Stories around the world

Stories and music are an inherent part of human culture and communication. An activity shared through the generations and something that we can all identify with, This workshop uses theses two art forms to introduce children to different cultures and to encourage creative activities.

Using a story as the starting point, children will participate in music and dance, which will be brought together for a final presentation of the story. Stories can ei

her be selected by the practitioner or in negotiation with the school, to fit in with other classroom/project work. Not only are most aspects of the music national curriculum covered but cross reference a number of other subjects including English and science (see below for details).

Activities can be repeated and developed by the classroom teacher using school resources.

SAMPLE WORKSHOPS

KIBUNGO – Brazilian rainforest story

Warmup game
Group music making – conducting/etc
Learn traditional dance
Show children Cena and Panpipes (traditional south African flutes)
Discuss rain forest, animals you can find, explore sounds using voice
Tell story, children participate acting out playing instruments and dancing

SPIDER THE DRUMMER – African story

Warmup game
Group music making – conducting etc
Introduce drums, movement to drums, musical statues (children playing)
Create simple piece based around drums and other percussion
Tell story, children participate with mime, drumming and dancing

AYA AND THE NEW MOON – Indonesian story

Warmup game
Conducting
Introduce xylophone gamelan pentatonic CEFGBC
Dancing, explore relationship between musician and dancer in Balinese music dancers lead, indicating when musicians should change/play slow, fast, loud soft etc.
Create piece of music using chime bars xylophone gong and drum
Tell story and incorporate music and dance

NC objectives:

PE objectives covered:

use movement imaginatively, responding to stimuli, including music, and performing basic skills [for example, travelling, being still, making a shape, jumping, turning and gesturing]
change the rhythm, speed, level and direction of their movements
create and perform dances using simple movement patterns, including those from different times and cultures
express and communicate ideas and feelings.

PSHE objectives covered:

to listen to other people, and play and work cooperatively

ENGLISH objectives covered

En1 Speaking and listening

Drama

working in role
presenting drama and stories to others [for example, telling a story through tableaux or using a narrator]
responding to performances.
use language and actions to explore and convey situations, characters and emotions

To listen, understand and respond to others, pupils should be taught to:

sustain concentration
identify and respond to sound patterns in language [for example, alliteration, rhyme, word play].

En2 Reading

Literature

To develop their understanding of fiction, poetry and drama, pupils should be taught to:

use their knowledge of sequence and story language when they are retelling stories and predicting events
learn, recite and act out stories and poems
identify patterns of rhythm, rhyme and sounds in poems and their effects
respond imaginatively in different ways to what they read [for example, using the characters from a story in drama, writing poems based on ones they read, showing their understanding through art or music].

Science - Physical Processes

Light and Sound

Pupils should be taught:

that there are many kinds of sound and sources of sound
that sounds travel away from sources, getting fainter as they do so, and that they are heard when they enter the ear.