Harmonica tuition in schools in the South East of England
Quite a few Harp Academy grown-ups have mentioned a national TV advertisement for a well-known insurance broker, which features a hound dog playing blues guitar and a tom cat playing the blues harmonica. It’s great to see our favourite instrument enjoying some airtime.
‘Have you seen the ad?’, we’re frequently asked. Well, yes we have. And we hope you can keep a secret. That’s Harp Academy’s very own Will Wilde playing the harmonica track.
Junior National Harmonica Champion 2018-19
Congratulations to Robbie Nicholls in Y6 at Goldstone Primary School, who came first in the rock and pop category at this year’s national harmonica festival music competition. Robbie played Apache by the Incredible Bongo Orchestra on his new Hohner Special 20 harmonica. The tune was heavily sampled in the 1980’s as a backdrop to the emerging hip-hop music craze in America.
Robbie used the piece to show his skills in rhythm and melody playing, as well as improvising with great trill, wah-wah and vamping technique. He also threw in the theme from a famous Western movie, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, as demonstrated here.
We are processing some video footage of Robbie’s performance and will publish this shortly. In the meantime, well done Robbie, congratulations to his proud family and thank you to all our colleagues at Goldstone Primary School, Hove.
Wilkomnen, bienvenue, welcome!
We are delighted to welcome everyone at Elm Grove Primary School, Brighton, to our harmonica community.
From Tuesday 25th September, we will be operating a weekly lunchtime Harmonica Club with Richard Taylor.
If you attend Elm Grove and would like further details, click the Gold Harmonica here on our homepage, and select the Free Taster option.
We are delighted to announce that Harp Academy has been accepted as a core member of the Anti-Bullying Alliance.
This year’s anti-bullying week runs from 12th-16th November 2018 and it’s theme is ‘Choose Respect’. CBeebies star and Anti-Bullying Alliance patron Andy Day, and his band Andy and the Odd Socks, are supporting the initiative by encouraging children to wear odd socks to school to show their support and raise money for a good cause. Odd Socks day is on Monday 12th November.
If you’d like help or more information about this important issue, please contact us or visit the ABA homepage at www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk
Hopscotch Children’s Nurseries
During the summer term of 2018, Harp Academy piloted a Pre-School harmonica programme in collaboration with Hopscotch Nursery team on Portland Road, Hove, and sixteen of their fabulous children.
It was an amazing experience for everyone. The children learned all about arpeggio, scales, key instrument skills and the musical elements through our games and activities. They also learned to play Twinkle, Twinkle perfectly and embarked on an accompaniment to Wimoweh (The Lion Sleeps Tonight). Most of all, they learned to appreciate how much fun music education can be. Our fledgling harmonauts were unbelievable and we wish each of them well as they move into their Reception Year. (more…)
