Books and CDs

Children love to take in new experiences through their many senses, and the learning process can be all the more effective the more senses they use. The Colourstrings method uses parallel activity of the senses to promote learning and aid understanding with the help of colourful teaching material. With a foundation built on Kodaly principles, the Colourstrings method aims to develop the child's capacity for internal listening so that the child learns to visualise the notes being heard and correspondingly auralise the notation seen on the page. The method is ideally suited for starting at preschool age and can be used effectively throughout the early school years.

Singing comes naturally to young children: while
playing, bathing, rocking or in the playground, they hum
their own tunes with a few notes and a simple, easy rhythm.
A child assimilates new ideas as a whole but it is learning
through a combination of senses that gives the best results.

The pictures in the Singing Rascals books are
closely associated with the words of the songs and
arouse the children's interest. The material, both in the
books and on tape, is organised starting from two note
melodies and proceeding gradually to five or seven
note melodies. They are sung or played in different keys
[movable DO]

The primary purpose of the tapes/CD's is to encourage the
child to sing, and sing well. Each song is therefore presented
in different ways - with words, in solfa, sung alone or in
groups. Sound effects between the songs make the
repeated presentation easier and more fun.

An additional goal is that of educating children to become
active in their listening to music of value, and to nuture a lifelong love of music. At the end of each sequence, the song is heard as a string orchestra performance of high artistic quality which leads the child naturally from singing to listening.

For further information on our books, tapes and CD's (including West Coast Media CD's and Sonata book CD's) please contact us at:
Colourstrings International Ltd, Book & Tape Dept, 26 Meadow Lane, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2TD
Tel: +44 [0]1787 376374, Fax: +44 [0]1787 376967, Email: ColourstringsSudbury@fsbdial.co.uk

Three audio story & music CD's are also available by mail order from West Coast Media. Each CD contains two complete stories with instrument, orchestra and voice parts which are designed to work with the singing rascals books.

For further information on the CD's please contact:
West Coast Media, FREEPOST SEA 13121, P.O. Box 242, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 5XF
Tel: +44 [0]7974 117405, Email: info@westcoastmedia.co.uk, Website: www.westcoastmedia.co.uk