Anne James
Location Kent
Activity
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Anne James made a comment
I agree that the simulations can be helpful to think about the family and understand their situation.
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Anne James made a comment
It's a moving film. At first I felt worried that the boy seemed to be mistreating the puppy and then I felt really pleased the boy warmed to the puppy and decided to go outside and play with it. Children need the right encouragement to overcome difficulties.
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As a music therapist I use instruments to interact with children. Children can express their feelings through playing instruments, vent their frustrations, build confidence and be creative.
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Anne James made a comment
It makes me feel concerned when a child is sad. She may be sad because she isn't getting the right attention at home. She may be experiencing neglect or abuse. Perhaps she feels lonely at school if she doesn't have any friends. She may be finding her school work difficult. You could come along side the child and acknowledge that they are feeling sad. Ask...
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Anne James made a comment
The boy could be angry because he can't have a toy he wants or because he needs to put his shoes on to go out. It's important to acknowledge how he is feeling.
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Anne James made a comment
It is important to be 'present' with a child so that you can 'attune' to them and give them the right kind of attention and respond to their needs and communications.
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Can you view the transcript?
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Anne James made a comment
Hi I'm Anne. I feel this course will enhance my work with children.
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Anne James replied to Sheila W
I enjoyed listening to this.
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Anne James replied to Zxebn
All the best
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Anne James replied to Anne James
Let's try this link: https://soundcloud.com/user-232071222/shes-my-town @SheilaW
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Anne James replied to Anne James
That's strange that it works for some people and not otheres. I have also shared it on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieRachelJames/?ref=bookmarks @SheilaW
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Anne James made a comment
Hi, I work as a therapist in schools and am interested how to support people with anxiety and depression.
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@ColinFleetwood Did you write the poem during the course? I particularly like the shift in the chords/feel in the chorus and the melody line on the keyboard and the sound of children at the end adds to the atmosphere.
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Do you think I should cut out a verse as it's 5 minutes long?
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@AnnaTrillidouSanti Really beautiful Anna.
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I really like it. It's interesting that you've chosen to make it upbeat. The production sounds great.
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@MichaelRice Sounds great. I like the way you've used and adapted the words from the poem. Really like the guitar part.
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@ColinFleetwood I was a bit disappointed about the lack of focus on the words too, but feel inspired to try to find inspiration in different places
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@TommoMcA Thank you. I've done quite a few of the courses over lockdown. I think I got a bit carried away signing up for them but have enjoyed this one the most.
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@ColinFleetwood Thank you so much for you kind words Colin. I've really enjoyed the course. I hope you have too?
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@MonaTraser Thank you. I'm glad you like it. Have you enjoyed the course?
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Anne James replied to Anne James
Yes I did add in the E for a bit of interest and used the Emin 7 in the chorus (one of my favourite chords LOL!) and I suppose the chords are in a different order for the last line. I don't know if it is too long... but I tried to add contrast in each verse with the piano part to reflect the words
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Anne James made a comment
Thank you for organising this course. I'm really pleased I've done it.
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Anne James made a comment
It was great to hear the different versions in this video and lovely to see the band performing on the streets of Sheffield.
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Anne James replied to Heikki I
Sounds good. I like the jazz feel
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Anne James made a comment
I've thoroughly enjoyed this course and have found it helpful and inspiring. I tried to bring contrast to the verses through my accompaniment. Here's my song:
https://soundcloud.com/user-232071222/shes-my-town -
Anne James made a comment
I like what Martin has done with the song. Love his voice and guitar playing. I also think the words from Matt's poem are great to work with.
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Anne James made a comment
Do what you enjoy and it's okay if it's a bit rough and ready. You don't have to spend lots of money getting your songs recorded which is great to hear.
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Anne James made a comment
Great to see the song recorded in the studio. I thought it was interesting that they only used a small proportion of the lyrics from the poem. Really want to push myself to arrange my own songs and get them recorded
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Anne James replied to Nigel Bowles
@NigelBowles Maybe find some singing exercises online?
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Anne James made a comment
It's really interesting to follow his process
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Anne James made a comment
https://soundcloud.com/user-232071222/new-recording-103
Full song with instrumental -
Anne James replied to Nigel Bowles
Love this Nigel. I feel your pain. Things will get better again...
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Anne James made a comment
https://soundcloud.com/user-232071222/shes-my-town-2/s-bIn2WqYdi1P
I have now changed the chords a bit for the refrain -
Anne James made a comment
It was a beautiful performance to listen to.
