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Musical storyland logo (rainbow with musical notes on it) on a background of blue sky and green hills with daisies.

Musical Storyland is a unique series of films that gives children the opportunity to see and hear Western orchestral instruments played by the 成人论坛 Philharmonic Orchestra, and instruments from other traditions played by renowned musicians.

The musical instruments play an integral part in each story, told by a storyteller. Across the series, every instrument of the Western orchestra is featured, plus a number of instruments from other traditions such as the guzheng, n鈥檊oni, djembe, calabash, and tabla.

The films are accompanied by lesson plans and programme guides that are devised to cover a range of musical skills and experiences as well as wider curriculum subjects for children between the ages of 3 and 7. There are watching and listening guides (particularly useful for non-specialist teachers) and activities for the classroom.

Three Billy Goats Gruff. video

Join in with the goats鈥 rhythmic patterns and the troll鈥檚 catchy song as they trip trap over the bridge. Which instrument size matches which goat size? And which instrument represents the grumbly troll?

Three Billy Goats Gruff

Jack and the Beanstalk. video

Jack meets a giant in his adventures at the top of the beanstalk. Join in with the giant's song and see and hear the instruments that help tell this enduringly-popular story.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Ananse and the Monkeys. video

Ananse, a character from the Caribbean, meets some monkeys who steal his hats. Join in with Ananse's call and response chant as he tries to get his hats back.

Ananse and the Monkeys

The Great Race. video

The Jade Emperor invites the animals of the world to race to decide the order of the years of the Zodiac. This Chinese story, told at Lunar New Year, features the guzheng, piccolo, violin and cello.

The Great Race

The Little Fir Tree. video

This fir tree may be little, but she has some big emotions. She contemplates what life has in store in this musical Christmas story with a sustainability theme.

The Little Fir Tree

Hare and Tortoise. video

Has Tortoise got what it takes to beat Hare in a race? This upbeat version of the well-known story features bassoon, clarinet and double bass and includes activities that can help develop co-ordination.

Hare and Tortoise

The Enormous Turnip. video

Unexpected characters arrive to help the farmer and her daughter pull up their enormous turnip. Trumpeter Sean Chandler presents and plays in this brass version of the story that鈥檚 all about team work.

The Enormous Turnip

The Stone Cutter. video

The hard-working Stone Cutter wishes for greater things in life. Join in with the chants in this cyclical story from India, featuring oboe, violin and tabla.

The Stone Cutter

The Baobab Tree. video

Can the hungry forest animals find the magical tree which will give them food and water? This traditional tale from West Africa features the n鈥檊oni, calabash, djembe, clarinet and cello.

The Baobab Tree

The Three Little Pigs. video

Can the three little pigs make houses strong enough to keep the hungry wolf out? Children can join in with the call and response chorus in this enduringly popular tale featuring horn, clarinet and accordion.

The Three Little Pigs

Using these resources

The resources were devised to cover a range of musical skills and experiences as well as wider curriculum subjects for children within the ages of 3 to 7. Each story appears on its own dedicated page and includes the following resources:

  • Downloadable teacher notes
  • Full size image highlighting the instruments
  • Full size image highlighting the key vocabulary used in the story.

These are appropriate for the educational curricula in all nations of the UK.