I am returning to writing here on this blog after a long absence from blogging. Here’s what you can expect to hear from me each month.
Welcome Back!
Music Book Review: Wild Symphony by Dan Brown
A review of the book Wild Symphony by Dan Brown. Yes THE Dan Brown who wrote The Da Vinci Code. And who is also a composer, as you will see from this lovely book with its interactive music app.
Valentine’s Playlist – Songs About Love From The Movies
A playlist of songs from the movies that are perfect to listen to with the whole family on Valentine’s Day.
Music Book Review for Older Children/Adults: The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable
A review of the book The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable.
Facts About Theme and Variations Structure
The first in a new series of Facts About…. posts, this time about different musical structures. This post is about the Theme and Variations musical structure.
Music Book Review: I Want to Be a Musician by Peter J
A review of the book I want to Be a Musician by Peter J, a book about a little girl who, surprisingly wants to be a musician!
January What’s On For Kids In Birmingham
A round up of the music and music-based (so dance and musical theatre too) events on in Birmingham, UK in January 2025.
2024 in Music Book Reviews
A round up of all the music books I read and reviewed in 2024.
Music Book Review: Make Some Noise by The Horne Section and Illustrated by Rob Flowers
A review of the brilliant and funny book Make Some Noise written by The Horne Section (including Alex Horne of Taskmaster fame), and illustrated by Rob Flowers. Without a doubt this was my favourite book of 2024, and my son's too.
Stagecoach Performing Arts School
Do you have a young Musical Theatre fan at home, a child who can’t get enough of singing along to Frozen, Moana, Wicked, Oliver or Matilda. Maybe they just need something on a Saturday morning to help burn off all that bubbly, creative energy? If so, maybe they will enjoy going to Stagecoach Performing Arts school on a Saturday, just like my young Musical Theatre fan. Read more about Stagecoach Performing Arts school here.
Facts About Big Band
Want to know more about Big bands? What is a Big Band? Who plays in a Big Band? What music do they play? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more.
Facts About Swing Band
Want to know more about swing bands? What is a swing band? Who plays in a swing band? What music do they play? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more.
Moseley Violins
If you are looking to buy a violin, viola, cello or double bass, or need yours repaired, where would you go to? There is a lovely shop in Moseley, just south of Birmingham in the UK, where you will find a specialist shop for all things string instrument. Read on for more information about the fantastic Moseley Violins here.
2023 in Music Book Reviews
A round up of all the music books I read and reviewed in 2023.
10 More Nursery Rhymes To Sing With Your Baby
Last year I did a post about 12 Nursery Rhymes you could sing with your baby, link below, and this has been a very popular post! Clearly a lot of you have had the same experience I did when first having a baby, finding yourselves on your own with them and wondering what on earth... Continue Reading →
2022 in Music Book Reviews
A round up of all the music books I read and reviewed in 2022.
12 Nursery Rhymes To Sing With Your Baby
Want to sing something, anything, with your baby? Why not start with one of these 12 nursery rhymes?
Fun facts about Christmas Music
How many times have you listened to the same Christmas songs in the shops? They start being played earlier and earlier each year, don't they? But how much do you know about our musical festive favourites? Here are some fun and interesting seasonal facts about Christmas music.
Music Book Review: The Story Orchestra – The Planets
A review of the book The Story Orchestra: The Planets by Jennifer Courtney-Tickle.
Facts About Sonata Form
How much do you know about Sonata Form. Read all about this musical structure here.
Music Book Review for Older Children/Adults: Practice Pie by Nicola Cantan
A review of the fantastic book Practice Pie by Nicola Cantan, a set-by-step guide for parents to help their child enjoy music practice.
Baker Ross Decorate Your Own Xylophone Kit
Read about how we got on decorating these Wooden Xylophones using a kit from online craft retailer Baker Ross.
March Playlist – Music To Put The Spring In Your Step
I mentioned back in January that I would be making some changes to the line up of regular blog posts that I write, letting go of the roundups of events that happen near me and thinking carefully about the posts that take a very long time to prepare. One of the things that I really... Continue Reading →
Facts About Rondo Form
Want to know more about different musical structures that you could use for your composition? This post is about the Rondo Form musical structure.
Facts About Binary Form
Want to know more about different musical structures that you could use for your composition? This post is about the Binary Form musical structure.
December What’s On For Kids In Birmingham
A roundup of the music-based events happening in and around Birmingham in December 2024.
Music Book Review: FIRST DISCOVERY MUSIC: Claude Debussy by Pierre Babin
A review of the book FIRST DISCOVERY MUSIC: Claude Debussy written by Pierre Babin and illustrated by Charlotte Voake..
November What’s On For Kids In Birmingham
What music and music-based events are on in Birmingham, UK, in November 2024.
Music Book Review: The Story Orchestra – Peter and the Wolf
A review of the book The Story Orchestra: Peter and the Wolf by Jennifer Courtney-Tickle.
October What’s On For Kids In Birmingham
What music and music-based events are on in Birmingham, UK, in October 2024.
Music Book Review: Around The World In 80 Musical Instruments by Nancy Dickman and Sue Downing
A review of the book Around the World in 80 Musical Instruments written by Nancy Dickman and illustrated by Sue Downing.
Introducing Myself – The Start of a New Academic Year
I haven't done this for a while, so in this post I would like to introduce myself to you.
Music Book Review: Robert Schumann’s Advice to Young Musicians revisited by Steven Isserlis
A review of the book Robert Schumann’s Advice to Young Musicians as revisited by cellist and author Steven Isserlis.
August What’s On For Kids In Birmingham
What music and music-based events are on in Birmingham, UK, in June 2024.
Review of Services for Education Youth Proms 2024
A couple of weeks ago my son performed with the Birmingham Schools Training Brass Band at Symphony Hall in Birmingham. They performed at the Services for Education Youth Proms along with a massed ensemble made up from several schools in the ensemble, a massed choir from a number of Primary Schools in the area, the... Continue Reading →
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