Calling all pop music buffs or music teachers. Music for a junior school orchestra?

[smartiejake]

Ok I am a music co-ordinator in a junior school and have responsibility for the school orchestra which I love doing.

I have another thread at the moment about an arrangement of a song for my orchestra to play that I spent all weekend doing which I now cannot use.

SO come on music buffs/ teachers. I need a well known pop song not too fast or rhythmical for 8-11 year olds to play (but one that their parents in the audience would know- not ABBA)

The instruments are mainly windy (recorders, flutes, tenors, trebles, sax, with some xylos and a few guitars.

I don't need the sheet music as I can work this out but a youtube link might be good!

Any ideas? I am so fed up I can't be bothered to think about it!

The orchestra at DS's school did 'I don't feel like dancing' - and it was at least recognisable!

Hmmm - I like that song but it's a little to rhythmically complicated for my kids (most are grade one or less!)

Bumping.

Flintstones Theme tune
Bond Theme
Ob la di, Ob la da (Beetles)

Bugger - just seen that you said a pop song!

Right.

Reach for the Stars
Tragedy
I'm in the mood for dancing (Nolans)

my daughter's (mainly string) orchestra (yrs 3-6) have done the Celine Dion Titanic song - Near, far, wherever you are.... - sure you know the one ! and the theme from Pirates of the Carribean. In a summer school she did they did the Dr Who theme - more wind in that group - very effective.

YMCA - I think this might work really well!

Angels - Robbie Williams (too slow?)

Titanic is a good one but I have done it a few times before and also not so well known by the kids.

Pirates of the C might be a good one will look into that.

Little fish- you are right YMCA would work well but I unfortunately hate that one with a passion! But thanks for the suggestion anyway!

OOh yes Angels- will have a look at that too.

dh will send you a copy of Titanic, melody and chords if it will help, he wants to know which music programme do you use? Sibelius?

x posted with you, i see you've done Titanic, he's on a mission now so wait there

mad world?

There's a gorgeous Annie Lennox song called "I saved the world today". It's not well known, but it is beautiful. I'll see if I can find it on Youtube.

theme to Scooby doo

any dream will do?

I saved the world today

debinaustria I already have an arrangement of Titanic that my orchestra played a few years ago but thank your DH for the offer.

And yes I do have Sibelius.

if you like any of the others he suggested he has files he can send you on Sib., but which version, or if you choose something else, he's probably got an easy version on file somewhere.

Another good suggestion little fish - I love the eurythmics but I really need something the kids will know as they don't read music that well and they rely quite a lot on playing by ear.

when we were inthe uk , dh was a peri keyboard teacher, in primary schools so he knows the problems you're facing, next idea is a theme to a soap

Something from Oliver/Sound of music ?

Just listened to Mad World on You tube and I really think that could work deb. Does your DH have something in Sibelius for that? I have Version 5

Don't really want to go down the soap theme route- that's what lots of the other (boring) school orchestras tend to play and I like to do something a bit different.

yes, he has it, tell me your e-mail or e-mail us at debs at austrianfamilyholidays dot co dot uk

Tainted love (Soft Cell) (too rythmical?)
Hey Jude (Beatles)
Greatest love of all (Whitney Houston)
Up town girl (Billy Joel)
Take on me (A-Ha)