This week, we dive into the world of music. There is so much to discover and enjoy and for some, music can become a lifelong passion and source of comfort and self expression. So brace yourselves, it’s time to make some noise!
Have fun – the cup song
GFS girl April has filmed a tutorial to the iconic cup song featured in the movie Pitch Perfect. It’s a great way to pass the time and once your little ones have got it spot on, they impress their friends and family with a video call show of their new found talent.
Skills for life – design your own festival
There’s hours of fun to be had imagining your own music festival. Why would it be? Who would play? What food stalls would you have? It’s a great way to get kids thinking about all of the effort that goes into organising large scale events.
Download the festival-themed activity sheet here.
Have fun – seeing sounds
This cool experiment shows how sound waves can create movement. It’s good fun and great for stimulating curious minds. Instructions here.
Be creative – make your own rainmaker
Bring a little DIY music into your home with our home made rainmaker. This is perfect for 7-11 year olds.
My community – musical treasure hunt
This is a fun project helps kids get to know more about the people and learn the importance of asking other people questions about themselves. As a bonus, it could introduce them to new types of music they may not have heard of before. Once they’ve completed the quiz, why not listen to everyone’s favourite songs?
Download the musical treasure hunt here.
Happy to be me – be inspired
Music can teach children so much – about perseverance, self expression, emotions and other cultures. Here are some media that children can engage with to delve further into the world of music.
Apps
MusiQuest is an educational app, which teaches children about melodies, chord progressions and other skills through getting them to make their own music. It’s based around a system of weekly quests, with lots of sampled instruments to explore. Full access involves a monthly subscription but there is plenty of free fun on there!
Piano Dust Buster allows you to set up your iPhone or iPad above a keyboard, so children can work through its exercises, with the app listening (via the microphone) to assess their efforts. There’s also an option to do this with a virtual piano.
Books
Ada’s Violin by Susan Hood (for ages 6-9)
A story based on real life events! Ada Ríos grew up in Cateura, a small town in Paraguay built on a landfill. She dreamed of playing the violin, but with little money for anything but the bare essentials, it was never an option…until a music teacher named Favio Chávez arrived. He wanted to give the children of Cateura something special, so he made them instruments out of materials found in the trash. It was a crazy idea, but one that would leave Ada—and her town—forever changed. Now, the Recycled Orchestra plays venues around the world, spreading their message of hope and innovation.
Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl by Debbi Michico Florence (for ages 6-9)
It’s talent show time at school, and eight-year-old Jasmine Toguchi is excited to show her stuff. But as she thinks about her strengths―tree-climbing, mochi making, collage―none of them feel quite right to perform on-stage. Jasmine’s friends already have a talent: Tommy yo-yo’s, Daisy dances, and Linnie plays piano.
When Jasmine’s mum introduces her to the taiko, a traditional Japanese drum, Jasmine finally finds an activity that feels just right. Join Jasmine as she discovers her talent―and the difference between being the best and trying your best.
All Summer Long by Hope Larson (for ages 9-12)
Thirteen-year-old Bina combats a boring summer with a lot of guitar playing and bad TV, but things look up when she finds an unlikely companion in her best friend Austin’s older sister, who bond over their love of music. But then Austin starts acting strangely. How Bina and Austin rise above their growing pains and reestablish their friendship and respect for their differences makes for a touching and funny coming-of-age story. The graphic novel format of the book makes it a really good choice for kids who aren’t mad about reading.
Playlist
Here’s a Spotify playlist of some of our favourtie tunes from and for girls and women who are #unstoppable!
If you enjoyed music week, why not check out some of our other themed activities?
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