Resources

Weekly Wonders

We loved creating our ‘Dig Deep’ fundraising track in support of Centrepoint Our young people expressed how to keep going and be resilient in the face of adversity with this devised track.

It was wonderful to sing Remembrance Evensong. We practiced hard and it sounded great.

Music to listen to…

This fantastic piece influenced by spirituals… 'Sing About It' by Moira Smiley, performed by Tonality Choir

African American composer, Rosephanye Powell - we loved this SPIRITUAL

Listen With Lizzie

We learnt about the life and music of Ethiopian composer & pianist Maryam Emahoy Guebrou. We listened to THIS beautiful piece of hers.

Listen to… Nina Simone ‘Ne Me Quitte Pas’

Have a look at 'The Why Music Podcast’ by Nate Holder.
The first episode is about Composer, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Have a look at Lizzie’s fantastic resource, this fascinating YouTube video on 18th Century Black composer Joseph Bologne

Watch…

Les Choristes (The Chorus) - recommended by Tom!

Archive

Listen to Our ‘I Have A Dream’ fundraising track in support of Sistah Space…

Our young people worked hard to create this fantastic piece inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, freedom & justice. This essential local charity supports women of African & Caribbean heritage who have experienced domestic abuse. All of the funds raised will helped to purchase Christmas gifts for these women and their children. LISTEN HERE!

Songs To Listen To…

Here’s a Bob Marley favourite to pick you up if you’re feeling down.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH! 2020

Last October we celebrated Black British Music Artists in History such as…

• John Blanke, a trumpeter for King Hentry V111. Snger & muscian.

• Singer & musician Evelyn Dove, born in London in 1902, she became the first black singer on BBC Radio.

• Joan Armatrading, the first Black British female artist to be nominated for a Grammy

• More recently we have cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason. Listen to his version of ‘No Woman No Cry’

• Listen to Chineke! perform ‘Deep River’ by the 19th Century Black Composer Samuel Colleridge Taylor

We have been listening to music by Black artists about freedom, justice and identity and we plan to learn and perform our own. Have a look at spoken word artist J Chambers perform some poetry. We already have some great recommendations in our ‘Songs for Change’ section further down this page. Also, have a listen to Bob Marley’s ‘Redemption Song’

Check out our links too!

• The first is to a list of some ‘Great Black Britons’ going back to 1824!

• The BBC has a great Black History section here.

• Have a look at these iconic images of Black British music stars from the BBC archive.

• Watch Chineke! orchestra perform Black Landscapes from the Royal Festival Hall. This features works from pioneering Black, female composers.

Other Tips & Treats -

• Have a look at Jacob Collier's Masterclass on layering harmony.

•  Watch Stomp perform  'Chairs'

• We know how important it is to stay calm and reduce stress in our current world. The Senior Choir have been working on breathing exercise in their rehearsals. Here’s a link to some more breathing exercises that you can try at home.

Book of the Week…

The Book of Hopes - Katherine Rundell Age range 12+

TOP TIPS - Find Some Open Green Spaces…

• Visit Lea Valley for nature walks, the River Lea Country Park, Canoeing and Kayaking at the White Water Centre.

• Visit the Woodberry Wetlands, right in the middle of some high rises on the way to Manor House. Take a stroll through Clissold Park en route.

• From the Wetlands you can take a lovely walk to the West Reservoir and it’s Centre

• Cycle to the Walthamstow Marshes, part of Lea Valley.

Themes

Here’s a useful listing of themes and inspiring suggestions that we discovered during our time in Lockdown…

• Here’s some great information about the Windrush Generation and it’s Impact on British Arts & Culture.

• We listened to ‘London is The Place for Me’ from 1951, by Trinidadian Calypsonian ‘ Lord Kitchener’(Aldwyn Roberts). It is filled with hope and promise for starting a new life in London.

• Watch the fantastic Phoenix Dance Theatre from Leeds (where I’m from!) perform ‘Windrush: Movement of The People’ on BBC iplayer.
  

  BE INSPIRED…Music can hugely impact the conversation about identity - whether it's a cry for help, or a celebration of who we are.  Here are 2 very different songs that both call for acceptance &… RESPECT! (by Aretha of course). Next, listen to BEAUTIFUL by Christine Aguilera.

Here are some resources focusing on identity:

• This site has some great film suggestions: https://www.intofilm.org/resources
  They also have some great articles for young people on the Black Lives Matter Movement: https://www.intofilm.org/theme/86

• A great resource focusing on identity, from The Children's Society: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/mental-health-advice-for-children-and-young-people/identity

• Here are some books focusing on identity:

  Noughts and Crosses - Malorie Blackman  (12 +)

  Good Enough by Jen Petro Roy ( 9-11)

  The World Ends In April by Stacy McAnulty (8-12)

  Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams (10 +)

  LGBTQ The Survival Guide for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Teens by Kelly Huegel Madrone (12+)

  The Crew by Bali Rali (13+)

SONGS FOR CHANGE!

