Meet Ocarina Workshop at the Education Show, NEC, Birmingham
26th to 28th March 2009
Hall 7, Stand L60.
ITN film Ocarinas for Education Show 2009
Wednesday 26 November 2008, 9.00am
Cameras, Action, Roll!
Well actually there’s only one camera… and a very busy cameraman!
Tommy Relph has filmed in the Arctic and in Afghanistan: his mission today, to “capture” ocarina-playing children in Kent.
He found children at St Lawrence’s CE Primary in Seal and at Sevenoaks Primary all playing their Oc® and demonstrating their skills to intrepid news reporter Nick Thatcher.
At St Lawrence’s, headteacher Alison Saunders let her children do the talking as Jack taught Nick to play. Jack then joined his Year 5 & 6 friends to play Yellow Bird in 2-part harmony. Not bad for their first term on the Oc!
Alison feels that, for her competent musicians, ocarina-playing is a “great extension activity and enrichment to their musical experience” and for other children in her school, who play no other musical instrument, it is a “fantastic introduction to the world of music” .
After a whole-school performance of Twinkle Twinkle, with everyone following the music effortlessly on the whiteboard, it was on to meet Miss Orledge and Class 3O in Sevenoaks.
The Year 3 class (7 year olds) had received their ocarinas in the week before half-term and, just five weeks later, were deciding which of several tunes from Book 1 they preferred to play! After a speedy Old MacDonald had a Farm and an impressive scale of notes, it was all ‘in the can’ – children filmed from every conceivable angle.
Year 3 Class teacher Penny reflected on five weeks of whole-class ocarinas, saying it had promoted “every child’s belief in themself as a performer” and developed “teamwork and self-confidence to have a go at something challenging”. When Nick asked if the children enjoyed playing, their roar of approval suggested they’ll be playing plenty more tunes on their ocarinas over the next few years.
Thanks to ITN and to the children and staff at both schools for all their professionalism, good humour, patience and hard work.
The film will be shown at the Education Show 2009 and is available to see below.
The Ocarina-Teaching CD-Rom has been short-listed for the Education Resources Awards at the Education Show on 27th March 2009.
The CD-Rom has been very well received by Primary School teachers throughout the UK, and most particularly in Kent where many schools are teaching whole-class ocarinas in class-teacher led lessons.
“The generalists in all our schools can all teach ocarinas to their own classes: the children are very enthusiastic and so are the teachers, many of whom have never played an instrument before – they are amazed to discover they can now play an instrument, and teach it too.”
This Software, hand-in-hand with the Play your Ocarina Books and CDs, and the new Oc® are putting the tools of music teaching into the hands of general class teachers.
Ocarina in Parliament
ED Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families introduced an Ocarina to the House of Commons on 26th January 2009.
“The schools secretary struck a musical note at question time by producing an Ocarina. But he stopped short of playing a tune, opting instead to hold the yellow plastic instrument aloft and declare: ‘That, Mr Speaker, is an ocarina.’ He was responding to an unrelated question from Tory Philip Hollobone, whose Kettering constituency is the centre of the UK's ocarina industry.” reported The Guardian on Tuesday 27th January 2009.
Also on the 26th January 2009, David and Christa Liggins met for 45 minutes with Sarah McCarthy-Fry, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to discuss how the Oc® is helping the government to deliver the DCSF Wider Opportunity Music Strategy.
‘That, Mr Speaker, is an Ocarina.’
Best Selling iPhone App
The latest application for the Apple iPhone turns it into an English Ocarina. Breathe into the microphone and cover the virtual holes to play it; touch the globe icon to hear others around the world practising on their iPhones with varying degrees of success!
David (right) comments, “you’ve played with the toy, now try the real thing!” And at over £400 for an iPhone and under £10 for a real ocarina and book: no contest!
Christmas Carols In Suffolk
Thanks to Carol Taylor at St Mary’s Primary School, Mildenhall, who reports that she and her pupils are all having “so much enjoyment” playing ocarinas. Their school Carol Service 2008 included Year 2 children playing Twinkle, Year 3 playing Little Donkey and Year 4 playing Ding Dong Merrily on High. “They were a great success and I was very proud of them all” enthuses Carol.
St Mary’s children also played the Can Can at a Celebration in Ipswich to launch Education in Suffolk. Congratulations to all these young musicians. If you think ocarina-playing is easy, try playing Ding Dong Merrily on High yourself, and work up to speed – a real ocarina challenge!
