Experimental Tunes and Children

Jenny Pengilly
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  • Music Commentary

Experimental Tunes and Children is a series of monthly shows that explores experimental music in relation to ideas around childhood and children’s learning, culture and experience. Expect to hear everything from synthesiser led instructional dance songs that spark the imagination to costumed high energy punk and noise, children’s bands and performances, DIY wonky instrumentals and Lo-Fi electronic lullabies. Hosted by Jenny Pengilly, artist educator

Episodes

  1. Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 12 15.05.26

    May 20

    Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 12 15.05.26

    This episode takes a look at the recorder! Looking at its role in children’s music education and different teaching approaches, the beauty of wonky school recorder concerts, arrangements for recorder and experimental approaches to playing it through graphic scores, improvisation and deconstructed playing.

    1 hr

  2. May 20

    Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 11 17.04.26

    Found Sounds are non-musical, everyday environmental noises, recorded material manipulation or field recordings used in music compositions or sound design. This episode looks at how these sounds and objects feature in live sound art, music, musique concrète, and various foley sound experiments created with children.

    1 hr
  3. Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 10 20.02.26

    May 20

    Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 10 20.02.26

    This month’s episode focuses on the spoken word. Inspired by the act of learning to speak, it presents works that play with speech through repeated words and phrases, delivery style, word play, talking technologies and synthesised voices from educators, sound poets and musicians.

    1 hr
  4. Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 9 28.11.25

    May 20

    Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 9 28.11.25

    Take a sonic trip to Ahmedabad and Kutch in India, through collaged sounds of transport, wildlife, children’s toys and Diwali celebrations. Collected renditions of Indian children’s songs and pop favourites, an introduction to Indian drumming styles and a visit to a rural school. The rhythms of weaving and cow bell making from craft families in Kutch, and a special performance of folk songs.

    1 hr
  5. Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 8 14.03.25

    May 20

    Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 8 14.03.25

    This episode looks at bad girls in children’s culture and music. Rebellious, outspoken, the bad girl defies social expectations and does things her own way. Inspired by the likes of Minnie the Minx and pioneering punk musicians Poly Stryene, riot grrl bands and young rebels girls Power Child Amanda and Emily’s Sassy Lime. Veruca Salt (Julie Dawn Cole) I Want It Now, 1971 Fancy Rosy, Punk Police, 1977 X-Ray Spex, I am a Poseur, 1978 Nikki and the Corvettes, Girls Like Me, 1980 Girls At Our Best, Warm Girls, 1981 Amanda, Chaos, 1986 Amanda, Worship Me, 1988 Minnie the Minx with Chairs, 1993 Barbie Army, Take Down the Flag, 1990 Bikini Kill, Rebel Girl, 1993 The Julie Ruin, Girls Like Us, 2013 Huggy Bear, Aqua Girl Star, 1992 Emilys Sassy Lime, Pineapple Boys Need Not Apply, 1995 St Vincent, Bad Girls, 2017 Chin Chin, We Don’t Wanna To Be Prisoners, 1984 Sonic Youth, Little Trouble Girl,1995

    1 hr
  6. Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 7 27.12.24

    May 20

    Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 7 27.12.24

    This episode takes on the theme of nonsense and explores lyrics, sound and structures that embrace the odd, absurd and whimsical through the spoken words of the clangers, Ivor Cutler and Vivian Stanshall and realms of psychedelia, noise, pop and rock. Clangers music machine, 1965 Nogu Svelo! Haru Mamburu, 1994 Ivor Cutler Jelly Mountain, 1996 Yximalloo , Too-Doo Bong, 1989 Captain Beefheart, Abba Zabba Captain Beefheart, Neon Meate Dream of a Octafish Gong, Radio Gnome invisible, 1973 Sun City Girls, Papa Legba, 1990 Royal Trux, Juicy Juicy Juice, 1998 Suburban Lawns, Janitor, 1981 Geneva Jacuzzi, Nonsense Nonsense, 2010 Bonzo Dog Band, Humanoid Boogie,1968 Fat Worm Error, Lets Fool the Meat To Hassle the Room, 2006 Fat Worm Error, special bonus thing, 2006 Vivian Stanshall, Yelp, Bellow, Rasp Et Cetera, 2012

