Our OrchLab resources explore the music and instruments of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and wider OrchLab project, using this as inspiration for musical activities, information and games.
Explore the four categories to start your musical journey.
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 and Lines. Below you can find a video which introduces Circles to you. Feel free to use this as a starting point and then be as creative
Posted in Create & Compose, Resources, Staff guidance & training1 Comment
In Autumn 2022, OrchLab worked with groups from Luton Road (Look Ahead Care Support & Housing) and Athol House (Leonard Cheshire) on a project inspired by Appalachian Spring, a ballet by Aaron Copland. This film was influenced by Copland’s music and the idea of music being the soundtrack to our lives. We really enjoyed making
Posted in Listen & Discover, Resources
Before you get started… Here are a few practical tips that the OrchLab team have found can make a big difference to participant engagement and enjoyment during our music-making sessions. It’s important to consider who is participating in the group, the ways they communicate, how they might use an instrument and how they process information.
Posted in Resources, Staff guidance & training
Here is a mind map, created with OrchLab Community Partners Chipstead Lake Leonard Cheshire Centre and Flying Angel Look Ahead Centre, with all the reasons that we create music together. Do you have any more ideas to add? You can download a version to keep here:
Posted in Resources, Staff guidance & training1 Comment
Have you ever wanted to host a musical party? With this jolly activity you can! Join the musicians from the London Philharmonic Orchestra and John Webb for this activity where you can plan your own party, from the food and drinks you want to inviting your friends, all set to the music of Hector Berlioz’s
Posted in Create & Compose, Listen & Discover, Resources, Staff guidance & training
‘Three Little Birds’ has become a firm favourite in our OrchLab sessions, so we’ve created a video version so you can sing, play or listen whenever you like! Watch the video titled ‘About this activity’ first. Then when you know how to join in, watch the video titled ‘Play along’. About this activity Play along
Posted in Listen & Discover, Resources
OrchLab Soundmakers include four online instruments – Circles, Squares, Percussion and Lines – which you can play with the bottom row of a computer keyboard or by using a touch screen device. Overview OrchLab Soundmakers work on both computers and devices with touch screen (e.g. tablet, mobile phone). You can use either touchscreen or a
Posted in Create & Compose, Resources, Staff guidance & training4 Comments
We’ve hidden some of the instruments you might find in an orchestra in the wordsearch below. Can you find all 12 of them? If you want to learn more about some of the instruments we’ve featured, have a look at the OrchMap where you can find explanation videos from the musicians from the London Philharmonic
Posted in Games & Quizzes, Resources
A bit like a family around the table, each section of the Orchestra (also known as a family) has its own place to sit! Can you find the Brass, Woodwind, Strings and Percussion families as well as the conductor who leads them all in the picture below? See if you can discover them all in
Posted in Games & Quizzes, Resources