To me, a Bee City is a community that protects and grows natural areas where pollinators, like bees, can thrive. A Bee City takes time to learn all about their natural environment & the roles that bees play in keeping it healthy. Today, using the Bee City Canada program’s 3 main goals, we will be taking a closer look at where bees like to live, what a pollinator is & how music can help “bee-friendly” plants grow! Follow along.
Read MoreCan you think of ways that music & nature are connected? It’s a tricky question because there are SO MANY different ways to see the connection between the two. This week we will look at our friend the bumblebee to explore their musical nature.
Read MoreWestben's Cookie Choir usually takes place at The Clock Tower in Campbellford, but today we are having choir online! Donna & Brian show you some fun exercises to do at home with kids to bring music to your day. Rhythm, pitch, movement & a final surprise. Brian takes apart his Steinway grand piano that was built in 1912 showing you the action, the strings, the keys, the hammers and all the intricate parts of the instrument. Learn how a piano works and what makes a grand piano so GRAND.
Read MoreIt is time for CHOIR!
Grab a glass of water, stretch & get ready to sing! Warm-up with Donna & Brian, master your favourite tongue twister & sing a piece from The Selfish Giant written by Brian Finley & Ken Tizzard.
Read MoreWelcome! We are so glad you are here. We have Brian on the piano today & Ben behind the camera. A special welcome to all of you “Cookies” out there. If you like to play and jump and squiggle and wiggle when you sing, then you’re a “Cookie”. Even if you are a crunchy cookie or a chewy cookie, you are all welcome today.
We often have Cookie Choir at the Clock Tower on Wednesdays in downtown Campbellford and sometimes at the Westben Barn, but today we are at the farm, so welcome & lets get started. All you’re going to need is space around you, something to tap and a big open heart.
Ready? Here we go!
Read MoreLet’s explore this favourite opera through the icon Glyndebourne Opera company located in another beautiful rural location in southern England. As you know from experiencing music at Westben, it’s wonderful to connect music and nature.
Read or Watch, Dance, Let’s Speak German, Go Behind the Scenes & Draw what you Hear!
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Read MoreJoin Donna & the Westben youth & teen choirs for a fun vocal warm-up! Learn some new exercises, practise some you already know and then top it off with tricky tongue twisters. Send us a video of you trying some tongue twisters, or write us your favourite tongue twisters at westben@westben.ca. Thank you to the youth & teen chorus members who submitted videos. Share with your friends & let's sing together. Happy singing!
Read MoreJoin Westben Co-Founder Donna Bennett for a fun adventure listening to Carnival of the Animals performed by the London Sinfonietta Philharmonia Orchestra (say that ten times fast) and conducted by Charles Dutoit. Colour, sing, tell a few stories and enjoy!
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