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& have been lucky enough to have spent most of the past fifteen years collaborating with children with learning differences, striving to make their daily experience as rich and wonderful as possible, with live music and bespoke songs. We use a blend of music, humour and enthusiasm to communicate and engage with children, experiencing stuff along the way and singing about what they find. We are communicators. We dare ourselves to think differently about what that means. It always starts by finding out what you like to be called. What makes you tick? What makes you tock? We explore how we can open up conversations with our special mix of live music, laughter and relentless enthusiasm. And and then we make up songs about it. We find ways of using music and song to express stuff that goes on in our lives. The children we meet. What they like. What they don’t like. What they want to celebrate. About themselves. Who they are. Who they aren’t. And and then we make up songs about it! We engage and deal in the now; in everything that is going on around us. In the tiny things. The big things. We notice stuff. The everyday. And the not so everyday. We look for moments into which we try and make something wonderful happen for the children we are with. And and then we make up songs about it!
OUR OFFER TO SCHOOLS
MRS.TEAPOT’S HOUSEHOLD ORCHESTRA 30 mins Mrs.Teapot has brought together all her friends to sing and dance around her amazing pipe organ. There’s Terrance the tea caddy, Wilma the whistle and of course Percy Pan and Peter Pot.Whilst the bellows on the organ pump out tunes, Mrs.Teapot and her friends take turns to tap along.
THE TICK TOCK NOW O’CLOCK CLUB 30 mins A celebration of what is happening right now. We use the Children's current motivators and things that we find wonderful around us to create songs, dancing and a big dollop of joy!
THE CHOPSTICK DISCO 30 mins A series of songs that accompany some hands on/ tactile multi sensory activities. Meet the Chopsticks, the Rainbow Rollers, Tiny Sponge, Airzooka and fluffy, as the whole group enjoys our live music, which guides what happens next.
SONGATHON 30 mins + A session in which the songs never stop - literally. Everyone in the room joins together in meeting the challenge of the Songathon. A bit like a Marathon, but with singing instead of running...and we’re all sitting down....some of the time! Songs about floors, hair, sunshine, dust...anything really! Just as long as we don’t stop!
MOVE 30 mins
PHYSIBODS 45 mins (incl hoist time)
A music and movement session for everyone. Enjoy going up & down, shakyshaky and all around. Songs to move any part of your body to.
An active movement session for PMLD learners and their carer's, using our songs to explore body awareness and simple communication. Developed in partnership with Physiotherapist Carolyn Thwaites from Bromley NHS. As this session is about moving freely, we do need to be out of chairs and in a safe area with some lovely mats...
PLAY 30 mins
BLUETOOTH SYMPHONY 30 mins
A set of songs that have been designed to become songs of reference for common multi-sensory play activities. We meet the windy fan, water spray, bubble-wrap, bell and shaving foam along with less familiar activities such as airzooka and paper laser. Each song is accompanied by a video resource for use at a later date
Using a pair of wireless speakers which we attach to our hands, we are able to take a carefully constructed Symphony of music up close to the children. We whirl it all around them and if suitable we can make contact so that the music can be felt as well as being heard.
WHO WE ARE
Tim Godwin
When he was four Tim wanted to be a train driver. Instead he has grown up to be an award- winning teacher,musician/performer & advocate for irresistible learning. Along the way, he has performed around the world, including London’s West End as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables & at The National Theatre. He has trained as a Teacher, eventually becoming Head of Drama at Tiffin Boys’ School. Since 2002 he has been Director of his own social enterprise, THRIFT, developing an enviable reputation for running learning projects which take risks, transform, challenge & inspire with a unique mix of performance, music & humour. He has been involved in Curriculum Development as an associate of The Qualifications & Curriculum Development Agency, including a focus on SEN curriculum development & has been invited to share his thinking at many conferences, including a TED X event in 2015 & has inspired many thousands of learners & teachers throughout the UK & Europe, by daring them to think differently about learning.
Tom Attwood
Tom trained as an actor-musician at Rose Bruford College, and works as a Music Director,,Composer and Educator.
Recent Theatre: Stig Of The Dump for London Contemporary Theatre, Monster Raving Loony at The Theatre Royal Plymouth, A Christmas Carol for The Castle Theatre Wellingborough, As You Like It for Creation Theatre in Oxford, Cole at Frinton Summer Theatre and The Yvonne Arnaud in Guildford, the German première of Ghost the Musical at the English Theatre Frankfurt, Kate Tempest’s Hopelessly Devoted for Paines Plough/Birmingham Rep and The Wind in the Willows at West Yorkshire Playhouse. Tom worked at the National Theatre for 5 years contributing to The History Boys (Lyttleton, UK Tour, West End, International Tour and Broadway) and The Habit of Art (Lyttleton and UK Tour). Drama school productions include Soho Cinders (Arts Ed), Lysistrata Jones, Hands On A Hardbody (GSA) and The Rink (Mountview).