A FEW QUICK TIPS FOR LEARNING GUITAR <3

  1. Be prepared that your fingers will hurt – it will pass!
  2.  Practice, but seriously – not too much 🙂  Short practices donguitarse every day are easier that long practices once or twice a week
  3.  It will take time to be fantastic – but we will get there!
  4.  Once you know a couple of chords, find a simple song and practice strumming.
  5.  It doesn’t matter what the song is – even if it’s a kids song it will keep you practicing and learning to handle your guitar and strum better and better.
  6.  Keep trying to get your chords clear – take your time and put your fingers in the correct place every time – it’s really hard to fix poor chord placement down the line.
  7.  Set a goal – stick with your simple songs for practice but keep a song in mind that you are aiming to play so you have something to work for.
  8.  Don’t think everyone is getting it except you – everyone is working at a different pace and if you stick with it – you will get there in your own time.
  9.  Have fun and don’t worry.
  10. Don’t give up – no one ever regretted learning to play a few tunes but everyone that gave up trying was really sorry they did!

 

HERE’S A TWO CHORD SONG TO STRUM ALONG TO 🙂 G&D CHORDS ONLY! (It’s an oldie but your parents or grandparents will like it!)

Jambalaya
written and recorded by Hank Williams
 
G                             D
Goodbye Joe me gotta go me oh my oh
                                     G
Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou
                                D
My Yvonne the sweetest one me oh my oh
                                      G
Son of a gun we’ll have big fun on the bayou
 
                                      D
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filet gumbo
                                      G
Cause tonight I’m gonna see my ma cher amio
                                 D
Pick guitar fill fruit jar and be gay-o
                                      G
Son of a gun we’ll have big fun on the bayou

Boogie Bugs 0-3yrs – our littlest musical heroes!

Early years music & movement is so much fun – it is possible to arrive feeling sluggish, maybe not quite ‘in the mood’ for nursery rhymes – but it is IMPOSSIBLE to feel that way by the end of class!

All the madness and fun started some years back – with the notion that we definitely needed a music & movement class for babes and parents in our area.  So much grew from that tiny seed, just as our first ever Boogie Bugs grew, and many of them are now part of our singing groups and guitar academy classes!

cropped-boogiebugsjpeg1.jpg

Did you know the Boogie Bugs logo was hand drawn by me!! #NotAnArtist!!

Here’s a quick breakdown of what happens in class, but also (importantly) why we do what we do!  We include songs (many written by me) sitting on your knee, up on our feet, dancing with & without you (depending on age) and a cuddle song or two (depending on mood of little one!) for co-ordination, sometimes closeness, sometimes independence, rhythm & the educational benefits of repetition and nursery rhymes.  We introduce instruments for sensory exploration, participation, rhythm, motor skills, social skills and general noise, craic & mayhem.

The subject matter of the songs always uses simple, clear language and is age appropriate, but reinforces learning about all those important early years topics – numbers, letters, colours, sounds, animals, animal sounds, food, good eating – all the hot button issues!!

Sensory play is an important part of early years work, so it continues with our beautiful bubbles, our parachute and scarves (depending on setting).

With all this inadvertent learning happening, it’s important to remember how much fun we’re having, how great it is to see all the smiles, all those tiny hands joining in on action songs from such a young age.

Any early years teacher in preschool & primary school settings will tell you that nursery rhymes and the repetition of songs and stories are the building blocks to early education – reading and writing.  We are playing, but we are playing our way into a great start in life – it’s a win win for us all!

We have a two special end of summer classes on  Wednesday August 23rd & 30th in The Exchange Buncrana at 12 o’clock for ages 0-3.  Class lasts about 45 minutes & is €5 per child (€8 for 2 from the same family, &  €10 for 3 siblings.  Children older than 3 that are coming along to help mammy or daddy go free!    We hope to organise regular music for our littlest babes from September!

Go back

Your message has been sent

Warning
Warning
Warning

Warning.

Come Sing With Us!

We are delighted to tell you we now have TWO brilliant community singing groups to choose from – the WEE GLEE SINGERS in Buncrana, and THE SLIABH SNEACHT SINGERS – based in the Sliabh Sneacht Centre in Drumfries!!

mic1

There are so many benefits to group singing!

Both groups follow the same concept – but will often be working on different material. Our Concept is simple – singing is good for you, taking part in a non competitive singing group is great for you! It builds your singing skills of course, but importantly also builds your confidence, gives you a second home in a group that is supportive to all singers and soloists whether they’re x-factor ready or just love to sing anyway! We don’t judge or split into cliques, everyone gets to know everyone and chat and have the craic as well as work really hard, sing our hearts out – work on seasonal songs and concerts, learn solos, breathing & singing technique, harmony and performance skills.

