Picture the Music

“ Superb!
A magnificent tool that not only gives the opportunity to every pupil to write astonishingly good pieces of creative writing but also manages to enthuse and engage them as well as building up their confidence in the power of using words to express themselves.
By far the best resource I ever used for promoting writing. A must have for English teachers but also for all those who wants to encourage their pupils to write creatively. ”

“ Fab software - looks really helpful! ”

“ This looks like a great software package. If I get a job I'll buy it. ”

“ Brill! ”

“ Looks very good, user friendly ”

“ Would like to try this! ”

“ Brilliant - Want One! ”

“ I first came across the potential of 'Picture the Music' on an Alite course led by Phillip Davis in Birmingham in 2003. As Head of a small village school I couldn't wait to cascade ideas with staff and children. I actually wished I'd been back in the classroom given the response of the children! I did however enjoy leading whole school sessions on 'energisers' using my daughters dance music!!!!

Six months into my second Headship, I invited Phillip Davis in to lead an in-service day as children's writing was an issue for the school. Staff and governors announced that it was the best they had ever attended and the impact of the materials on children’s motivation to write and consequently on standards has been incredible!

For me, the beauty of the materials lies in their simplicity really. They are a powerful tool to un-lock the natural creativity that lies in all our children by enabling children to share their world using images and language that have meaning for them. As part of an H2O topic, a year6 male dyslexic, reluctant writer who also preferred to learn kinaesthetically (no challenge there then!) was captivated by the story of the Titanic and in a response to a picture of the final moments of the ship sinking and to being immersed in carefully chosen music wrote:

'The midnight grey smoke drifted faintly and tentatively into the bleak Artic sky like a burning flame about to strike someone's heart'

This was the child’s fist experience of the materials and learning process!

Picture the Music is a multi-sensory package that children 'buy into and instantly connect with' at their level. It is now an integral part of our curriculum and totally in-tune with how we believe the curriculum needs to cater for all learners. I would not hesitate in recommending this to all schools. Buy it!!!!!! ”

“ Having been on a Creative Classroom course led by Philip Davis, I was inspired to buy 'Picture the Music' and start using it in my classroom even before it was released for sale.

'Picture the Music' can be used across a wide range of curriculum areas and is very 'teacher friendly' with clear instructions and ideas for use in the classroom. The children find it highly motivating, stimulating a great deal of discussion and ideas for writing. It particularly appeals to me as a classroom teacher because it uses a blend of different teaching/learning styles and contributes to creating an exciting learning environment, accessible for all. I also like the fact that the package includes a separate software and audio CD.

I recently used 'Picture the Music' with my Year 4 class to deliver an objective in the National Literacy Strategy to understand how the setting of a story informs events and incident, affecting the behaviour of characters. This was linked with how writers create an imaginary world through the use of detail in their writing.

Having done some intial work on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe the next step was to enable the children to create an imaginary world of their own which they would enter through a door (linking in with entering imaginary world of Narnia through a wardrobe). From the picture selection of doors on 'Picture the Music' I chose an image entitled 'whole door' and we began by discussing the attributes of the door itself. Next I added a sound to accompany the image - sinister drone - and the children were asked to act out pushing the door open and standing looking at their imaginary world. I then replayed the sound and image whilst the children sketched their imaginary world on individual whiteboards. The next step was to ask the children to talk about their imaginary world with their talking partner - What does it look like? What can you smell, hear?

As you can see, a great deal of discussion took place before any writing and by this time the children were buzzing with ideas! Using a writing frame pupils were then asked to note down words and phrases about their imaginary world. The writing frame was split into sections on sights, sounds, smells and characters. My Year 4 class were thoroughly proud of their work. The final pieces of writing were a delight and greatly enhanced through the use of Picture the Music.

This is a valuable and exciting resource NOT to be missed! ”

“ It took them to a different level with their writing. The children do not feel threatened, they feel liberated and the writing flows.

The sharing sessions (where children share ideas and finished work) were the best we've ever had. They demand this part! ”

“ I'm inspired to try it with both my P5 and P2 classes.
I have a child with hearing difficulties who will find the visual aids specifically useful, and children will love being allowed to listen to music during language. ”

“ I teach secondary aged children and have had great discussions and written work from them.
They love the line drawings!! ”

“ The children have gained so much and loved using the pictures to help them with their writing.
It has helped develop their vocabulary and their communication of ideas to each other.
I also enjoy the fact that it has given them the confidence to sequence ideas and write about them.
I am trying out other aspects with the children at the moment for example PSHEC. ”

“ Congratulations to you and your team for having the inspiration and perseverance to put together such a valuable teaching tool.”