Saturday 2nd August - it's Beethoven's 5th, Jim, but not as we know it*

 *misquote from **Startrek... 'it's life, Jim, but not as we know it'. 

**Actually,  it's not from Startrek, but from the parody song 'Star trekkin'

Drawing of the day

Some things I noticed on the drive to have a 'second breakfast' with our son and daughter this morning. 

The wasps weren't anywhere near as bad which was surprising as two of us had waffles with maple syrup and bacon.  They were mainly after the apple juice, but went away after we covered the glass with a paper napkin.

Music

I used to spend nearly a whole term on Beethoven's 5th symphony some years with the year 5/6 children - 10 and 11 year olds - with the help of listening and composition activities, and learning to play it on ocarinas. It kept me amused, and I think the children enjoyed it. I'd also cover morse code: 

. . .  ___

so it fitted in nicely with V for victory as well!

The two videos I especially enjoyed playing were this one, with a graphic score (now compose your own piece on squared paper...)

and, towards the end of the series when they were familiar with the movement, this Peter Schikerle comedy version. As a spoof on family friendly concerts, when classics are presented in a more relaxed style, he does a commentary on the symphony as though it was a baseball game...

I don't know much about baseball, but the commentary is musically accurate. And it is worth knowing that the strings on a bass guitar and a double bass are tuned to the same notes...

Music