    1 hr
  7. Experimental Tunes and Children Episode 6 29.11.24

    May 20

    Experimental Tunes and Children Episode 6 29.11.24

    This months episode looks at children’s music that focuses on creative movement, defined as acting out what is envisaged in the mind through movement. Introducing musician educators, committed to using their work to support children’s learning and development, that recognised the power of simultaneously engaging the mind and body through action songs, group participation and imaginative play. Hap Palmer, Put your hands up in the air, 1969 Bilal Abdurahman, Imaginary Trip Through African Rainforest, 1976 Bilal Abdurahman, Shake It Loose, 1976 Bilal Abdurahman, Join The Funny Parade, 1976 Bilal Abdurahman, The Subway Train, 1976 Bruce Haack and Miss Nelson, Songs From Dance, Sing, Listen, 1962 Bruce Haack and Miss Nelson, Machines, 1962 Kids in Motion, The Body Rock, 1987 Kids in Motion, Animal Action, 1987 Yo Le Tengo, Hokey Pokey, 2006 Ella Jenkins, Stop and Go, 2010 Andrew Gunsberg, Can you Fool Your Shadow, 1983 Andres Gunsberg, Round and Round, 1983 Andrew Gunsberg, The Giant, 1983

    1 hr
  8. Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 5 01.11.24

    May 20

    Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 5 01.11.24

    This episode explores how children’s toys have been used in experimental music. From bands solely consisting of toys and toy instruments, toy piano orchestras, toy pop and noise to electronic instruments designed to be playful, circuit bent toys and 17th century classical music composed for toys. B. Folten, Toy Drama 3 Trevor Helminski, Barcarolle, 2021 IKP, Hannah’s Dancing Lesson, 2023 Puzzle Punks, Puzzap, 2023 Toychestra, Shirley’s Temple, 2005 Caroliner, Rainbow Open Wound Chorale, 1991 sELF, I Am a Little Explosion, 2000 Pianosaurus, Going Downtown, 1986 Edmund Angerer, Kindersinfonie, 1785 Tod Machover / Toy Symphony Project Talk Ok Housecat- Homemade Electronic Musical Oddities 2024

    1 hr

  9. May 20

    Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 4 04.10.24

    This episode reflects on feelings experienced in childhood. The struggles of emotional regulation and trying to come to terms with the fears of the world. The show moves from anger, chaotic energy to more insular feelings of fear and uncertainty through jazz punk, crisis energy rock and experimental pop and ambient electronica. Electric Eels, Agitated, 1978 Guttersnipe, PIpa Pipa Portalspawn, 2018 Nomeansno, So Low, 2006 The Ramones, I don’t wanna grow up, 1999 Rubber Zebra, Broken Clown, 2007 Swans, Weakling, 1983, Animal Collective, Safer, 2007 The Caretaker, The way ahead feels lonely, 2017 Meredith Monk, Scared Song, 1971 The Threshold HouseBoys Choir, So Young It Knows No Maturing, 2008

    1 hr
  10. Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 3

    May 20

    Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 3

    This episode of Experimental Tunes and Children looks at the use of music to learn the letters of the alphabet, numbers and counting and how they feature in experimental music. From songs about recognising letters to playful sesame street scenarios, learning numbers in different languages and sampled educational recordings in electronic music and counting song riffs in J-pop and noise music. They Might Be Giants, Letter Not A Letter, 2005 Boredoms, B for Boredoms, 1994 The Beatles, Let It Be Rehearsal Clip Sesame Street Grover, Alphabet Soup Akiko Yano, To The ABC A Giant, 1977 Kraftwerk, Numbers, 1981 Lene Lovich, Lucky Number, 1978 Medicine Head, One And One Is One, 1973 Boards of Canada, Aquarius, 1998 The Seatbelts/ Yoko Kanno, 3.14, 2001 Pizzacato Five, One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Barbie Dolls, 1995 Quintron, 9-4-9, 2000 Phillip Glass Ensemble/ Michael Reisman, Einstein on the Beach: Knee Play 1, 1979 Death to Giants, Anyone Can Learn to Count in Chinese, 2013 Mountain Goats, Counting Song For Bitter Children, 2007 Daniel Johnson, Rocket Ship, 1983

