Musician of the Month

Musician of the Month runs alongside our high quality music curriculum at Springdale. Musicians are carefully selected for the children to learn about each month. We focus on a wide range of music with the aim of creating a culture of musical appreciation and understanding within our school.

March 2025

During March, we are listening to and appreciating the music of Beethoven.

"What I have in my heart and soul must find a way out. That's the reason for music" Ludwig Van Beethoven

W/C 3^rd March – Beethoven. Moonlight Sonata. 1^st Movement Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata 1st Movement

W/C 10^th March – Beethoven. Symphony No 5. Ludwig Van Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, Op. 67

W/C 17^th March – Beethoven. Fur Elise. Beethoven - Für Elise (Piano Version)

W/C 24^th March – Beethoven. Symphony No 3. Allegro Con Brio. Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E Flat Major, Op. 55 "Eroica": I. Allegro con brio

Fascinating facts about Beethoven.

Beethoven was forced into music. Beethoven’s father, Johann van Beethoven, knew his son enjoyed playing the piano so, he took it upon himself to try to create a prodigy – like Mozart. It didn’t matter what time, night or day, Beethoven was forced to practice until he could reach the prodigy level.
Beethoven composed music he couldn’t hear. Many people know that Beethoven was deaf, but nobody really knows why. But, he was not always unable to hear and it was not until he was about 26 years old when he started losing his hearing.
Beethoven and Mozart Studied with the same teacher.
Beethoven didn’t like teaching. Because of his fame and his talent in composing, many musicians sought after him for lessons. However, Beethoven would have rather spent his time composing or doing anything but giving piano lessons. That is, of course, unless there was an exception. If he felt that someone was a very talented student or an incredibly attractive young woman, Beethoven would make an exception and take on the role of a teacher.

February 2025

During February, we are listening to and appreciating the music of Michael Buble.

“When I hear music, something in me starts to fly.” Michale Buble

Each week has a new song to listen to. Click on the links below to be taken to each song.

W/C 3^rd February – Home Michael Bublé - Home [Official Music Video]

W/C 10^th February – Everything Michael Bublé - Everything [Official Music Video] - YouTube

W/C 24^th February – Haven’t met you yet Michael Bublé - Haven't Met You Yet [Official Music Video]

Fascinating facts about Michael Buble

Michael Buble found a worldwide audience with his 2005 album It's Time and his 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible – which reached number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, the UK Albums Chart, the US Billboard 200, the Australian ARIA Albums Chart and several European charts.
Michael Steven Buble was born in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada on September 9,1975, the son of Lewis Buble, a fisherman with Croatian ancestry from Losinj, and Amber, of Italian origin.
Michael Buble has a strong passion for ice hockey and wanted to become a professional hockey player for the Vancouver Canucks growing up, but believed he was not good enough.
Michael Buble grew up listening to his grandfather's collection of jazz records and credits his grandfather in encouraging his love for jazz music.
Michael Buble stated he never learned to read and write music, using only emotion to drive his songwriting ability.

January 25

During January, we are listening to and appreciating the music of Spice Girls.

“Spice Girls is about unifying the world – every age, every gender, everyone. It’s woman power, it’s an essence, a tribe” Geri Halliwell.

Each week has a new song to listen to. Click on the links below to be taken to each song.

W/C 13^th January – Stop Spice Girls - Stop (Official Music Video)

W/C 20^th January – Mama spice girls mama - YouTube

W/C 27^th January – Spice up your life spice girls spice up your life - YouTube

Fascinating facts about Spice Girls.

The group were formed in 1994, after auditions for female singers.
Each member took nicknames, such as “Sporty Spice” or “Baby Spice.”
They were also songwriters.
Beyond their music, Spice Girls’ influence extended to fashion, female empowerment, and popular culture, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to resonate with fans worldwide.

December 24

During December, we are listening to and appreciating the music of Tchaikovsky.

“Inspiration is a guest that does not willingly visit the lazy.”

Tchaikovsky

W/C 2^nd December – Piano Concerto number 1 Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23 - Anna Fedorova - Live Concert HD

W/C 9^th December – The Nutcracker Suite. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Simon Rattle & Berliner Philharmoniker – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker)

W/C 16^th December – Swan Lake. Dance of the Swans Tchaikovsky - Dance Of The Swans

November 24

During November, we are listening to and appreciating the music of David Bowie.

"Sometimes you stumble across a few chords that put you in a reflective place."

