Music Makers is a pre-school children's group that I run locally around the Henley on Thames area on a weekly 'drop-in' basis.It is packed with fun, music and dance as well as musical instruments and the children are often introduced to music of various genres and also through the music sessions they are made aware of the different cultures and the music of the world.We usually start the session off with simple nursery rhymes and action songs accompanied by myself and the guitar. We then move on to some limbo dancing which the kids absolutely adore. Ok, so they don't do the limbo as it is supposed to be done, but they don't care, they have fun and it is a confidence builder because once they've plucked up the courage to get under the pole in the first place, they are very proud of themselves and then of course the challenge is on to see how low they can crawl, or slide under it.The music that accompanies the limbo session could be anything from latin american to pop, from Aboriginal to African - it all depends on the day.Then it's time for the two big tubs of instruments to come out - this part of the session get's really noisy as the instruments consist mainly of drums, tambourines and shakers. Again, various music is played.After the instruments we do dancing - party dancing, african dancing, dancing to my songs like 'The Ostrich Dance'. Basically it's all about co-ordination and fun, balance and movement.
After all that we slow the session down again with nursery rhymes and singing accompanied by myself and the guitar again.
In 2006 I recorded my first ever Children's Album 'Music Makers Bluegrass Style' which has been received very well and this Autumn I'm planning to record another album 'Music Makers Around the World Style' and hopefully next start on genre specific styles. At the moment I have only some of the 'Bluegrass Style' up on my profile for you to listen. This of course is all part of introducing kids to different genres and therefore cultures which I feel is very important. My own son has benefited greatly from travelling various countries and he has adopted the same love of different cultures and music as I have.
Next year will also see the first of the 'Music Makers Live' Shows and if successful in local theatres then I will tour around the country. It will basically have all the characters from my currrent songs and the songs that are being written at the moment along with a theme running through and also allowing for plenty of opportunity for the little ones to join in. It will be filled with music, dance and fun and of course, incredibly bright colours.
I will keep everyone posted on events for that but it's a pretty exciting venture for me but one I hope will be enjoyed by the children.
I also work with children and adults with learning difficulties providing either one to one or group music sessions daily which is incredibly rewarding. Also, apart from the 'Music Makers Bluegrass Style' album I have recorded to adult bluegrass/country albums, examples of which are on www.myspace.com/lynnebutlervocalist.Thanks for taking the time to stop by.Lynne x
This slide shows you just what fun the kids have. (All photos are by permission).