    1 hr
  11. Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 2 12.07.24

    May 20

    Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 2 12.07.24

    Follow Experimental Tunes and Children for a daily routine of waking in the morning, walking the dog, going to school, doing housework, hanging out at home, cooking, brushing our teeth and getting ready for bed, through an eclectic mix of bubble pop and domestic sound inspired musique concrete, folk rock, electronic music and noisy post punk pop. Kero Kero Bonito, Waking Up, 2016 Barry, Stretch Your Legs, 2019 Laurie Anderson, Walk The Dog, 1985 Pom Poko, Andy Go To School, 2021 Bilal Abdurahman, Sounds Are All Around Us, 1971 Pierre Henry, Variations for a door and a sigh, 1963 The Candy Band, Cars and Trucks, 1978 Carol Channing, Housework, 1972 B52’s, Housework, 1986 The C**k and Bull Band, Trip To The Laundry, 1981 Denim, On a Chicory Tip, 1997 Arthur Russell, Time Away, 2008 Ammakasie Noka, Cooking Time, 2003 Senka Guitar, Shining poo poo world, 2024 Sesame Street, Kids Just Love to Brush Their Teeth, Lullatone, Still Feeling The Waves When You Go To Bed, 2013 Little Jimmy and the Sparrows, Snorin’, 1958

    1 hr
  12. Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 1 09.08.24

    May 20

    Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 1 09.08.24

    This episode of Experimental Tunes and Children considers the songs, sounds and stories of playgrounds. From sampled sounds of children playing to singing, skipping and clapping games across different locations and time periods, adventure playground soundscapes and retellings of childhood exploits and music inspired by them. XTC, Playground, 2000 Grethe Agatz, Play Song, 2005 Tony Schwartz, Clap Games- NYC 1, 2, 3 and a Zing Zing Zing, 1953 Ewan MacColl and Dominic Behan, Skipping Rope, Bouncing Ball and Counting Rhymes, 1958 Bounce Ball, Can You Fool Your Shadow? Game and Concept Songs for Children Andrew Gunsberg, 1982 Karoly Cserepes, Choco Choco La La, My Name is Elvis Presley (Children’s Games), 2018 Who Stole The Cookie? NYC Kids Rhymes, Songs for Children from New York City, 1978 Andrew Gunsberg, Bubblegum, Game and Concept Songs for Children, 1982 The Free Design, Bubbles, 1998 Skip Rope Games, Sally Ate a Pickle,1955 East London’s Adventure Playground, Glamis Adventure Playground in Shadwell, 2017 Tiny Tim, Neighbourhood Children, 1968 Triangle Adventure Playground 2021-2022 Soundscape Masakatsu Takagi, Festival In The Forest, 2001 Lady Allen Adventure Playgrounds, Pathe, 1970s Howard Finster, Kids Games, Riddles, Walking and Singing, 1984 Background image is from Dreamscape, a year long collaborative project with artist Amy Leung, Anson Primary school pupils and Camden Arts Centre for reimagining and building new spaces for play.

    1 hr
  • 12 Episodes

About

Experimental Tunes and Children is a series of monthly shows that explores experimental music in relation to ideas around childhood and children’s learning, culture and experience. Expect to hear everything from synthesiser led instructional dance songs that spark the imagination to costumed high energy punk and noise, children’s bands and performances, DIY wonky instrumentals and Lo-Fi electronic lullabies. Hosted by Jenny Pengilly, artist educator

Information