We’ve already had some great experiences with live radio performance, performing with the Inishowen Gateway Singers every Christmas, recording our music and hosting & guesting at dozens of concerts.

Wee Glee meets in Buncrana on Wednesdays 5 – 6pm and The Sliabh Sneacht Singers meet in Drumfries on Tuesdays 5 – 6pm, both groups are only €3 weekly because we want EVERYONE to sing, and both groups are for ages 6+, with no upper age limit!. We’d love you to join us!! Contact us on Facebook, or through the contact form below. http://www.facebook.com/themusicboxschool

Go back

Your message has been sent

Warning
Warning
Warning

Warning.

Newsletter! The Music Box’s new term for The Exchange, Sliabh Sneacht Centre & Schools.

**UPDATE** Boogie Bugs 3-6yrs is now full and there’s a waiting list started. Beginners Guitar in Buncrana is also full with a waiting list in operation, there are still places in the Sliabh Sneacht Centre beginners guitar class. Singing groups in Buncrana & Drumfries still have some places.

Hi there!  There’s big news for The Music Box this September, with new classes beginning in The Sliabh Sneacht Centre – Guitar Academy and a brand new singing group – The Sliabh Sneacht Singers! Of course our classes in The Exchange Buncrana continue, with a new beginners guitar class starting too, and our Wee Glee Singers, Guitar Academy & Boogie Bugs classes continuing.

Every class has a busy and exciting year ahead,  so you can scroll down below to the class that interests you to see times, locations and just some of what’s coming up! There’s a contact form too so  you can get in touch through that form or through our faceook page http://www.facebook.com/themusicboxschool

The Sliabh Sneacht Centre Classes, Drumfries.

Guitar Academy, beginners class – Tuesdays 4 – 5pm, ages 7+

This class is for absolute beginners – if you’ve never held a guitar before we’ll go through all the information you need to know to get started.  We’ll quickly move to learning some basic chords so you can play a tune or two by Christmas!  This is a performance based class, focussing on the music, learning songs, chords, collaboration and progressing as a group!  The songs we learn range from new to old depending on how much we’ve learned or what we need to work on.  Classes are pay weekly, but full attendance is required to keep the group moving and learning!

The Sliabh Sneacht Singers – Tuesdays 5 – 6pm, ages 6+

A brand new singing group welcoming children from all the surrounding areas!  Based on the model of the wonderful Wee Glee Singers based in Buncrana, this performance based community singing group will perform 3-6 times a year at ‘Family & Friends’ concerts, community and seasonal events.  We learn lots of songs, work on singing techniques, breathing & performance skills.  As we progress we’ll add solo work & harmonies.  The Wee Glee singers have been fortunate enough to record and perform dozens of times in the past few years, so the sky is the limit for a room full of children who love to sing, enjoy the fun of a group class, and support each other all the way!

The Exchange Buncrana Classes

Guitar Academy, beginners class – Thursdays 4 – 5pm, ages 7+

This class is for absolute beginners – if you’ve never held a guitar before we’ll go through all the information you need to know to get started.  We’ll quickly move to learning some basic chords so you can play a tune or two by Christmas!  This is a performance based class, focussing on the music, learning songs, chords, collaboration and progressing as a group!  The songs we learn range from new to old depending on how much we’ve learned or what we need to work on.  Classes are pay weekly, but full attendance is required to keep the group moving and learning!

The Wee Glee Singers – Wednesdays 5 – 6pm, ages 6+

What a ride this group has had! This performance based community singing group performs 3-6 times a year at ‘Family & Friends’ concerts, community and seasonal events.  We learn lots of songs, work on singing techniques, breathing & performance skills.    The Wee Glee singers have been fortunate enough to record, be included in the Dept. of Education 1916 programme, and perform dozens of times in the past few years, so the sky is the limit for a room full of children who love to sing, enjoy the fun of a group class, and support each other all the way!  Dedication, hard work and fun – a great combination!

Boogie Bugs Early Years Music & Movement – Wednesdays 4-5pm, ages 3-6yrs

This is one busy hour, and this class always books fully so do get in touch if you’d like your child to join us for a great musical start in life!  This is a drop off class where we cover every angle of music!  We sing, learn songs about everything from syllables and beats to fruit and vegatables!  We learn many originals songs written just for our students and dance to our very own actions songs.  We have dozens and dozens of percussion instruments, parachutes, bubbles, scarves, rainbow ribbons – but behind every single activity is a plan – to teach a particular theme or topic, to work together, to improve co-ordination and rhythm, to share and play, to create a love of music that will stay with them forever!  We also run holiday/seasonal workshops where we create interesting age appropriate crafts and musical instruments as well as all the musical activities we love!