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Anne James made a comment
It's an interesting method for writing a song...
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Anne James made a comment
Heaven Help Us All - Stevie Wonder
Verse-chorus -
Anne James made a comment
Sleepwalk - The Shires
Verse, refrain, verse, refrain, Middle 8?, Bridge/Pre-chorus, refrain -
Anne James made a comment
I enjoyed listening to the playlist and thinking about the song form
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Anne James made a comment
So there is an interesting mixture of songs in the playlist. Some of them sound a bit monotonous and have me thinking "Please change the chord!".
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Anne James made a comment
Clear explanation. It's interesting to think more about diminished and suspended chords and how much I use them already
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Anne James made a comment
Amazing Grace, Walkin' after Midnight, Happy Birthday
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Anne James made a comment
Hookpad is useful to know about when pupils I work with want to write their own songs
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Anne James replied to Anne James
@PeterMa The first one, but am finding it quite difficult to follow his method at times
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Anne James replied to Anne James
@JohnTait I'm attempting the jazz piano course at the same time but not sure how far I'll get...
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Anne James replied to Anne James
@PeterMa Oh good. Thanks! I did play the piano accomp. I have been writing songs for quite a while but would have liked to have done a course like this a long time ago
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Anne James replied to Anne James
@PeterMa Does this work?: https://soundcloud.com/user-232071222
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Anne James replied to Anne James
@PeterMa Thanks. I think I need to delete another track as have maybe gone over the limit.
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Anne James replied to Michael Petitjean
Sounds good
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Anne James made a comment
It's always interesting to hear to music I wouldn't necessarily choose to listen to and focus on the elements you've been focusing on this week.
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Anne James made a comment
Jolene uses antecedent and consequent phrasing.
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Anne James made a comment
I've looked at modes in the past and might revisit them for songwriting.
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Anne James made a comment
Interesting lecture and Ted Talk.
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Anne James made a comment
Thank you. I have enjoyed the course.
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Anne James made a comment
I might use soundcloud a bit more, but I think I need to focus on getting more songs recorded. I have some songs on bandcamp: https://annejames.bandcamp.com and https://www.facebook.com/Jamesandjamesjazz/
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Anne James replied to Sheryl Kreusler
I know. I usually need help with the technology eg. using logic possibly because I'm a bit lazy and need to push myself to learn how to use it.
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Anne James made a comment
I have used bandcamp in the past and this seems to suit my songwriting while I'm just doing the recording at home. I think i would like to focus on getting some good home recordings done with arrangements I like next. I do rely on facebook for sharing my music at the moment and have now set up an instagram account (as apparently that's a good idea...)
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Anne James made a comment
If we are hiring a venue, can we cover the costs?
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Anne James made a comment
It's interesting for me to think more about what the listener gets out of the experience and how much people enjoy a whole evening listening to jazz standards. I really want to get a good video for the jazz duo done and also some good recordings of the songs I have written. This can be time consuming and expensive.
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Anne James replied to Lesley Yoneda
I think it's quite a skill for a teacher to be able to bring out the unique qualities in an individual rather than trying to make them sound more like themselves.
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Anne James made a comment
If I'm working on a jazz standard I try to listen to a range of performers singing it so that I'm less likely to copy one but I usually end up listening to versions of people who sing in a similar key to me. In the duo we might change the feel of a song by changing the tempo or even time signature. I think that the best/easiest way for me to be more unique...
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Anne James made a comment
I can control how well I can sing/play the song before a gig. I can control what I eat and drink and how fit I am which effects my singing.
When you are performing outside you can't always predict how the weather will be so it's a good idea to take pegs to hold the music down on the stand and maybe make sure it is water proof as the rain can come down at... -
Anne James made a comment
I practise as much as possible before the performance. I think about what I'm going to wear and try to get my hair done before a gig. I think I could focus more on doing a mental rehearsal before a gig and organising warm-up gigs.
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Anne James made a comment
It depends on the context but generally if I feel a connection to the songs I'm singing and am able to convey this I think the audience will feel more positive about the performance. I cannot say what emotions I want to arouse in my audience but I want them to enjoy the music because I am performing it well. The audience might enjoy it because it's being...
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Anne James made a comment
I listen to jazz standards cognitively with a view to learning to sing them. I think about the words and various musical elements. I tend to listen to music to help me feel relaxed or happy in the evenings when I'm washing up.
