The Rocktopus Experience For Special Schools Workshops

We are based in Frome, Somerset but are happy to travel. Here are our travel costs*:

- Up to 1 hour away: No extra charge

- Between 1 and 2 hours away: £70 (transport)

- Between 2 and 3 hours away: £140 (transport and accommodation)

- 3 - 4 hours away: £190 (transport and accommodation)

- 4+ hours away: We are are on occasion open to travelling this far although there are a few conditions which we will need to discuss with you before committing. Get in touch for more information.

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*All costs above are based on a one day visit. 2 day visits over 1 hour away have an extra £65 added for accommodation.

In mainstream schools we run 4 hour long sessions throughout the day. In special schools we can do up to 7 workshops. This is becuase we've found from experience that some classes in special schools prefer shorter half hour long workshops in smaller groups

You can choose from the following: songwriting, music making, musical/sensory, or other. Here’s a little more info to help you decide.

Songwriting:

Simple level
For children who are perhaps less verbal or non verbal, we can create our ‘name song’. In this activity, we get all the children’s names and find out something which they like and something which they don’t like. This can come from the child or their carer. We then turn all of this information into lyrics for our song which we sing and perform to the children. The children love hearing their names in the song as they wave to us (perhaps with help), and enjoy having us look at them and show that we know something about them as we sing. This song can be recorded and given to you to use as a daily activity in class.

Advanced Level
In this session children will choose the chords from our chord cards, and come up with ideas for lyrics for whatever song theme you'd like them to work with. We can give as much or little input as is needed to make this possible. We then help the children to create dance/movement routines for each part of the song which they can perform as we play. These can be as simple or complex as needed. There is then the opportunity to make a music video of the session at the end with children moving to the music.

Music making
Children work with simple percussive and tuned instruments to engage with the band. We will lead some inclusive drum circle type activities at whatever level of need is appropriate.

Musical/sensory
This is more of a performance or sensory experience for children. We can introduce our instruments and start at very quiet levels gently showing different rhythms and sounds. Over the session we can increase the volume and intensity in line with the children’s sensory needs. It’s a way of bringing a live music experience to children for whom it might usually be too intense. We are able to respond to the children and teachers and make it as energetic as is appropriate for the group.

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