New Activity - Reindeer on my Roof

This month’s activity comes from Christmas with Jamo, a magical collection of new Christmas songs from Paul Jamieson with Rockin' Reindeers, funky feels, and loads of Reggae & Caribbean flavours. Includes songs about Santa Downunder and a stranded reindeer on the roof.

Purchase Christmas with Jamo.

You may have seen London born Carribean musician Paul Jamieson demonstrating reggae on Music Room 6 Or you may have seen him singing Calypso on Foxtel Or you may have seen him entertaining children at festivals around the country.

Paul’s original collection of new Christmas songs is uplifting, joyous, sometimes hilarious and always full of infectious rhythms and contagious grooves. Your kids will love it ... And YOU’LL love it!

You will find the free track here.

You will also find four demo tracks here.


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URBAN DANCE FOR BEGINNERS

Hi Everyone
Mark Leehy here.

Coming in Term 1 2012
URBAN DANCE FOR BEGINNERS
From the Rewind Dance Crew. A fabulous instruction DVD that will teach your kids the basics of Hip hop and other contemporary urban dance forms.

Stay Tuned

See you next time
Mark Leehy



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ORFF RESOURCES - coming next year!

Hi Everyone
Mark Leehy here.

Two exciting ORFF publications coming up next year!

ORFF BEATS
an Orff approach to djembes and hand drums by internationally-renowned Orff practitioner Christoph Maubach.
Feb 2012.

WE’RE ORFF!
5 easy Orrf-based units for lower primary from rhyming guru Dr Mark Carthew and award-winning Australian composer Tamara O’Brien.
Term 2 2012.

Stay Tuned

See you next time
Mark Leehy



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The 2011 Half Price Sale catalogue is out!

Download the catalogue for up to 50% off selected items. Ends early December and conditions apply (see catalogue).




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Music Craft - Digital Versions in 2012

Hi Everyone
Mark Leehy here.

We are pleased to announce that we will have interactive digital versions of our Music Craft and Music Theory student books in 2012. The Music Craft series will be first, with the digital interactive version available mid-term 1. It will work with iPads and Android devices as well as notebooks, Macs and PCs.

A straight PDF version of the books (non-interactive) will be available in February, for those schools that want to start immediately.

To show you what we mean – check out the free interactive activity we posted earlier this month.

See you next time
Mark Leehy








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The SPACE NOTES - puzzle from Music Craft Book A

This month’s activity comes from the E-book version of Music Craft Book A - currently under development.
It is a puzzle from Unit 5 - Sharps and Flats - and you won't need your coloured pencils this time.

It is a prototype and by the time the E-book edition is ready, we will be making more use of sounds and animations.

In the meantime, why not try the puzzle. It will work on your computer or your iPad. We would love your feedback.

You will find the puzzzle here.

We are also working on paperless and interactive versions of many of our publications which will include embedded music and videos and interactive worksheets and puzzles. These are intended to be used on iPads and similar devices, notebooks, Macs and PCs. We will be trialing one or two titles to start with ... and we'll see where that takes us


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Bushfire Press Download Store

Hi Everyone
Mark Leehy here.
We are busily constructing our ‘download’ store for the start of the next school year.
You will be able to purchase online and download all sorts of resources – from recorder ensembles and songs & activities to folk dances and mini-musicals … AND - you purchase only what titles you need (a bit like the iTunes store). We will be reissuing some of our back catalogue this way and also looking for new material that is suitable for download.



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New Learning Methods

Kids lead the way to new schools of thought.
nteresting article that includes kids using iPads in primary school. Look out for some new and re-issued publications coming your way in electronic and interactive electronic formats!
The Australian 30/8/11

Groove E - a recorder piecefrom Cool Cats Red Hot Recorder Course – level 2

This month’s activity comes from Level 2 of our recorder course.

It’s called GROOVE E and it’s a fun, easy and creative way of introducing the note, LOW E. There is a section for students to create there own rhythms and a mystery question for them.

A really fun feature of this piece is that is in 2 sections: rock and swing.
Loads of fun to play.

You will find

• The lesson page from the book
• The demo track
• The backing track

by clicking here.


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Bushfire Express

We are busily constructing our 'download' store for the start of the next school year.
You will be able to purchase online and download all sorts of resources - from recorder ensembles and songs & activities to folk dances and mini-musicals.
AND
You will be able to purchase only the titles you need (a bit like the iTunes store). We will be reissuing some of our back catalogue this way and also looking for new material. Contact me through the website (www.bushfirepress.com) if you have any ideas!

We are also working on paperless and interactive versions of some of our publications which will include embedded music and videos and interactive worksheets and puzzles. These are intended to be used on iPads and similar devices, notebooks, Macs and PCs. We will be trialing one or two titles to start with ... and we'll see where that takes us.

