What is the most effective way of developing creativity within the KS2 music curriculum?

Creativity is a problem.

It is a problem when we seek to define creativity, and it is a problem when we seek to encourage and develop it in children.

Is making a sequence of sounds that has not been made before a creative event? In one sense perhaps it is, but from a musical perspective it doesn’t seem to be particularly interesting unless there is some musical understanding of what is going on.

Which is perhaps why creativity is something that all of us can sometimes approach with extra caution. And it is why David Stoll’s KEY STAGE 2 COMPOSING was produced.

This volume is designed to reference, use and fulfil the requirements of the curriculum in a way which allows everyone teaching in a primary school (not just music specialists) to encourage and develop creativity in their pupils.

The lessons and projects are fully described with practical notes and explanations, thus aiming to offer a rewarding and enjoyable experience for everyone taking part.

Based on listening and analysing sounds and then making patterns and stories out of them, they are, in fact, an excellent back-up for lessons in all subjects, as the book covers every aspect of primary school creative music making.

Each lesson in the book is broken down into five and ten minute blocks, with each step fully detailed and accompanied by explanatory notes for the teacher. As well as a complete set of lessons there are several short- and long-term composing projects for the pupils to work on.

Though full of strategies and tips for teachers with a music background, KEY STAGE 2 COMPOSING is specifically written for teachers who have no knowledge of music theory at all and little confidence in teaching music.

The book is copiable throughout which means it can be shared by KS2 teachers throughout the school.

David Stoll is the well-known composer of SEALSONGS as well as concert, theatre and television music. He was commissioned by the DfES to run a project investigating how composers may work with teachers in primary schools, and to write a handbook for schools and composers: Building music (DfES 2005). David regularly runs composing workshops and delivers INSETs in schools and for LEAs around the country.

Sample pages of the book may be downloaded from http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/primary/T1752.pdf

Publisher’s catalogue number T1752emn; ISBN: 978 1 86083 714 2

Prices

• Book or CD: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
• Book plus CD: £31.94 plus £3.95 delivery
• Download from the on-line shop: £16.95

Methods of ordering – please quote catalogue number T1752emn

• By post to First and Best, Hamilton House Mailings plc, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Rd., Corby, Northants NN17 4HH
• By fax on 01536 399 012
• By phone with a credit card or with an official school order number on 01536 399 011
• On line with a credit card at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=48_98&products_id=666

David Stoll’s KEY STAGE 2 COMPOSING is designed to reference, use and fulfil the requirements of the curriculum in a new way which allows all primary school teachers – not just music specialists – to encourage and develop creativity in their pupils. The lessons and projects, carefully described and with full practical notes and explanations, are fun and rewarding. Based on listening and analysing sounds, and then making patterns and stories out of them, they are, in fact, an excellent back-up for lessons in all subjects.

KEY STAGE 2 COMPOSING covers every aspect of primary school creative music making. Each lesson in the book is broken down into five and ten minute blocks, with each step fully detailed and accompanied by explanatory notes for the teacher. As well as a complete set of lessons there are several short- and long-term composing projects for the pupils to work.

Though full of strategies and tips for teachers with a music background, KEY STAGE 2 COMPOSING is specifically written for teachers who have no knowledge of music theory at all and little confidence in teaching music. The book is copiable throughout which means it can be shared by KS2 teachers throughout the school.

David Stoll is the well-known composer of SEALSONGS as well as concert, theatre and television music. He was commissioned by the DfES to run a project investigating how composers may work with teachers in primary schools, and to write a handbook for schools and composers: Building music (DfES 2005). David regularly runs composing workshops and delivers INSETs in schools and for LEAs around the country.

Sample pages of the book may be downloaded from http://www.pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/primary/T1752.pdf

Publisher’s catalogue number T1752emn; ISBN: 978 1 86083 714 2

Prices

• Book or CD: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
• Book plus CD: £31.94 plus £3.95 delivery
• Download from the on-line shop: £16.95

Methods of ordering – please quote catalogue number T1752emn

• By post to First and Best, Hamilton House Mailings plc, Earlstrees Ct., Earlstrees Rd., Corby, Northants NN17 4HH
• By fax on 01536 399 012
• By phone with a credit card or with an official school order number on 01536 399 011
• On line with a credit card at http://shop.firstandbest.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=48_98&products_id=666

Over a million young men voluntarily enlisted
in the first six months of the First World War.
What made them do it?

Of course we all know of Lord Kitchener’s “Your Country Needs You” poster. But did that poster, on its own, really make one million young men sign up, even as the stories of the casualties and the horrors started to filter back home?

Certainly the first 18 months of the war was fought by volunteers, with conscription not introduced until 1916. By then well over two million men had signed up of their own free will.

Amazingly, one of the largest single recruiting devices that took all these young men to France was Football League matches.

Before each game, at half time, and as the crowd drifted away, recruiting officers did their work, persuading any man who looked over 18 (and many who didn’t) to sign up.

This process was in the hands of the local town councillors, some of whom (as a reward for their efforts) were knighted and indeed a few of whom were even given the rank of Lt Colonel later in the war. These men never fought – they just recruited.

This is just one of the many realities of the First World War that is sometimes forgotten, and it shows just how our concept of history can be adjusted by tales told on TV and in the cinema.

Indeed, to get to the very heart of what the First World War was truly about for young men who, having left their home to watch the local club play on a Saturday afternoon, found themselves in France just a few weeks later, one has to see where they went. One has to visit the battlefields, trenches, museums and cemeteries.

Our services are run by history graduates utterly committed to the study of the period by schools, and, as Outside the Classroom quality badge holders, we offer a robust safety management system.

We vet transport, accommodation and excursion suppliers before each tour and carry out random spot checks to ensure standards are maintained.

You will also find that, among other benefits, we don’t charge for late changes to bookings, while all tours are, of course, designed in line with the current curriculum requirements.

You can find out more about our unique World War 1 Centenary Tours for school groups on our website at www.key-stage.co.uk.

Alternatively please do call us on 0845 130 6070 or email us at enquiries@key-stage.co.uk