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Nick Penny's book, published by AC Black more details... |
Workshops suitable for Foundation, KS1, KS2 and Special schools email any enquiries Since 1986 I've visited over 2,000 primary schools across the country, introducing half a million children to World of Strings performances and junk instrument making workshops. World of Strings performances: I demonstrate unusual instruments like the Paraguayan harp, lute, sitar, Hawaiian guitar, berimbau, hurdy gurdy, ukelele and balalaika. I also bring along unique instruments I've designed and made myself from scrap materials. There's a lot to look at, and plenty of surprises. The children help by asking and answering questions, and some get to play in a unique one-stringed harp orchestra. I've had a great deal of experience in working with every age group, either in single years or as a mixed group in smaller schools. To maintain good eye-contact the maximum audience in a performance is usually 150. R and KS 1 shows last 35 minutes, KS2 around 50 minutes. Junk Instrument Making workshops: Each child in the class makes an original design of junk instrument. My visits often tie in with design and science topics the children are working on. (See more information below) |
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Special schools... I can easily adapt performances and workshops for special schools, generally working with smaller groups. I will spend time when the booking is first made discussing the programme and pupil numbers with the coordinating teacher.
Halfday sessions...
I sometimes do two shows in a half day visit to a school, but I've
also developed instrument making sessions (see below) and other
hands-on workshops that involve one class (approx 30 children) for
one hour. So in a half day I could, for instance, do one show for up
to 150 children followed by a workshop with one class. |
A
Bike-Banjo, made from an old guitar and a bicycle.
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Junk instrument making sessions… I've developed a range of instruments which can be easily made from junk materials by different age groups within the primary range. They introduce some fresh and original ideas and are guaranteed to sound good. They also teach the children a lot about vibrations and soundboxes Year 5... Halfday or whole day sessions with Year 5 are becoming an annual event at many schools as a successful and enjoyable part of their design and science topics. The children all make an instrument and are given many ideas for inventing their own designs as a later part of the project. I have written a book of the designs I've developed in these workshops. Called Making Musical Instruments From Junk, it is published by A&C Black. Foundation and KS1... I also often work with Foundation and KS1 children. The different instruments we make are entirely suited to each age group. I'd normally work with one class at a time for about 45 minutes, (sometimes shorter with younger children, longer with older). Junk materials... The programme for a day or halfday is based on the ages and numbers of children involved, and is agreed beforehand with the coordinating teacher so that junk materials can be collected. Drawing the instruments... Schools often organise a session of drawing the instruments in my show from life, which gives the children a chance to look at the instruments and learn from them close up. (This can also be a way of involving classes not lucky enough to be chosen for instrument making this time round). |
Nick is taking bookings within about 90 minutes' drive of his home near Peterborough, England. Please ring 01832 272783, or email any enquiries.
An extract from a website description of a recent music week at the Pelican school in Cambridge:
" To crown it all, on Tuesday, the whole school (including amazed teachers) were completely enraptured by the visit of Nick Penny and his stringed instruments from around the world. He gave three fantastic performances where he showed us instruments he had made from traditional materials and also fascinating ones he had made from junk materials. He also invited children to try his real harp and to play a nursery rhyme on his home made harps. He gave workshops on making our own junk instruments and allowed his precious instruments to be sketched by the children. The only question was "When can he come again?"!
Some comments from letters of thanks:
"Thank you for a wonderful morning last week. I have never known the whole school sit so quietly…."
"Staff were delighted because apart from the sheer enjoyment of your programme, it provided a wealth of information and a range of ideas for "follow-up" work…"
"The children are going to use the musical instruments they made in the end of term concert…"
"It was a pleasure to have someone who was obviously at ease with the children and knew how to get the best out of them…"
"You communicate with each group so effectively and really hold their attention and interest…"
"It was even better than Christmas… I liked the bango (sic) best…"
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Some schools visited over the last couple of years
The one stringed harp orchestra. |
Northamptonshire Abington Vale |
Northamptonshire
cont.
Leicestershire Birchwood |
| Norfolk Great Massingham Howard Infant Thorpe Hamlet Friday Bridge Bedfordshire/Bucks |
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Cambridgeshire/Peterborough
Acremont
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Lantern
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 Some of the instruments in the "World of Strings" performances. |
Nick is taking bookings within about 90 minutes' drive of his home near Peterborough, England. Please ring 01832 272783, or email any enquiries.