Workshop Year 7

To find out Year 7 would like to do during a workshops I observed a lesson and some children what they would like to do if given the chance to participate in one. Most of the children wanted to just make noise. Some children wanted to learn instruments such as playing drums and learning how to beat boxing. So I decided to designed a workshop to help them explore what they wanted to do.

Starter:
We would play a game called introduce yourself. This is where you play a beat with your hands and say your name. So we went around in a circle doing this and asking other questions. Such as, favourite instrument, favourite colour and food etc.

Strengths: This enable us to get to know them and them us whilst incorporating a musical element.

Weaknesses: When not musically inclined it is hard to keep the same pace. To ensure that this doesn't happen we will have our drummer keeping a basic beat.

Next...

We would play the Conductors game. The Conductors Game is where you can have as manner teams as you want (I usually pick 4) I give them a word and when i point at the team they have to say it as loudly and on time. I usually use the North, South, East and West. This will improve children's timing and volume. I chose this activity as it is a nice ice breaker again allowing children to be loud in a controlled environment and for them to be become more comfortable with us as we will be getting involved also. With listening to what the children wanted I incorporated beat boxing into it with the help of someone in my group. We follow the same principle.

Strengths: By incorporating the idea of beat boxing it will make the children more involved and interested. By giving the game a twist it makes it more music in an urban sense. By helping them with timing in a fun way.

Weaknesses: Isn't any. Unless children get a little rowdy. However I believe that the others and I can handle the children.

Main:
Call and Response (Involving Bells)
Call and Response is an activity which can involve everybody. So I had the idea to incorporate the idea of children doing call and response with bells. I will give them 5 minutes to think of some basic ideas for later if they wish to perform.

However.

I need to ensure that the children understand the idea of call and response. Maybe with a quick demonstration before they go off into pairs. I'm unsure if whether we should pick the pairs or let them pick their pairs at the risk of children being left out.

I believe that this activity will engage the children more as they are more active with the game. It will also help them explore different types of instruments. E.g bells.

Haka (New Zealand rugby chanting)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqfHv9FOpXw
Haka is a pre-game ritual which the New Zealand rugby team do before each game. With the ideology that it will help them win. This has been adopted in other sports. For example, The Uso's in WWE. I think that this will really connect with the children and replicate the same elements (becoming comfortable with music). I will probably extend the time given and they can perform it if they want.

However.

Trying to understand how to perform Haka could be quite difficult to get passed this I could show examples (like previously listed) to help explain what they have to do. Perhaps I could use the other people in my workshop to help demonstrate basic moves.

I believe that this activity will bring a lot more confidence and encourage children to explore other culture. Also Haka being a form of expression they could also learn different forms as of how to express themselves.