BUZZ21! pBuzz Class: Episode Four

Time for another episode of BUZZ21! In episode four of the series, Grant Golding gives music educators and their students three more pBuzz tunes to sink their teeth into.

Grant is passionate about ensuring that the children that he teaches get to play the music that inspires and engages them. In this video lesson, he uses the viral hit Wellerman, the teachers’, ahem, favourite, Baby Shark and a rather unique Scottish classic to introduce young learners to playing tunes on the pBuzz.

Let’s dive into how you can get your kids buzzing about learning to play!

The viral voyage of Wellerman

Aye, who'd have thought it? A humble sea shanty, Wellerman, belted out by a Scottish postie, and bam! Before you know it, the world's singing along from their bathtubs to the bus stops. Nestled up in Airdrie, he's likely as gobsmacked as the rest of us. It's a tune that your pupils are bound to know..unless they've been living under a bed of kelp for the past couple of years!

Here’s the kicker: the simplicity of Wellerman is its secret weapon. It's a prime candidate for a lyrical rework by the kids, lending itself to endless creative spin-offs. With just a tap for rhythm, they can pen their own sea sagas. I mean, who doesn't want to sing about what’s in their lunchbox to a catchy beat?

And it’s not just about the singing. There's a treasure chest of music theory tucked away here. With Wellerman, you've got the bait to chat about cadences with the older sea dogs – I mean, pupils – in a way that won’t have them walking the plank out of boredom (sorry).

The Baby Shark phenomenon

Right, let's switch gears to a tune that, let's be honest, we've all hummed in the shower – Baby Shark. Yes, it's as sticky as a barnacle on a ship's hull, and while the teens might roll their eyes, deep down, they love it.

Grant shows us that the genius here isn’t just in the ear-wormy melody; it's a stealthy way to introduce articulation. With G, A, and C, Baby Shark is a masterclass in music masquerading as fun. No, really! And because Grant knows that you're all about that bass (no treble), he has crafted his own backing track to keep it snugly within the pBuzz's range.

The cheeky charm of Donald Where's Your Troosers

Yes, you heard us correctly: it’s a pBuzz rendition of Donald Where's Your Troosers.

This tune's a hoot for a Burns Night bash or just a ceilidh in the classroom. It’s got the vibe of a Scottish clubland anthem with the cheeky charm of a folk classic. Plus, you only need two notes, making it a gem for newbies and a hoot for seasoned players.

Encourage the wee ones to give the Highland fling a whirl, horns aloft like proud stags, and belt out a chorus that’ll have the walls shaking. It's a blinder of a track that's more fun than finding a tenner in an old sporran.

This trio of tunes – Wellerman, Baby Shark, and Donald Where's Your Troosers – are the kind of musical malarkey that turns a mundane Monday into a toe-tapping, trombone-sliding party. Keep it light, keep it fun, and you’ll have them eating out of the palm of your hand. Or should I say, playing to the beat of your baton?

Check out the fourth episode of BUZZ21! With Grant Golding here:

Get Your Free Notes for BUZZ21!

Until the next time, keep the tunes rollicking and the classroom rocking. Catch you on the flip side!

• Want to check out the other episodes of BUZZ21! Of course you do. Head to the complete BUZZ21! pBuzz series.
• The pBuzz Primary page has lots of free pBuzz resources to make delivering whole-class music a breeze.
• Check out our Wales Case Study to learn more about the impact that pBuzz can have for young learners.