words of wisdom in big gulps...It's brilliant for dyed-in-the-wool teachers like me or those starting out in this fantastic profession...If only there had been books like this when I was starting out 30 years ago!

ESTA News and Views, Autumn 2008

	Sound Bites Frostick, Richard and Marsh, Lin In Sound Bites, Richard Frostick and Lin Marsh pool their wealth of experience to present imaginative and practical ideas for time-efficient music making, based on starting points inspired by the school year. The book provides over one hundred and fifty ideas for listening, composing, performing and appraising. The lyrical, catchy (and often humorous) songs of Lin Marsh complement the activities suggested in the text. Sound Bites caters for primary school children from Year 1 to Year 6, and the addition of an accompanying CD makes this an invaluable teaching resource both for non-specialists and music teachers alike.

CONFIDENCE BOOSTING BOOKS

	The show must go on! Marsh, Lin and Cook, Wendy The show must go on! provides all the necessary information for staging a successful show. This valuable resource provides help in choosing imaginative repertoire, gives tips on designing sets costumes and props, takes you through planning a rehearsal schedule and gives practical guidance on technical issues such as lighting and sound, as well as giving invaluable advice on musical direction and preparation for performance. “The show must go on packs in a wealth of practical advice from two of the small number of expert practitioner-writers who are as much at home in the school hall as in the professional theatre…They manage to impart a great number of practical suggestions while keeping the field of reference as broad and non-specific as possible…it is a book that needed to be written…Anyone who takes Marsh and Cook’s advice to heart would not go far wrong…” Music Teacher, October 2002 Keeping your Nerve! Jones, Kate Keeping your nerve! is the perfect pocket-sized prop for any performer hampered by stage fright, whether a keen amateur or student preparing for an exam. Full of comforting advice and entertaining anecdotes, it will go a long way to help conquer the fear of performing in public and will be of equal interest to teachers, parents and friends of performers. “This great little booklet slides easily into any music case. It is written for performers whether amateur or budding professionals, their teachers, and parents who support them…as far as this booklet goes every music teacher, performer and parent should have one.” ESTA News and Views, March 2001 Compose Yourself! Harris, Paul and Tucker, Robert Compose Yourself! is the indispensable resource for all teachers of composition. Emphasising a holistic and practical approach to composition, this book offers: fifty lesson plans for the over-worked music teacher and gives ideas for listening, discussion, notation, improvisation and performance activities. Information is divided into helpful, ‘bite-size’ sections that support Key Stages 3 and 4. It offers ideal preparation for the composition element of Music GCSE and the composition component of the Trinity practical examinations. The corresponding pupil’s workbook, available in packs of ten, contains twenty-two worksheets. “This is a well-presented guide, which provides the seeds for the teacher to develop and expand. Music teachers will remain over-worked but resources such as this should ease their burden a little.” Music Teacher Sound Beginnings Frostick, Richard Sound Beginnings offers advice to all primary-level teachers who may not be specialists in the field of music. It provides practical strategies for teaching children to engage, practically, with music of all kinds – offering ideas for five-minute activities, as well as more extended classroom projects. In this book Richard Frostick gives the benefit of twenty years experience as a music teacher, advisor and inspector. “Sound Beginnings is a good starting point for anyone new to teaching music and will give positive encouragement to teachers to use their existing skills and plan realistically and musically. It will deliver its aim to help build confidence as readers will find their own level – beginning perhaps with five-minute activities or the aspect of music they feel most happy with and then extending work as they respond to their pupils’ enjoyment.” Primary Music Today, Spring 2002

GROUP TEACHING

RecorderWorld
Wedgwood, Pam

RecorderWorld promotes a brand new approach to recorder playing that engages with children at their own level, using animation and colour to help them learn and have fun. Pam Wedgwood believes that learning to play the recorder will give pupils musical skills they will enjoy for the rest of their lives and that through this approachable instrument, it is possible to open up a world of musical possibilities. By taking a holistic approach, RecorderWorld helps to build the foundations of a rounded musician. Packed with exercises such as percussion boxes, clapping games, aural activities, improvisation ideas and lyrics for singing along, it is ideal for both individual use and the classroom environment.

“RecorderWorld’ is a whole new adventure in recorder playing designed to take the young player from their very first encounter with the instrument to performance of substantial pieces and duets. It includes two student volumes, a teachers’ book and an accompanying CD, all packed with ideas and activities. Besides learning the notes there are opportunities to improvise, learn a little theory, practise technique and instil a sense of rhythm – it’s all on pages which verge on being over-packed, with more information than you can handle. The accompanying CD provides some fun backings…”

Sheet Music, Winter 2003

	Beat It! African Dances Glennie, Evelyn and Cameron, Paul This brilliant resource is designed for both general and more specialised music teachers working with beginner percussion groups. The book presents sixteen contrasting workshops based on four African dances. It provides invaluable material built on the National Curriculum requirements in music for Year 4 upwards. Inspired by the traditional music of Africa the book helps to develop rhythmic ideas using everyday classroom percussion and the body. The group's work culminates in performances of the four dances (with or without the enhanced CD backings provided), ideal for school concerts or assemblies.

MUSIC THEORY

Getting Started
Harris, Paul and Keyworth, Nicholas

The Getting Started series comprises four step-by-step guides that introduce key skills to the beginner musician. In turn they enable teachers to cover all aspects of music in a time-limited lesson. Exercises are presented in a fun and interesting way that enable young musicians to improve their aural perception, composition skills, keyboard musicianship and musical theory, in preparation for practical exams. Although these books are primarily designed for use alongside instrumental/singing lessons they are also suitable for use in the classroom, giving good foundations for well–rounded musicians and an introduction to aspects of music included in the school exam system.

“…This book dives straight in at the deep end of composition, accepting from the very first exercise that it is ok to experiment, but offering structure and direction. Excellent for classroom or one to one lessons.”

MI Pro, December 2003

“The PR says this is ‘a practical and imaginative introduction to music theory’, and this reviewer really cannot put it any better. Using simple graphics and exercises, it gives a logical overview to the music youngsters are playing. One would seriously expect this new series to appeal to some older learners too, although they will probably sneak it out when no-one is looking.”

MI Pro, November 2003

“…I liked it immediately and indeed I used it very successfully today with a beginner group…Once they got past the apprehension of being able to play any notes, they enjoyed improvising a piece called Asleep-Awake, and were keen to play it to their friends at the end of the session. I think it’s excellent that this book on composition starts with improvisation, as this is the best way to get young players to think about what sounds… their instruments can produce. Later on, notation is introduced in graphic form and then eventually the conventional stave is used. By the end of the book pupil’s should be writing 24-bar pieces in ternary form…Certainly recommended.”

Andrew Marshall, ESTA News and Views, Spring 2004

Theory for little children and Theory Made Easy

These two series of books are specifically designed to introduce music theory to children aged 4+ Theory for little children is comprised of two colourful and exciting books. There are games to play, stickers and exercises introducing the basics of music theory at a level small children can relate to. The Theory Made Easy series is designed to prepare musicians for the ABRSM theory grades and there is one book for each grade up to Grade 8. Information is presented in bite size sections, and each volume builds on the work of the last. Earlier grades include illustrations that help children to remember key points and make learning more fun.