* The photoshopped photograph makes no implication of any endorsement by the other Steve or Apple

Kooroli - Aboriginal music and movement... this month's free activity

We are so excited about Music Room Book 7 that we are giving you another comprehensive activity to try.
The lesson is song called Koolori (meaning Coroboree)
and we have

Lyrics chart

The vocal audio track

A video clip from the DVD discussing the gumleaf and didge to introduce the song

A video clip of the song presenting the lyrics to help sing along

A video clip on Movement, Beat and Rhythm with the song

Links to a goldmine of background information including more video clips. (Check out the gumleaf competition from the 70s)

Here is Wayne Thorpe's intro ...



You will find the rest by following the links from our facebook page (don't forget to like us ;) or from our website if you are blocked out of facebook.

Look out for more news and activities soon. Enjoy this one - it's also great for history and social studies lessons!

You can order your copy of Musicroom Book 7 here.


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RECORDER WITHOUT TEARS - IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

Hi Everyone
Mark Leehy here.
Just got back from sunny Queensland, where Kev and I attended the Maryborough Music Conference. This biennial event runs for 5 days and has to be the best primary and secondary music conference in Australasia. It just keeps on getting bigger and the quality keeps improving. Many thanks to Ken Hodgkinson and Mike Tyler for such an outstanding achievement. They're expecting 900 delegates in 2013, so my strong advice - no matter what state you're in - is to see if you can get your school to help you fund a trip. It's the best PD you'll get. People from all over Australia agree. And you won't believe the magnificent weather. Oh - and book your accomodation well ahead of time.

Find out more about the conference here:
www.maryboroughmusicconference.com.au

Kev and I were pretty flat out up there this year, finding potential authors, getting valuable feedback from customers, sitting in on sessions and presenting workshops on

Music Room 7

The Interactive Music Room 1 & 2

... And Recorder Without Tears

Notes, PDFs and MP3 music files from the session can be found here

Many thanks to those who were at the session and contributed ideas - we had a lot of fun and learned a thing or two.

See you next time
Mark Leehy


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Bumper Activity from Musicroom 7 - rap and hip hop

Music Room Book 7 is now available - and to celebrate, we are offering the first lesson IN FULL for you to try.
The lesson is Rap Rhythm
and we have

Full lesson plan

2 audio tracks - vocals and backing

6 video clips

2 charts
Mal Webb shows you how to Beat Box
Jacqui Yuan shows you how to dance Hip Hop
Rob and Mark demonstrate Rap Rhythms.

This is exciting stuff and and your students will love it!
And it's all there ready for you at ...
www.bushfirepress.com/musicroom

You can order your copy of Musicroom Book 7 here.


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Music Room 7 is ready!

Music Room 7 has just come back from the printers and is ready to send out to you!

We are really pleased that it has all come together so well. A massive amount of work but all well worth it.

If you know and love Music Room we are sure you will get straight in and order. You can do that here.

If you are new to Music Room and want to find out what all the fuss is about, order a perusal copy today. You will see what fantastic value it is for a full year's upper primary music course!

Check out the videos we have already posted in this blog and look out for a free sample activity from Unit 1 Lesson 1. This will be posted in a couple of days.

Intro to Music Room 7 DVD

MUSIC ROOM - Book 7

Not long now!
We just can't wait.

We have posted the introduction to the MR7 DVD. This will give you an idea what you'll be getting with Music Room Book 7 - Upper Primary.

We will also be sending out your free activity later in the week - so look out for it. It is from Unit 1 Lesson 1. You can get a sneak preview in an earlier post in this blog.

You can also pre-order your copy of Musicroom Book 7, or find out more about it, here.




You can order your copy of Musicroom Book 7 here.


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Putin' it Out There from Musicroom Book 7

MUSIC ROOM - Book 7

Just getting the next free activity together.
It will be from the new Music Room Book 7. Unit 1 Lesson 1 - "Puttin' it Out There"

We have a Youtube version of the song from the lesson here for you. When we release the activity, it will include vocal and backing tracks, the lesson, and charts for the activity as well as a bonus classroom version of this video with lyrics projected over the backing track. So look out for it. Like us in facebook so that we can let you know as soon as it is available.



You can pre-order your copy of Musicroom Book 7 here.


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Making the video for MR7

MUSIC ROOM - Book 7

We have had fun making the video tracks for Music Room 7. Just a few little "moments" captured.

It won't be long now - looks like mid June for the launch. The final proof of the book has been passed and it is in the hands of the printers. Post production of the audio and video tracks is coming on well.





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Drama Activity for you

Take 2 Drama Resources

Our activity this month is from Take 2 by Diana Greentree
2 actors - 2 pages - 2 minutes
A fabulous collection of 14 fun and easy drama sketches for the classroom.

We have the Teacher's Notes for the package, and the script and video
from one of the drama sketches.

The scripts can be used either as film scripts or as stage scripts
(in the classroom or at assemblies/concerts). Their short length (
approximately 2 minutes reading time) means they can be read within a lesson.
They can also be used as springboards for students to write their own scenes.

The Teacher's notes are a great help if you want to video these productions.
Follow the links from here



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The New Cover for MR7

MUSIC ROOM - Book 7
And here is the finished cover art!

What do you think?
Click on the image to get a better view.

Login with your Google account and leave a comment!
or let us know on facebook.