Ding Dong Merrily is in Carols
and Little Donkey (in two parts)
is in Songs of Praise.
“Stars of the Show”
Lunch was served to welcome the Bangladeshi Olympic Organising Committee to Harrow Arts Centre on the 23rd November 2008. And the best dish was a musical one!
Tim Smith and the Year 5 Ocarina Ensemble from Cannon Lane Middle School offered a mouthwatering mix, culminating in the fastest food of the day, the Can Can played on Mini, Alto and Bass ceramic ocarinas at steadily increasing speeds. Congratulations on being “Stars of the Show”.
Tim equipped his school with ocarinas using Wider Opportunities funding. He commented that “Whole-class ocarinas are a great success and are leading many of our children on to playing other musical instruments as well”.
“Over time, all pupils in primary schools
who wish to, will have the opportunity
to learn a musical instrument”.
Promised in 2001 by D Blunkett,
then Minister for Education.
Kent Teacher Training
When it comes to supplying ocarinas and music to schools, business doesn’t just stop there for Ocarina Workshop. The request for a keynote address at a Music Coordinators’ Conference resulted in David & Christa teaching all 106 delegates to play the Oc® from scratch. “No time for making notes, let’s get playing” was David’s approach in this all-action session.
A whistle-stop tour of further trainings in Kent, September 2008, saw 160 more class teachers learning to play and teach with ocarinas. One teacher commented: “I am 45 years old and have never played a musical instrument in my life. I’m amazed that I can play the ocarina and teach others to play as well”. Wonderful!
Ocarina extension activity – a display board at Herne Infant School, Kent, who hosted one of the trainings.
Sound of Music
The hills are alive with the sound of… ocarinas! We couldn’t resist tootling in the footsteps of Maria and the Von Trapp family on our 2008 Bavarian summer holiday. And once home, it was time to entertain guests at David’s niece’s wedding in Pateley Bridge. Summer sun and four-part ocarina harmonies – the perfect companions for a wonderful time!
On another family note, both our girls have sung in Masquerade Children’s Choir, who are BBC Radio 3 Children’s Choir of the Year 2008. The Choir charmed audiences at the Liverpool Philharmonic and Royal Festival Hall and on Radio 3, BBC4 and the BBC1 One Show.
They recorded with the One Show presenters for a possible Christmas Number One single and will also back Faryl Smith on her CD due out in 2009. We find that singing and ocarina playing are the foundation for musical careers and achievements. Many of the choir played in our award-winning ocarina group in 2005.
As well as believing that Kettering is the centre of the known Universe, we are convinced that singing and ocarina playing from an early age are key to unlocking your musical talent. Hope you agree with the latter, if not the former!
Ocarina Workshop's long-awaited ocarina-teaching software is now ready. During the two and a half years of the project, prototypes were tested in primary schools in the UK and around the world, receiving positive 'wow' reviews from children and teachers alike.
The finished version includes an animated Ocarina, music that lights up as the notes play, and a choice of displays suitable for total beginners right through to competent music readers. Additions to the original prototype include three different speeds of music to accompany each of the 22 songs that appear in Book 1. This CD-Rom will make whole-class music-teaching easy for the most generalist of primary school teachers; music specialists will love it. Display it on your whiteboards and teach the whole school!
Order your Play your ocarina Book 1 CD-Rom now. Each CD-Rom can be installed on one computer only. Prices: £60 (ex-vat) for one CD-Rom, £100 ex-vat for two, and £200 ex-vat for five. For further details and to place orders, ring 01536-485963 or email info@ocarina.co.uk.
In addition to our Music Manifesto pledge to develop "new and innovative teaching materials", Ocarina Workshop are offering free teaching resources to schools who would like to equip 12 or more children for the first time. Ask for details.
Another part of our Music Manifesto pledge is to offer specialist training to music services and LEAs. Our keynote presentation and workshops in Kent, July 2007, attracted a larger than usual number of primary teachers; each went away with an ocarina and book and could demonstrate the skills with which to play and teach Music at Keystage 1 and 2.
“Thank you” to Music Service staff who visited our stand at the 2008 National Federation of Music Services Conference. Please remember we offer special prices for Wider Opportunities Whole Class Ocarinas. Please email david@ocarina.co.uk for details of INSET for new ocarina teachers.