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Anne James made a comment
There are some interesting theories discussed in the TED video. I thought it was a bit simplistic at times when he talked about "happy" and "sad" music. I wouldn't necessarily say the second extract sounding "sad".
Anyway to answer the questions, I listen to music when I'm washing up. I might listen to worship music at times (often in the morning) to... -
Anne James made a comment
Sounds good
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Anne James made a comment
I do think that autism exists and I hope that more people in society can view it as a difference rather than a disorder. I also hope that people on the autistic spectrum can reach their potential and have a good sense of wellbeing. Thank you to all the course leaders for running this course.
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Anne James made a comment
I think the question is valuable and it has been interesting to learn about how the diagnosis criteria for Autism has changed over the years. I'm glad that people are focusing on the strengths people with autism have more, and it is important to look past the diagnosis at the individual.
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Anne James made a comment
I think Autism does exist and it would seem to me it's more important to get a diagnosis if you are struggling in life or need more support. One big issue in Kent has been the length of the waiting lists for children to get a diagnosis.
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Anne James made a comment
Damian made a good point. "How do you gain access to the subjectivity of less verbal people?"
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Anne James made a comment
I listened to a great British Association for Music Therapy podcast where Dean Beadle, who is autistic, talked about his experience of attending Music therapy sessions as a child and how he benefitted from them.
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Anne James replied to Anne James
@TerenceAtkinson No problem. Kind regards
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Anne James made a comment
Another advantage is that a person might feel they are part of a new community where they belong.
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Anne James made a comment
It would seem that it is difficult to use language that all autistic people or people on the spectrum are happy with so you have to choose some language and not worry about it too much. This is something that I have started to think about recently in my work in schools. You could ask the person if it is appropriate but it might be better not to make a big...
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Anne James made a comment
The common themes in Autism seem to include differences or difficulties with communication, social interaction and restricted patterns of behaviour, interests or activities. There are often high levels of anxiety and/or other conditions present as well. I believe it can be useful to have this label to help a person understand themselves better (if the...
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Anne James made a comment
I found it a bit uncomfortable to evaluate other people's accounts, but I would imagine this gets easier the more you do.
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Anne James replied to Anne James
Hi Terence, if you read the case study above it states she is very intelligent.
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Anne James made a comment
Chloe is an intelligent 13yr old. She has high levels of anxiety and low self-esteem. She is probably autistic. Chloe communicates by nodding when she means "yes" and shaking her head when she means "no". Her eye contact may be unusual. She might behave in an inappropriate, overfamiliar manner when she meets new people eg she may try to cuddle them or...
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I would but possibly just my interpretation...
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Anne James replied to Anne James
Having said that I don't always seem to have the same sense of metre as Adam so maybe I don't do it intuitively...
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Anne James made a comment
Personally I would sing a bit of a melody and work out the rest of the melody while I'm playing chords underneath on the piano.
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Anne James made a comment
She's my TOWN and I'm not LEAVing. All the FOOTsteps. I've been WEAVing.
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Anne James made a comment
It was interesting he said don't try to be like someone else you like to listen to. Be yourself. I like that.
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Anne James made a comment
It is interesting to hear music from different cultures and think about how western songwriters have used music or instruments from other cultures in their compositions.
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Anne James made a comment
It's interesting how the piano accompaniment works to support the melody. Some notes are longer than others. It's in 3/4.
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Anne James made a comment
I'll have a listen to more of her songs.
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Anne James made a comment
It's interesting to see the patterns and the variations with the syllables in the second verse.
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Anne James replied to Kevin Carmody
in week 1. (1.8)
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Anne James made a comment
I think I do this intuitively, so it's nice to analyse the process.
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Anne James made a comment
The TED talk was interesting.
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Anne James made a comment
I really enjoyed listening to the playlist and it was interesting to focus on how the five elements of music are being employed in each song. Sometimes they just seem to stay on the same chord or pedal note.
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Anne James replied to James Ashwell
I would suggest going to some open mic sessions
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Anne James replied to Anne James
@SamCarr a little but we don't get a lot of bookings which is why I think we need a decent video
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Anne James made a comment
I usually write my own lyrics, so it's interesting to have the challenge of putting someone else's lyrics/poem to music.
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Anne James made a comment
Looking forward to next week.
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Anne James made a comment
I think this poem is about growing up and staying in a particular town and looking back through the years remembering events. It encourages me to think about where I grew up and events from the past. I feel nostalgic thinking about being younger and the different friends who I have known or still keep in contact with etc and how the journey of life has taken...