Workshops

Welcome

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• Workshops Information

WRITING A NONSENSE SONG WITH A MIXED-GENERATION GROUP

1] THE WARM-UP

2] FINISHING THE WARM-UP AND STARTING THE SONG

3] FINISHING OFF THE SONG

EXTINCTION SONG - FROM THE SECOND PRIMARY SCHOOL SONGWRITING SESSION TO PUBLIC PERFORMANCE

SELFISH GENE SONG - FROM THE SECOND COMMUNITY CHOIR SONGWRITING SESSION TO PUBLIC PERFORMANCE

Singtastic Science workshops are delivered by award-winning songwriter/educator David Haines. David is nothing if not flexible and will design his visits to match your individual aims and objectives. Despite the workshop title, they don't even have to be science-based! Below are some suggestions, but contact David's Business Manager Sheila Townsend if you'd like discuss these or any other options.

1] SINGING SCIENCE

With a repertoire of over 100 science-based songs, David will inspire enthusiasm and excitement for science through great melodies, catchy rhythms and informative, witty lyrics. Sing about:

Geological Eras; Charles Darwin's voyage and discoveries; the invention of Braille and how it works; String Theory; Black Holes and Neutron Stars - and numerous other exciting topics chosen to complement your curriculum requirements.

2] CREATING A SCIENCE SONG

As he has done in numerous schools and colleges in both the UK and USA, David will work with your students to create a memorable, catchy song encapsulating the key points of a current topic they're studying. Recent topics covered include:

Plastic Bag (from laying-down of oil deposits through to recycling as a kite)
World Wide Web and Internet (what they are, how they differ, who invented them and when)
Reflex Arc (the journey of the nerve signals within the body and how we react before we're even conscious of a threat)

3] STAGING A SCIENCE-THEMED ORATORIO OR SCIENCE MUSICAL

David's publisher Singtastic can provide all the materials you need (sheet music, tutor/practice/performance tracks, composer's notes with suggestions for classroom use etc) to put on performances of one of his three sets of science songs -

Lifetime - the science of life and evolution
Powers of Ten - a journey in song from quark to cosmos
Many Voices - the history and science of communication

- or of his science musical -

Granny Galactica - a retired astronomer's whirlwind tour around the Galaxy, with an ecological twist in the tale

Even without specialist music skills, you will be able to stage performances of these works with the abundant support materials provided by Singtastic. In addition, you can involve David as little or as much as you like at any stage of the process. His visits will provide practical help and support as well as providing an inspirational boost. Why not personalise your production by having David work with your students on creating one or two brand new songs to include in the performances?

4] GENERAL SONGWRITING

David is mad about science, but has also enjoyed leading dozens of songwriting workshops on all types of subject with children from age 3 upwards, teenagers, and adults ranging in age from 20s to 80s. Songwriting is an unparalleled way to crystallise learning or celebrate something you value.

Whether you need a song to help memorise the Kings and Queens of Scotland, an anthem to celebrate the special qualities of your school community, or a chant to encourage the football team, David will work with your students to facilitate their own creativity, resulting in a song for which they will have an authentic sense of ownership and pride.

ABOUT DAVID HAINES

David has an unmatched reputation for his science-inspired songwriting. He is currently Songwriter-in-Residence with:

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the Millennium Seed Bank
Cambridge Science Festival, Massachusetts
Teignmouth Science Festival, Devon

His song Mister Darwin was distributed to all 22,300 primary and special schools in the UK as part of the Great Plant Hunt project funded by the Wellcome Trust. The same song won the Best Darwin Song award from the New York Times.

His work Powers of Ten was the official opening event of the first USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington DC on 10.10.10.

David is currently working on projects with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has delivered workshops throughout the UK as well as in New England, New York, Missouri, Texas, California and Canada.

FEES

David's fees are always negotiable depending upon circumstances and distance from his base in South Devon, but range from £150 for a half-day's workshop. Daily rates can be substantially discounted for longer-lasting projects.