To appear live on the Radio 4 Today programme was exciting enough… to then chat with Chris Evans on Radio 2 and supply ocarinas to the BBC Symphony Orchestra for a Radio 3 UK premiere performance was quite amazing. How did it all happen?
Researchers have noticed that ocarinas are being played in schools all over the UK and that children are making great music with them. The BBC Radio 4 Today programme decided that this could be a threat to the traditional recorder and set up a debate in June 2007. Instead of 'rubbishing' the work of others, David demonstrated the value of ocarinas, and of other instruments played in primary school classrooms. His interview created an avalanche of teachers' emails to the BBC, saying that the ocarina is by far the best instrument they have ever found for whole-class music. We even received emails from educationalists in Japan and France extolling the virtues of our ocarinas. Thank you for listening and for your positive comments!
In February 2008, The BBC Symphony Orchestra contacted us with a problem. How could they find ocarinas for the UK premiere of Penderecki's 8th Symphony? Within days, we had worked from faxed extracts of Penderecki's newly revised score to supply 50 ocarinas to members of the BBC Symphony Chorus. The powerful performance at the Barbican (28/02/08) was broadcast on Radio 3 (03/03/08). The ocarinas looked stunningly colourful on stage against the singers' black tops!
Whilst this was all happening, and totally independently, the Chris Evans Show decided to feature unusual 'endangered' musical instruments. Within a day of receiving the call, David was down in London, at the Radio 2 Studio, having a laugh with the man himself. Collecting and playing musical instruments can indeed be a great hobby. As you can see, Chris and our ocarinas looked wonderfully colourful on the radio too (20/02/08)!
Click ‘08.30 – 09.00’ to 'Listen again' and scroll to 17.00 / 29.00 minutes on the audio clip
Have ocarina will travel
'Have ocarina will travel' is the Liggins motto after two musical trips to scenic destinations. In April 2006, David and Christa were invited to lead school ocarina performances in Switzerland. Since their daughters had already finished school for Easter, the whole family set off with hand-luggage bulging. Airport security were alerted by the 'gun-shaped' ocarina in David's pack; and so began the first performance of the tour, at the security desk, to the amusement of lines of holiday makers.
Yorkshire born Janet Genton teaches whole year groups of French-speaking children to play the ocarina. In Year 2, they master 'Play your Ocarina' Book 1; in Year 3, Book 2; and so on. It was amazing to see 120 Year 5 children playing 'Hava nagila' and 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' from Book 4 with an enthusiasm and skill that astonished. In return, we played our four-part family tunes and the children communicated happily together in a variety of languages. Janet began ocarina-teaching in 1996, so the concerts were a great celebration of 10 years ocarina-playing at the International School of Geneva. Congratulations!
The 'Land of the Midnight Sun' in Norway awaited us in July 2007. An appreciative audience packed the old church in Mo I Rana to hear Malcolm Pentelow, organist extraodinaire, and the Liggins Family Ocarina Quartet. The ocarina performance included traditional folk tunes, extracts from Mozart's 'Magic Flute' and toe-tapping close-harmony Barbershop Quartets. The concert was followed by some intrepid exploring of fjords and glaciers and some ocarina-playing in very remote Arctic places!
The Norwegian newspaper article recording the visit, highlights the fact that Ocarina Workshop Oc® are now being played in schools the length and breadth of this beautiful country.
Ocarinas featured strongly in the Gibraltar Festival for Young Musicians 2006. Adjudicator Paul Harris enjoyed a myriad of ocarina ensembles in the local school competitive classes, with entries from all over the 'Rock'. Thank you for the DVD and "Rock on" kids!
In July 2006, Sarah Marlor took a break from her Cheshire Primary School and headed for the Indian Ocean islands of the Maldives, to spend two years teaching on VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas). From the photos she sent us, Maldivian children are just as keen to play ocarinas as those back home. Thanks for the photos Sarah, and for taking up the challenge!
Marcia Contador gave twelve ocarina concerts from March to June 2007. Writing to us from her home in Campinas, near Sao Paolo in Brazil, Marcia said that "the acoustic inside the church was heavenly. My Bass Ocarina filled the whole church and echoed beautifully, especially when played on the rear balcony". Thank you for the newspaper articles!
Ocarina classes were well attended in the 2008 Kettering Music Eisteddfod and ocarinas were played for the first time at the prestigious Saturday night Gala concert. Well done! Are there any ocarina classes in your part of the world? We'd love to hear about them.