Guitar Academy – Improvers classes, various times, ages 7+

These are our returning students, hard working and ready to improve!  We can also  accommodate a small number of new students who may be returning to guitar after a break or have some previous playing experience, so get in touch if your child would like to play in one of our groups! This year we have a plan in place to keep you focussed!  Bringing in the skills of local guitarist Rickey Fullerton for a few visits each term, he will work on specific skills and projects with us and set us goals for his return visits.  In addition to his visits, we will continue to expand our chord base, but also work on scales, melodies, notes, tabs and much more throughout the year!  We will continue to be a performance based group of course and will still perform at Christmas and Summer, but with these added elements we’re going to have a busy but productive year!

Early Years Music & Movement 0-3yrs (parent & baby/toddler classes)

Encore Performing arts Letterkenny, Thursdays 10.30 – 11.15 & Spraoi Agus Sport Carndonagh, Mondays 11am (part of a parent & toddler group that runs from 10 – 12), & Cockhill Community Preschool Buncrana, Wednesdays 12.30 – 1pm (part of a parent & toddler group that runs from 12.30 – 1.45)

We sing, learn songs about everything from numbers and colours to fruit and vegetables!  We learn many originals songs written just for our students and dance to our very own actions songs.  We have dozens and dozens of percussion instruments, parachutes, bubbles, scarves, rainbow ribbons – but behind every single activity is a plan – to teach a particular theme or topic, to work together, to improve co-ordination and rhythm, to share and play, to create a love of music that will stay with them forever and beautiful memories between you and your wee one!!

Schools Programmes

We work with schools at every stage from preschool, right through primary school classes and can tailor a programme depening on the ages of your students.  Our younger students focus on music & movement on a weekly, seasonal or monthly basis, while older students can undertake a programme that includes songwriting as well as learning songs & harmonies.  We have limited times slots for new preschools/schools/seasonal or 6 week primary school programmes so get in touch if you’d like more information!

CONTACT FORM

Go back

Your message has been sent

Warning
Warning
Warning

Warning.

 

When you laugh at other people for trying…….

When you laugh at other people for trying, you condemn YOURSELF to a life of missed opportunities.  Why would YOU ever try anything, or create something that shines a light on you, when you know better than anyone, the ridicule that can come your way – you know because you ARE that – you DO that to other people.

mic1

When you laugh at someone for what they’ve created, you are trying to force THEM back inside themselves too.  It makes you feel better, to not be alone in this world of fear – this world where YOU are afraid people might laugh at you.  You’re terrified of ‘what they’ll say’, and ‘what they’ll think’, so you rob yourself of ever trying, and to make that ok, you try to rob other people of it too.

Sure, not every idea is gold, not every song, poem or book written will change the world, not every work of art is headed to the Louvre, but THEY tried, they created something, and they believed just enough to show someone – and you tried to make them feel stupid and small, to laugh them back into hiding.  

You probably don’t even really know that that’s what you were doing, but you DO know now – so what will you do next time – encourage?  Or tear down?  Two choices. It’s that easy.  It’s that simple.

Bernie xxx

Things you may not know about The Music Box

We work very very hard!

Music has really brought us together.  We’re a wonderful little community and we always have each others backs!  I am always sourcing new songs, being very careful that they are projects we can feasibly complete, while still challenging us to learn and grow and move onwards and upwards.

We are a small little group – as in, it’s just me!  I am always available though and completely open to your suggestions.  I don’t have the monopoly on good ideas, and sometimes mine are even bad lol!  (not often!).

I am always trying new things to see what will help us progress, what works and what doesn’t.

I do lots more than your class- there’s singing, guitar, preschool groups, parent and toddler groups, school projects, after school teen projects, anti bullying work and exhibitions, summer camps and festivals – but I still always make it home for dinner 🙂

I play a little bit of lots of instruments – a little guitar, ukelele, tin whistle – I’ve recently tried out the autoharp and loved it as much as I thought I would, I’m learning the banjo and I can still screech out a tune on the fiddle and maybe the piano.  I really plan to get better at 2 or 3 of these at some point!

I write lots of songs, some for children, some not.  Lots of my songs are heard regularly at classes and I also pick songs from my youth or recent songs that I like.  I will admit, it’s pretty cool to hear your favourite music played and sung back to you all the time 🙂

Right now there’s lots of music and singing happening for our older kids as we work towards playing some tunes for our families in the summer…..

Our smaller music makers – our Boogie Bugs and Tiny Stars are having a ball with our ‘walking ’round the farm’ song, and our ‘hands up if you like fruit’ songs!

please get in touch anytime, and thanks for allowing me to teach a little music to your children x