Experimental Tunes and Children

Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 12 15.05.26

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:32:21 +0000

This episode takes a look at the recorder! Looking at its role in children’s music education and different teaching approaches, the beauty of wonky school recorder concerts, arrangements for recorder and experimental approaches to playing it through graphic scores, improvisation and deconstructed playing.

Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 11 17.04.26

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:31:01 +0000

Found Sounds are non-musical, everyday environmental noises, recorded material manipulation or field recordings used in music compositions or sound design. This episode looks at how these sounds and objects feature in live sound art, music, musique concrète, and various foley sound experiments created with children.

Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 10 20.02.26

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:28:45 +0000

This month’s episode focuses on the spoken word. Inspired by the act of learning to speak, it presents works that play with speech through repeated words and phrases, delivery style, word play, talking technologies and synthesised voices from educators, sound poets and musicians.

Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 9 28.11.25

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:25:08 +0000

Take a sonic trip to Ahmedabad and Kutch in India, through collaged sounds of transport, wildlife, children’s toys and Diwali celebrations. Collected renditions of Indian children’s songs and pop favourites, an introduction to Indian drumming styles and a visit to a rural school. The rhythms of weaving and cow bell making from craft families in Kutch, and a special performance of folk songs.

Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 8 14.03.25

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:22:22 +0000

This episode looks at bad girls in children’s culture and music. Rebellious, outspoken, the bad girl defies social expectations and does things her own way. Inspired by the likes of Minnie the Minx and pioneering punk musicians Poly Stryene, riot grrl bands and young rebels girls Power Child Amanda and Emily’s Sassy Lime.

Veruca Salt (Julie Dawn Cole) I Want It Now, 1971

Fancy Rosy, Punk Police, 1977

X-Ray Spex, I am a Poseur, 1978

Nikki and the Corvettes, Girls Like Me, 1980

Girls At Our Best, Warm Girls, 1981

Amanda, Chaos, 1986

Amanda, Worship Me, 1988

Minnie the Minx with Chairs, 1993

Barbie Army, Take Down the Flag, 1990

Bikini Kill, Rebel Girl, 1993

The Julie Ruin, Girls Like Us, 2013

Huggy Bear, Aqua Girl Star, 1992

Emilys Sassy Lime, Pineapple Boys Need Not Apply, 1995

St Vincent, Bad Girls, 2017

Chin Chin, We Don’t Wanna To Be Prisoners, 1984

Sonic Youth, Little Trouble Girl,1995

Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 7 27.12.24

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:18:36 +0000

This episode takes on the theme of nonsense and explores lyrics, sound and structures that embrace the odd, absurd and whimsical through the spoken words of the clangers, Ivor Cutler and Vivian Stanshall and realms of psychedelia, noise, pop and rock.

Clangers music machine, 1965

Nogu Svelo! Haru Mamburu, 1994

Ivor Cutler Jelly Mountain, 1996

Yximalloo , Too-Doo Bong, 1989

Captain Beefheart, Abba Zabba

Captain Beefheart, Neon Meate Dream of a Octafish

Gong, Radio Gnome invisible, 1973

Sun City Girls, Papa Legba, 1990

Royal Trux, Juicy Juicy Juice, 1998

Suburban Lawns, Janitor, 1981

Geneva Jacuzzi, Nonsense Nonsense, 2010

Bonzo Dog Band, