Music has always been a huge part of my life from a young age. I began playing violin at the age of 7 and piano aged 10. I am forever grateful to my parents for giving me the opportunity of music lessons and encouraging me through every step of my journey. At the age of 11 I attended a percussion workshop led by Evelyn at the newly opened Woodend Barn Arts Center in Aberdeenshire …
A METRE APART …………Please mind the gap!
For the past few days I have been scouring for loo roll – even one roll – to no avail. As I stand with my shopping trolley littered with items I would not ordinarily buy because there are no eggs, bread, potatoes, rice, pasta and many of the things I would normally purchase I am wondering if this is an … Read More
Let’s get moving!
Many of us like to move to the music. It could be just tapping our feet or hands or we may feel like get our whole body involved. Encouraging children to move with music or to react physically to a soundscape reveals a lot about the child. It’s a very healthy activity to do on many levels and can be … Read More
Be Sound Creators!
I love creating sounds using my body and voice. This is what we call Body and Voice Percussion. What sounds can be explored using: • Hands! How many different clapping sounds can be made? • Feet! How many different sounds can be made using the feet by stomping, tip-toing, with shoes, without shoes? • Voice! Vowel sounds, consonants, laughter, whispers? … Read More
Encourage Children to Explore Sounds
Encourage the act of listening to the sound environment around us. Listening is all about observation, curiosity, exploration, and engagement. Asking children to explore the soundscape around them can help to develop their observational skills and their relationship with the space they are in. It can also allow the opportunity to observe the difference between hearing and listening. What do … Read More
Explore the World of Instruments!
Exploring as wide a range of instruments as possible is exciting for all of us – young and old! Thinking about the range of frequencies and attacks is important so that children can identify that a piece of music is rather like building a house – it needs a foundation and structure with windows to experience light and darkness, we … Read More
Encourage Children to Play
Children are natural sound creators; they love to create sounds through everything they come in contact with including their own body! Playing instruments or found objects along to a song or soundscape is a great way of experiencing and exploring dynamics, placement of sound, sharing of sounds and textures. Everything is an exploration! Introducing a child to dynamics will enhance … Read More
Being deaf isn’t my barrier. It’s my motivator | Tim’s Story
My name is Tim Grytz and I was born on the 13th of August 1995 in Stolberg, Germany. I lost the majority of my hearing at birth. My lungs did not fully develop and caused me extreme breathing problems. I was put in an incubator with a breathing machine and received extremely strong medication which although saved my life, caused my … Read More
How To Help Someone Who Lip Reads
Evelyn provides us with her top tips to help someone who lip reads as part of #NationalLipReadingAwarwnessWeek! -Try to speak steadily. -Keep unnecessary words to a minimum. -Eye contact is essential, so avoid sunglasses! -Try to avoid facial hair getting in the way of the mouth. -Try and avoid speaking in the dark or direct sunlight. -Deafness is not always … Read More
World Elephant Day 2019 | Behind The Scenes
Monday the 12th of August 2019 marks World Elephant Day. Our aim is to immerse listeners into a unique sound world. We read so many articles regarding the impact poaching has on wildlife but how does 'being' in this scenario make you feel with no other influences? When some of your other senses are hindered, those which remain become extremely ... Read More