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Steve Grocott: "An inspirational teacher" -
The Times |
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Steve is involved in all aspects
of music - composing, performing, recording and teaching. He is known to
many in the folk music world as the mandolin player on Rory McLeod's albums.
In addition to the mandolin he plays slide guitar, bouzouki, xylophones and
harmonium and sings. An interest in unusual sound sources is reflected in a
collection of toys and recordings of rivers etc., many of which are included
in his work, giving a special quality to his performances and albums.
He has a band called The Drones who are a quartet playing original acoustic
music on a collection of instruments that include cello, teapot, bouzouki,
car parts, toys, clarinet and didjeridoo. |
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| The Drones have
performed on radio and television, including Blue Peter. They have given
shows and workshops for children at the Science Museum and The Barbican as
well as at many schools and at Arts Centres and Festivals throughout the
country. They are known for collaborations with dancers, film makers,
puppeteers and pyrotechnicians. Their
recent album "Sounds From the Beehive" has been very well received.
"A delight!" - Time Out
"Surprisingly pleasant" - The Times
The playfulness of the music makes the band
very popular with younger audiences and they also have a family concert -
"The Toy Symphony" - as part of their repertoire. |
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"The Drones" - Steve's London based
contemporary quartet |
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"Steve Grocott's work is refreshingly
original and extremely appealing to
children."
- Fiona Insley, Jingle Tots, Bucks. |
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Steve works two days a week as a
music teacher in a primary school where his xylophone band recently received
an achievement award. He is an experienced giver of workshops and
provides INSET to primary, nursery and special school teachers. His
visits to schools, comprising a performance and lively sessions in which
children are allowed to get their hands on his collection of fascinating
instruments, are very well received.
His teaching work focuses on musical practicalities - building a repertoire
of songs, rhymes and games and developing a range of things to do with them
that constitute a music curriculum. He is a member of the Orff society
and The Voices Foundation and is an advocate of jamming in the playground.
Steve has a studio in his shed where he has produced recordings for children
and teachers:
"Tiny Sparks" (available
as either a booklet & CD pack or a booklet & tape pack) contains eighteen well
known songs for the early years that focus on physical and mental
development and
"Bright Sparks" (available as
a booklet & CD pack) contains nineteen winner songs
and rhymes that are perfect for classroom use with 3 - 7 year olds.
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The booklet
contains the words and ideas about using the material,
adding instruments doing actions etc. The songs come from different
parts of the world. Many teachers have found them invaluable and many
children have driven their parents mad by insisting that they are played
over and over again on car journeys!
Fiona Insley, who runs a Jingle Tots
music, singing and movement class for children in Buckinghamshire, says
about Tiny Sparks: "Steve Grocott's
work is refreshingly original and extremely appealing to children. One
of its great strengths is that it gives such great opportunities for the
children to do a whole range of activities - which they love."
In preparation is a re-release of "Deep in the Deep" (a CD with children's
compositions on an underwater theme) and a book describing how they were
composed and recorded - an inspiration for musical teachers with lots of
practical ideas and approaches.
Christine Edwards, reviewing the book for The Orff Times wrote "I wish I
had had this publication at my disposal when I was working with student
teachers as it presents good practice and practical advice briefly and with
a light touch".
Steve is currently working on more in the Sparks series. He has also
recorded albums for other artists and a solo album of Irish music, "The Man
in the Shed".
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"Bright Sparks" - a collection of 19 winner
songs and rhymes that are perfect for classroom use with 3 to 7 year olds. |
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