R4 Archive Hour - BBC Schools "Singing Together"

[Serial_Apologist]

Sounds like 'Music and Movement'!

Quite likely you're right. Amazing I should remember that title from such an early age. But on the other hand,

Did the radio have an accumulator and a high tension battery, the former needing regular recharging at your local hardware/electrical store?

I would have been much too young to know about all that. Still am .

[Mary Chambers]

I remember a cowboy song about 'little dogies', which is a word meaning calf, young cow. I found it intriguing for some reason, and carefully transcribed all the words into a notebook. Strange child, obviously.

[Lordgeous]

I'm sure some of you must remember the wonderful "Balls" episode, wonderfully enhanced by the chosen music!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Vy59Nlw_A

[Mary Chambers]

I'm sure some of you must remember the wonderful "Balls" episode, wonderfully enhanced by the chosen music!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Vy59Nlw_A

I wouldn't have noticed when I was six. That is very funny, though.

They were always saying "Find a space" in Music and Movement. This was easy, as I was doing it by myself at home.

[Serial_Apologist]

They were always saying "Find a space" in Music and Movement. This was easy, as I was doing it by myself at home.

Right, with me altogether now; one, two, three - aaaaaaaaah!

[ardcarp]

Mrs CS is a dedicated and enterprising (still!) primary music teacher of long experience- despite the many frustrations and obstacles in her path, including those placed there, whether unthinkingly or not. To address the topic - she tells me she has no recollection of the programme, but has the books in her extensive archive of teaching materials which containing standard material, can still be useful

Mrs Ardcarp OTOH was brought up with Singing Together. She went to a tiny 2-teacher rural primary school in the post-war years, and ST was the only music on offer. She absolutely loved it and claims that the programme was one of the principal reasons for her becoming a musician She eagerly awaits tonight's R4 programme.

On a wider issue, why, in primary schools NOW where there is no music specialist is there no professionally produced programme of music education on DVD? This would be so much better than the wholly inadequate and chaotic state of affairs which exists, for instance, in my g-kids' large primary school. This could also apply to language teaching which, I regret to say, is a box-ticking exercise and is probably worse than useless in the hands of some busy general class-teacher with a dim memory of O-level.

[french frank]

Well it was I in the latter series of those broadcasts and I remember William with great affection. I was also involved in a number of other BBC Schools programmes, but perhaps the less said about those the better now!

Gosh! This place is full of surprises, concealed by anonymity!

[VodkaDilc]

Singing Together is the one I remember best, but I also recall Music and Movement - and another one, possibly Time and Tune. Wasn't one of them introduced by Gladys Whitred?

As well as the songs, I remember listening to Coppelia, Lieutenant Kije and bits of Tchaikovsky - and listening to (and joining in) Amahl and the Night Visitors, which must have been very recently composed at the time (late 50s).

Do the under 11s get such musical stimulation today?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sing-Together-Melody/dp/0193301555

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Now they have SingUp, which is a form of child abuse.

[VodkaDilc]

Now they have SingUp, which is a form of child abuse.

I can almost hear William Appleby saying "Verse two - and sing up, schools!" I imagine you are referring to something different.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I can almost hear William Appleby saying "Verse two - and sing up, schools!" I imagine you are referring to something different.

I am referring to "Big Sings". I can't say too much as I'm still employed by creators of these monstrosities. Basically, they are hugely amplified pop concerts to which children are brought together in large venues in order to sing along. And they wonder why young children become so distressed by the noise. The organisers' solution? To take the children concerned away from their friends - punishing them for being sensitive/distressed/tearful.

Oh, well, "It's only a few of them."



It's the organisers who should be removed, not the innocent victims of their cruelty.

As the children can't hear themselves sing, many just don't bother.

[VodkaDilc]

I am referring to "Big Sings". I can't say too much as I'm still employed by creators of these monstrosities. Basically, they are hugely amplified pop concerts to which children are brought together in large venues in order to sing along. And they wonder why young children become so distressed by the noise. The organisers' solution? To take the children concerned away from their friends - punishing them for being sensitive/distressed/tearful.

Oh, well, "It's only a few of them."



It's the organisers who should be removed, not the innocent victims of their cruelty.

As the children can't hear themselves sing, many just don't bother.

So not 30 children sitting around the wireless then!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

So not 30 children sitting around the wireless then!

Not even 30 children sitting around a piano.

[cloughie]

Not even 30 children sitting around a piano.

Ever since this thread came on I have been trying to remember the name of William Appleby's accompanist - I think it was Miss Avis - and I think it was Marjorie - but then googling can only find her as a soprano so maybe I've got it wrong - does anyone know better?