A UK governmentpress release from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (21/11/07) heralding new Wider Opportunities funding for Primary School Music, included Ocarina Workshop ocarinas in their figures:
"… £40 million to buy brand new musical instruments. This comes on top of last year’s £1 million funding which paid for 11,000 new instruments, ranging from violins, flutes and clarinets to ocarinas, African drumming sets and bassoons"
Congratulations to all Education Authorities who are taking the ocarina seriously.
Masquerade Ocarinas from Kettering achieved high recognition and praise
in July 2005 as they played to perfection at the National
Festival of Music for Youth, winning for themselves the Outstanding
Performance Award at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Selected from over
45,000 performers who participated in regional festivals, Masquerade
Ocarinas were chosen to be one of 38 Junior Groups in the National
Festival.
As the sound of fifteen ocarinas soared the heights in the vast
auditorium, both adjudicators and audience alike were stunned and
inspired by the pure and exquisite sound. Playing 5 different sizes of
concert Ocarina from Mini to Bass, the 9 to 13 year olds also sang in
Latin and Spanish, mixing medieval chants with haunting folk melodies.
South American percussion, including Chilean rain-sticks and llama's
hoof clippings, along with the plucked and bowed violin and viola added
to the "rare and precious sight and sound" that sent a tingle around
the audience and impressed the three adjudicators.
It was a performance never to be forgotten! The 6 boys and 9 girls who
form Masquerade Ocarinas, revealed to an unknowing world just how
incredible the ocarina is. Whilst a plastic 4-hole ocarina is the best
musical instrument for any young child to begin with because of its
simplicity, this level of performance shows the skill and musical
brilliance that can be achieved by all with just a little practice.
A dvd sampler of the groups performances is available.
Ring 01536-485963 or email us for details.
Received with delight by teachers at the 2005 Education Show, our
new-improved Oc is already enjoying a dazzling response amongst pupils.
It really is easier to hold, handle and play!
Still UK Made to the highest standards of quality and safety, Ocarina
Workshop have added several new features: raised rims around the finger
holes and an extended mouthpiece with lipguard, an irresitible array of
6 rainbow colours and a new, warm finish. Think lemons and
strawberries, plums and tangerines as you choose from our fruity
selection of yellow, orange, green, purple, blue and red!
The new Rainbow Starter Box now includes two each of these six
sumptuous coloured Oc along with 12 copies of ‘Play your Ocarina' Book
1 ‘Starting Off' – all you need to get 12 kids making music within a
few short sessions and just £108 for the boxed set!
Whilst the purple ocarina is just as good as the yellow one, amazingly
your child will think it sounds better if they love the colour! Choose
the colours to compliment your school uniform or have a delicious mix!
The 'Oc' are in stock now and available all year round for immediate
delivery. Go to the online OcShop for colour images and further
details. Order today – play tomorrow!
Ocarinas sounded everywhere at the 2004 British Flute Society International Convention in York. The sweet and subtle tones of the ceramic ocarina sang out bird-like in the midst of their more powerful gold and silver relatives; the Duet ocarina particularly attracted international attention.
After his virtuoso flute concerts, James Galway was spotted mysteriously practising the ocarina. All was soon revealed in the Chuckerbutty Ocarina Quartet Concert as the quartet became a quintet for Beethoven's first symphony and 'Sir James' made his ocarina-playing debut. As Michael Copley pointed out to an amused audience, "his (James Galway's) talents are wasted just playing the flute".
The 'Chuckerbuttys' served up a wonderful menu, including Schubert's 'Trout' played on original instruments: fish-shaped ocarinas complete with floppy tails and a wonderfully clear and 'watery' sound. The brilliance of the playing was matched by the humour of the presentation to make this years International Flute Convention a memorable ocarina experience.
Year 4 ocarina players at Blessed Sacrament Junior School Liverpool won the Primary Music Band class at the Liverpool Festival of Music and Drama. After this second successive win in the class, they were invited by Liverpool City Council to play and sing to the Dalai Lama on his visit to the city in July 2004. Their music teacher, Lynette Bennett, was impressed that the Dalai Lama took time out of his rushed itinerary to listen to and talk with the children, congratulating them on their performances.
Lynette herself is an advanced skills music teacher who has integrated ocarina-playing into her music curriculum with great success. She was recently voted Classic FM primary music teacher of the year.
