Gastoff learns music

Evie Lee

About the Author This is the second book in the series of adventures featuring Gastoff the penguin and his friends.

Evie, the author and illustrator, who loves writing stories and draws non stop, decided to create this story after finding inspiration from her local music shop and from playing a musical instrument herself. Evie wanted to spread the word about how interesting and fun music is.

Evie is a 14 year old Leicestershire school student who loves her music and has been learning to play her musical instrument since the age of four. She hopes that this book will inspire and encourage everyone to learn about the world of music.

Published by Lance Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby House, Bath Road, Kettering, NN16 8NL www.lancepublishing.co.uk First published in the UK by Š Evie Lee 2014 The moral right of the authors, editor and illustrator has been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author.

By Evie Lee

Gastoff is a friendly young penguin who loves to find out about the world around him. On his adventures his friends help him learn new things. He is called Gastoff because he does not fly with his wings because his flying is powered by his parps!

Gastoff can travel up to 400mph depending on how many healthy things he has eaten that day. He leaves a whitish/ grey cloud of gas behind him.

Gastoff eats very healthily and always has his five-a-day. At school he has friends that support him every day. They are honest and caring, which is important in a friendship!

Of course, as Gastoff has lots of wind, his friends find him very funny and have a giggle with him most days.

This is another book about Gastoff and his friends, but this time they learn all about the world of music and have a go at playing musical instruments.

One day, Gastoff decided to visit his local music shop to find out more about the world of music.

When he stepped inside the shop, he saw a lot of different shapes and sizes of instruments shimmering and shining.

After a while, Gastoff became very interested in the musical instruments around him.

Gastoff decided he wanted to play a musical instrument.

Which instrument shall I play?

But there was a problem...

There were too many instruments to choose from!

Need any help?

Staff from the music shop suddenly appeared beside Gastoff offering help to choose the right instrument for him.

“I work at the shop...

BUT, I give singing lessons as well!�

“Hi, I'm Pinky. I am a singer. I use my voice to create some amazing sounds!

First, before singing anything, you must warm up your voice.

It is very important because you need to prepare your throat for singing a song.�

MEOW!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10...

“Counting from 1 to 10, going up and down, from a low pitch to high pitch can help with warming up. Another way of warming up, can be making animal noises!”

Pinky also told Gastoff that he could have a look and listen to some of the musical instruments in the shop.

“Hi, I’m Sarson, I play the Drums! These notes match the different Drums. This is called ‘Drum music’. These notes go in different orders to make different sounds. Drum music is slightly different to other music. A drummer usually keeps the timing of a song.”

Hi Hat

High Tom Snare Drum

Bass Drum

low Tom

Drum Stool

OK, I'll have a go at playing the Drums!

Hi, I'm Billy, I am the Conductor of a swing band.

I control the band's timing and I tell them how to play the music. I conduct them. I use a wooden baton, so the band can easily see what I am telling them to do.

I also play the Triangle as part of the percussion in another band; it's a Jazz band.

This is Billy's swing band...

He conducts this band.

Hi, I'm Blitzer, I play the Oboe in 'Billy's Swingin' Swarm'.

However, when I was younger, my first instrument was the Recorder. Here is how to play the note 'B' on the Recorder.

Maybe I could play the Recorder with all the healthy wind I produce!

Note B

“Put your first finger that is next to your thumb on your left hand, on the top hole of the Recorder. Then put your left thumb on the hole at the back of the Recorder. While keeping your finger and thumb on the Recorder, gently blow.

This is how you play the note 'B'.”

Remember, don't let your teeth touch the top of the recorder when playing it.

Other notes on the recorder are as easy to get the hang of.

The Recorder is a fairly simple instrument to learn and is lots of fun to play!”

“Hi, I'm Jenny, Gastoff's cousin, I play the Piano. Here are the main notes for playing the Piano. The different notes make different tones.�

“Here is a Piano tune for you to learn”

MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB 1 Beat 2 Beats

E DC D

E E E

EDC D

E E E

C

DDD

E E E

DDE D

C

Here are the lyrics!

LYRICS Mary had a little lamb, Little lamb, little lamb, Mary had a little lamb, It's fleece was white as snow.

4 Beats

Hi, I'm Rusty, I play the Bongo drums. I will show you how to play too!

“Rest the palms of your hands on the edge of the Bongo drums or your lap. Tap four beats in different ways. Now you have a four beat bar.”

If you don't own a Drum, use your lap!

Experiment with the sounds you can make!

Hi, I'm Minty, I play the Guitar. Here are the basic chords used for playing the Guitar.

A major

B7

A7

C major

A minor

C7

D major

“The black dots are where you would put your fingers on the Guitar neck with your left hand. Strum the strings on the Guitar with your fingers on your right hand, or use a plectrum and hold down the notes shown here.

If you are left handed, you can use your right hand to control the neck of the Guitar instead!�

After viewing all the instruments in the music shop and seeing how they work, Gastoff decided which instrument he would like to play.

decided to play the

The Bongo drums are an easy instrument to begin learning more advanced drums with.

Of course, Rusty was very happy with Gastoff's musical choice.

Rusty asked Gastoff if he would like to have lessons in playing the Bongo drums, so he could amaze his friends with his new musical skills.

With the help from all of the music shop staff, Gastoff is now learning how to play a musical instrument.

Why don't you have a go at learning a musical instrument?

Just like Gastoff, you could learn an instrument with lessons from your local music teachers.

This is a bass clef:

Where did you spot the biggest bass clef?

Answer: The Music shop is in the shape of a big bass clef!

Gastoff is once again on his adventures and this time decides to visit his local music shop.

This book shows a variety of musical instruments that you can play, but also gives a few hints and tips if you are wanting to learn the skill of music.

ISBN 9780993056505

9 780993 056505