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| Tot Tunes was begun in January 2007 by Mairi Munro to meet a gap in 0-5yrs children's musical activities in Ellon, Aberdeenshire. Sessions are held at the Kirk Centre, in Ellon on Friday mornings and loosely follow a basic structure:  A time of gathering. We sing a song to say hello and introduce ourselves to one another. Percussion Play. Using a different percussion instrument each term, we play games to encourage a sense of beat and pulse using sung and played music. Main activity: This varies according to age of the children and the theme of the session. It usually includes some of the following: (action songs and movement, peekaboo, counting games, seasonal songs etc) a time of quieter songs (e.g. lullabyes). for the 3 - 5 year old class - more complex songs and games with particular musical and developmental aims to encourage singing, basic rhythmic awareness, inner pitch hearing, and a sense of pulse / beat.
A Musical Parade ends each session where we choose our favourite instruments and sing and dance while we play. In addition, each term I try to introduce different musical instruments (with a chance to try) and some world percussion. The atmosphere is informal and everyone is encouraged to sing to and with their child. All new songs are taught by rote. Where parents or friends do play an instrument, we are delighted when they bring it along to let the children experience it live. I draw strongly on the principles of the Kodaly approach to music, which promotes music education through singing games, appropriate to the age and stage of the child, from an early age. Cost is currently £3.90 per session, and these are bookable in advance in blocks that fit inside the local school terms. As parents often have no option but to bring all pre-school children together, there is a discount for subsequent children from the same family who attend together.   
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| %20Oct%2006%20edited.JPG) Bio: I live in Ellon though hail originally from Hamilton via a long stint in Glasgow. I have been involved in enabling people of all ages singing in small groups and larger gatherings for over twenty years in a variety of community settings. These have included educational settings and informal pre-school community groups, church gatherings (through the Wild Goose Resource Group) folk evenings, African song workshops and various other singing events. I am a Kodaly Instructor in Primary Schools within Aberdeenshire, a musicianship tutor for the Aberdeen area regional NYCoS choir and a trainer for Aberdeenshire Council, working with early years practicioners to enable use of the SING A RING 'music with early years' resource package. Occasionally I take on freelance work. Recent projects: Music enabler and workshop leader at the 'Weaving Worship' conference, Paisley March 2011 Music workshops for 'home schooling' groups, February 2011. Music and Liturgy team - Edinburgh 2010 International Ecumenical Conference Bookbug Rhymetimes Champion - enabling leaders for song, story and rhyme sessions for the under fours. Merry Melodies - after school music club, Methlick Primary. African Songs workshops - Fyvie Primary (children), Oldmeldrum Arts Festival (mixed) If you are interested in organising a Tot Tunes or Kodaly music session for your nursery, toddlers group, school or organisation, please contact Mairi on 01358 725065. | |
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