Tools to help you make your own music, inspired by OrchLab themes. This includes individual or group activities using instruments you may have, and OrchPlay, an interactive music player that you can use to make sounds online.
Ahoy! In this activity, we’re going to create musical waves inspired by Felix Mendelssohn’s ‘Hebrides Overture.’ This piece was inspired by Mendelssohn’s visit to Scotland in 1829 and it’s also known as ‘Fingal’s Cave,’ after the landmark which inspired it. However, its original title was ‘The Lonely Isle’ – you can learn more about Mendelssohn’s
Posted in Create & Compose, Resources
Play, sing and dream about sunny California with this popular classic, originally recorded by The Mamas and the Papas in 1965 and later released by The Beach Boys in 1986. ‘California Dreaming’ was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001 and was included in Rolling Stone‘s list of the 500 greatest songs of
Posted in Create & Compose, Resources
Composers often use pictures as a starting point for the pieces of music they create. For instance, in 1874 the Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky created Pictures at an Exhibition, a piano piece which was inspired by the art works of the painter Viktor Hartmann. Mussorgsky went to an exhibition of Hartmann’s paintings at the Imperial
Posted in Create & Compose, Listen & Discover, Resources
OrchLab Soundmakers are a set of web-browser based instruments that you can use on a computer, tablet or mobile phone. The instruments available are called Circles, Squares, Percussion, Lines, Bars and Patterns. Below you can find a video which introduces Bars to you. Feel free to use this as a starting point and then be as creative as you like
Posted in Create & Compose, Resources, Staff guidance & training
In this activity, you’re going to play some famous tunes from orchestral music with the London Philharmonic Orchestra! All you need is a set of chime bars, bells or an iPad/tablet, and you can play in a group or by yourself. For each tune, we will tell you which notes you need, and you can
Posted in Create & Compose, Resources
Rise and shine! In this activity, we’re going to create a soundscape to represent dawn, inspired by Tchaikovsky’s famous ‘Fantasy Overture’ from Romeo and Juliet. A soundscape is a musical picture which uses layers of different sounds and melodies. For this soundscape, you will work in a group to create some different sounds to represent
Posted in Create & Compose, Resources
In this activity, play and sing along with us as we perform a song that’s guaranteed to make you feel cheerful – ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams! This song was featured in the movie ‘Despicable Me 2,’ and was so popular when it came out that it was the most successful song of 2014! For this
Posted in Create & Compose, Resources
OrchLab Soundmakers are a set of web-browser based instruments that you can use on a computer, tablet or mobile phone. The instruments available are called Circles, Squares, Percussion, Lines, Bars and Patterns. Below you can find a video which introduces Lines to you. Feel free to use this as a starting point and then be
Posted in Create & Compose, Resources, Staff guidance & training1 Comment
In this activity, Joy Stacey and the LPO perform an OrchLab favourite: ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ by John Denver. This song is all about the American state West Virginia, but perhaps you could add your own lyrics about one of your favourite places? Watch the video titled ‘About this activity’ first. Then, when you
Posted in Create & Compose, Listen & Discover, Resources