Music: Get into the groove

• 5 Stars

Music is a great way of combining cross-curricular skills

Finding new approaches for teaching children about the orchestra can be tricky. Making and playing their own instruments can be a good basis from which to introduce the subject. However, composing music, based on the knowledge children have of instruments and sounds, will inspire and delight. That’s why the Philharmonia Orchestra’s The Sound Exchange website (www.philharmonia.co.uk/thesoundexchange), and in particular its Groove editor, provides an exciting alternative to investigating instruments using ICT. From introducing an orchestra using live footage, to composing music using the sequence sampler, there’s plenty to explore.