David Bowie

Each week has a new song to listen to. Click on the links below to be taken to each song

W/C 4th November - Under Pressure under pressure - YouTube

W/C 11th November - Heroes David Bowie - Heroes (Official Video) (youtube.com)

W/C 18th November - Let's Dance David Bowie - Let's Dance (Official Video) (youtube.com)

W/C 25th November - Absolute beginners David Bowie - Absolute Beginners (Official Video), Full HD (Digitally Remastered & Upscaled) (youtube.com)

October 24

During October, we are listening to and appreciating the music of Nina Simone.

“Anything human can be felt through music, which means that there is no limit to the creating that can be done with music. You can take the same phrase from any song and cut it up so many different ways – it’s infinite.”

Nina Simone

Here are some facts about Nina Simone

Nina Simone was her stage name. Her real name was Eunice Kathleen Waymon.
She was born on February 21^st 1933
She learnt to play the piano and organ as a child.
She came from humble beginnings.
Nina Simone was a star student.
Nina Simone had several honorary degrees.
At the age of 12 at her first piano recital, her parents had to stand at the back of the hall because they were black. This was the first time that she was made aware of racism. From then on Nina Simone used music to take a stand.

Each week has a new song to listen to. Click on the links below to be taken to each song

W/C 7^th October – My Baby Just Cares for Me nina simone - my baby just cares for me (youtube.com)

W/C 14^th October – Feeling Good Feeling Good - Nina Simone (1965) (youtube.com)

W/C 21^st October – I Put a Spell On You Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You (Official Video) (youtube.com)

September 24

During September, we are listening to and appreciating the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

"You're the luckiest person in the entire world if you know what you really want to do, which I was lucky enough to know when I was young. And you're the luckiest person in the world if you can then make a living out of it."

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Andrew Lloyd Webber tackles West End ticket touts - BBC News

June 24

During June, we are listening to and appreciating the music of Elton John.

“Music has a healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.” Elton John

Each week has a new song to listen to. Click on the links below to be taken to each song.

W/C 3rd June – Your song Your Song (youtube.com)

W/C 10th June – Don’t go breaking my heart Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Remastered) (youtube.com)

W/C 17th June – Rocket man Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long Long Time) (Remastered) - YouTube

W/C 24th June – Can you feel the love tonight? - Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Remastered) (youtube.com)

May 24

During May, we are listening to and appreciating the music of Taylor Swift.

“Just be yourself. There is no one better.” Taylor Swift

Each week has a new song to listen to. Click on the links below to be taken to each song.

W/C 29th April – Love Story

https://youtu.be/tRFLs_-54gE

W/C 6th May – It’s nice to have a friend

https://youtu.be/UwozyZR1zaM

W/C 13th May – Stay beautiful -

https://youtu.be/FRDzn4bPkvc

W/C 20th May – Today was a fairytale -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s92mQx_APUI

March 24

During March, we are listening to and appreciating the music of Stevie Wonder.

Each week has a new song to listen to. Click on the links below to be taken to each song.

W/C 4th March – Isn’t she lovely

The lyrics of this song are about Stevie Wonder’s daughter. He plays a Harmonica solo in this song.

Isn't She Lovely (youtube.com)

W/C 11th March – For once in my life

Stevie Wonder was 18 when he wrote and performed this song. He was a well established Motown recording artist by then.

For Once In My Life (youtube.com)

W/C 18th March – You are the sunshine of my life

Stevie Wonder won a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for this song and it was nominated for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

You Are The Sunshine Of My Life (youtube.com)

W/C 18^th March – Signed, sealed, delivered - I’m yours.

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" is a soul song. It spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number three on the U.S. Pop chart.

Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours (youtube.com)

February 24

During February, we are listening to and appreciating the music of ‘The Supremes’.

Each week has a new song to listen to. Click on the links below to be taken to each song.

W/C 5th February – Where did our love go?

Can you join in with clapping the steady beat? Can you hear the saxophone solo? This song was their first number one hit.

Where Did Our Love Go (youtube.com)

W/C 19th February – You can’t hurry love

How does this piece of music make you feel?

The Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love (Official Lyric Video) (youtube.com)

W/C 26th February – River deep, mountain high – featuring the Four tops

What instruments are used in this piece? This song is a cover of the original Tina Turner version but it pairs ‘The Supremes’ with ‘The Four Tops’ – another famous Motown group from this era.

River Deep, Mountain High (youtube.com)