Book Songs Children Love To Sing (Kevin Mayhew pound;14.99).

175 enjoyable nursery rhymes, show tunes, traditional melodies and other favourites, ranging in mood from the silly (Bananas in Pyjamas) to the spiritual (Morning has Broken).

Resource Where the Wild Things Are Higglety Pigglety Pop (Oliver Knussen, Deutsche Grammophon CD B00005A83C pound;25 upwards from Amazon). Knussen’s two wonderful operas based on books by Maurice Sendak are about childhood, anger, fear, death, trust and love. They speak in an eloquent musical language to listeners of all ages.

Website www.dsokids.com

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A straightforward introduction to the families of the orchestra we hear the different instruments play solos of Twinkle, Twinkle as well as more virtuoso pieces with orchestral accompaniment. There are games and lesson plans too.

Secondary

Book Really Easy Jazzin’ About (Pamela Wedgwood, Faber pound;7.95). There are introductions to syncopation and the use of riffs in a different range of styles.

Resource The Very Best Of Diana Krall (pound;8.99 Amazon).

The singer and pianist interprets jazz standards and beyond by George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin, and new tracks featuring makeovers of Frank Sinatra and Tom Waits.

Website www.teacher.scholastic.

comactivitiesbhistory history_of_jazz.htm.

Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is our host on this tour of jazz and its place in American history. We meet great musicians such as Armstrong, Ellington and Gillespie, learn something about their styles and are directed towards more specialised websites.

Sixth form

Book Lifelines (Rhinegold pound;9.50 each or pound;7.50 each for 10 or more copies).

This is a new series of revision guides for AS and A2 music and music technology students, written by teachers. They always have the exams in mind but don’t lose touch with the music.

Resource

Works of Igor Stravinsky (Box of 22 CDs Sony B000PTYUQG pound;22.98 from Amazon).

The lifetime work of one of the 20th-century’s greatest musical figures, with the composer himself playing or conducting many of the masterpieces.

Website www.classicalarchives.

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An Aladdin’s cave of live and synthesised recordings of works by more than 2,000 composers. There’s plenty of dross but also a lot of unexpected silver and gold.

Tom Deveson is a schools music consultant