British Expatriate Network

I know that we have many teachers here, actual and parents; so I thought you might be interested in a segment I heard on BBC Newshour, click on "Music Matters"

It's only good for today, I think they don't archive.

http//www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/newshour/

My daughter's teacher usually has music playing in the classroom. Classical or African traditional mostly.

I think that a couple of the teachers that my daughters had, had music playing quietly, but I was intrigued at his using different music to aid in the effect he wanted. It just seemed obvious that children who are normally reluctant to put toys away,would join in with a vengeance when it is a game played to one minute and forty seconds of the 1812 overture, and they have to end up sitting in place.

When I am in the classroom, I use the Barney "Clean Up" song to acheive this. If they don't get their stuff cleaned up fast, I start singing it and don't stop until they're done. :lol:

(If you haven't heard the Barney Cleap Up song, consider yourself very, very lucky. Preschoolers love it, older children are mortally embarrassed by it.... and my singing 8) )

Sweet ideas.

I prefer the 1812 idea as opposed to the Barney song but both sound quite effective in kid-herding.

What kind of African traditional? It's a big old place....

[/worldmusicgeek]

Lots and various. That's why I didn't specify. :)

The children have recently studied South Africa and Uganda, so music from those countries features quite highly. The South African stuff is generally of the Ladysmith Black Mambaza ilk as far as I can tell the difference, and the Ugandan is very drum oriented with a tribal feel and -I suspect- may not necessarily reflect the current music scene there which, I understand, is thriving. He plays stuff from other countries too. He is the aficionado, I am not.