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MR7 Cover Design

From the crowded desk of Mark Leehy, Publisher at Bushfire Press

Music Room book 7 (upper primary) is in the last stages of post-production and on track for a mid-year release. Among other things, we have been finalising the cover. This is pretty important because, apart from needing to be fun and inviting, it needs to tell the user what to expect inside!

Over the years, the covers of Music Room have been a music room door with a window showing a group of students in their music lesson. The students get older as the years progress. They also progress in their musical explorations – from simple circle work to making music on classroom instruments and found & made objects, to exploring genres & styles. We also had a note pinned to the door on each cover: EVERYONE WELCOME! COME ON EVERYBODY! LET’S GO! LET’S GET THE FEELING! LET’S MAKE A NOISE! LET’S PUT IT TOGETHER! These slogans addressed the general ‘feel’ of each level.

What to do for book 7 … ?
Our artist, Bradfield Dumpleton, was keen to ‘open the classroom door’ and let the kids out. Which is pretty much how all of us had been thinking. And – as the slogan for this level was LET’S PUT IT OUT THERE! it seemed the perfect idea. Now all we had to do was get the actual look right – to give a hint as to the contents.

Here’s Bradfield’s first pencil rough. You can click on it to see it in more detail. Not quite there. Let’s see … hip hop and rhyming techniques are covered in this book … and students are encouraged to bring guitars and keyboards into their work … and the program ends with a musical party …

Here’s the second pencil rough.

Much better. Again, click on the image to see it in more detail.

Stay tuned for the final pic – we’ll blog it as soon as it’s got the green light.



Mark Leehy
Publisher, Bushfire Press

The Last Music Room

From the crowded desk of Mark Leehy, Publisher at Bushfire Press

Hi All

It sure has been a busy term 1 for us here at Bushfire Press. We have been recording and filming material for Music Room book 7 – upper primary. This is the final instalment in the series and has been the hardest but most rewarding level of the program. It was so important to keep up the standard and to keep up the level of student engagement – which, as you know, is trickier with senior primary students. So we retained the services of some wonderful and outstanding experts. The result is a fabulous set of units:

Rhythm & Rhyme - rap & hip hop rhythms & rhyming loops, turnarounds, chords,

Body & Beat - rhythm, movement & choreography, body percussion, found objects

Words & Music - generating lyrics, making melodies, using tempo, creating songs, grooves & colours

Fun ‘n’ Games - a cracker of an ending to the program, with musical puzzles, musical art, listening & singing games, moving games, musical parlour games, battle of the bands … and a class party!

As usual there are 4 audio CDs of music (one per unit) and over an hour of DVD footage – including a premier hip hop crew, an introduction to gumleaf and didgeridu from Gunnai Man (and recent ‘Spicks & Specks’ guest) Wayne Thorpe, the art of beatboxing demystified by vocal gymnast Mal Webb … and a host of dance steps, theory and playing techniques.

We'll keep you posted as we get into production.

See you next time

Mark Leehy
Publisher, Bushfire Press

Video from Take 2 Drama Resource

We are about to post an activity from our new drama resource, "Take 2"
Here is a sneek preview of the video track.




This is a sample 2 minute drama sketch from
Take 2 Drama Resources
by
Diana Greentree
from Bushfire Press
www.bushfireress.com/primary/plays.html
2 actors - 2 pages - 2 minutes

A fabulous collection of 14 fun and easy drama sketches for classroom drama.

All sketches for 2 actors;
all sketches max 2 minutes.

ALL SCRIPTS PHOTOCOPIABLE FROM CDROM
ALL SCRIPTS DEMONSTRTED ON DVD

Simple video methods explained.

THE CONCEPT OF TAKE 2
TAKE 2 is a series of study pieces.
Each script contains 1 scene.
Each script is roughly 2 minutes duration.
Each script requires 2 actors.
Each scene is a conversation between 2 people.

HOW TO USE TAKE 2
There are 2 main ways to use Take 2:
Students in pairs -
each pair prepares a different scene. or
more pairs prepare the same scene - for contrast and discussion.

The scripts can be used either as film scripts or as stage scripts (in the classroom or at assemblies/concerts). Their short length (approximately 2 minutes reading time) means they can be read within a lesson. They can also be used as springboards for students to write their own scenes.


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2011 Musicals SALE extended

We have extended our 2011 Musicals sale to the end of April.
20% off our musicals - and a free resource to boot.
Just go to our website and follow the links.
www.bushfirepress.com


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Did you get the March Activity?

We announced the March activity on Facebook - and thought we should remind you here.
It's from the ...
"Best of What's Left of the Great Southern Songbook"
The song we have for you is
My Pet Chook
We have the music, lyrics, and a drawing activity -
All downloadable in pdf form directly from the book.
... and we also have a music track for you to download.

You can find the activity here


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Feb activity from Interactive Music Room Book 2

We have a demo lesson for you from our new publication - Interactive Music Room Book 2
You can try this lesson, even if you don't have an interactive whiteboard! It can be run from your computer and you can download all the software you need free.

Check out this demo video


You can find the activity here


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