Check out our recommendations!

In the Senior Choir, we continue discussing the BLACK LIVES MATTER movement -what it means and it’s impact. We looked at different ways of protesting peacefully and highlighted how music can be a force for change. Countless artists have used their talents to speak out against inequality and social injustice through their music. These are often referred to as protest songs.

• Have a listen to Billie Holiday sing the moving and utterly heartbreaking ‘Strange Fruit’. Released in 1939, this song is referred to as ‘the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement’.

• Now listen to the Nina Simone version.

Here are more protest song listings in case you didn’t get a chance to hear them…

• Relevant in 1964 and even more relevant today. Listen to this classic by Sam Cooke from 57 years ago - ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’

• Listen to Nina Simone 'I wish I knew How It Would Feel To Be Free'

• One of my favourite artists, Marvin Gaye, asks - 'What's Going On'...

• A true classic by Bob Dylan - 'Blowin' In The Wind'... 

  BAME BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

  Our Senior Choir participants have come up with an essential booklist to help promote inclusivity and equality. Thank you everyone! Here’s their list (these books are recommended for ages 12-18)…

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

• A Phoenix Must First Burn - Patrice Caldwell

• The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

• On The Come Up by Angie Thomas

• Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor 

• The Pearl by John Steinbeck

• The Color Purple by Alice Walker

• I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

• Poem by Benjamin Zephaniah - The British is Very Good

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett

OTHER GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

•  Here's a book that I recommend about being a refugee:
  Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

• Have a look at some rhythmic fun …'STOMP AT HOME’

• Fancy some Flamenco? Watch one of my favourite performers and one of the world’s leading Flamenco dance artists, Sara Baras, talk about what Flamenco means to her. Then watch this great clip of Sara performing with her company.

• Continuing on this theme, listen to the Miles Davis interpretation of the South of Spain and Flamenco. 'Sketches of Spain' is a beautiful and atmospheric piece that reflects the country's rich tradition.

• Watch one of my favourite dance companies, Alvin Ailey. They perform a lockdown version of a section from their most famous piece, 'Revelations'. Now watch extracts from their fantastic stage performance.

• Check out some arts & culture with Google. I went to visit the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow! There are lots of sights to be seen.

• ENJOY!

Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien By Edith Piaf

Released in 1960, this may be one of the most famous French songs of last century. Life was a battle for Edith Piaf who was made famous by her stunning and dramatic vocals. Click on the image and find out more about the song and the singer.

You can listen to ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’ here with no regrets!

MY BOY LOLLIPOP BY MILLIE SMALL

‘My Boy Lollipop’ is this week’s selection from Niall’s ‘Songs You Simply Have To Hear’. Everyone will have heard this Ska style hit from 1964 which threw Millie from Jamaica into the global limelight. Millie lived in London. Click on the image to find out more.

You can listen to ‘My Boy Lollipop’ here!

SOUL BOSSA NOVA BY QUINCY JONES & HIS ORCHESTRA

Listen to this fantastic Bossa Nova inspired piece by the great Quincy Jones, a hugely influential multi-instrumentalist, writer, composer & producer. Originally from Brazil, this was a hugely popular sound back in the 60’s and still gets people moving today!

You can listen to ‘Soul Bossa Nova’ here!

TUTTI FRUTTI BY LITTLE RICHARD

Have a listen to the latest selection from Niall’s ‘Songs You Simply Have To Hear’. This week it’s Little Richard’s Tutti Frutti from 1955. Often known as ‘The Architect of Rock and Roll, he was famous for his pencil moustache and his flamboyancy! Click on the image to find out more

You can listen to Tutti Frutti here!

Gospel Music

This week’s lesson is on Gospel Music. Delve into the history of this soulful genre, whose origins are rooted in the traditions of the African American Church. Click on the image to find out more and hear the ‘Queen of Gospel’…

Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis

Have a listen to this week’s selection from Niall’s Songs You Simply Have To Hear. Another one to dance to, this time by Elvis, also known as ‘The King’. Click on the record cover to access the lesson.

You can listen to ‘Blue Suede shoes Here!

Sibelius, Finlandia

This week’s lesson introduces an iconic and important piece of music, by the Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius. Learn what a tone poem is, how politics shaped music, and create artwork on the Northern Lights. Click the photo to access the resource.

Prokofiev - Romeo & Juliet

This lesson takes you into a realm of Russian art - music, dance & politics. Design your own theatre set, and learn some ballet at home. Click on the theatre to take part.

Beethoven, menuetto

Beethoven is 250 this year! Dance with him in your living room, and learn to identify instruments in a Septet in this charming lesson by Ginny. Click on the violin to take part.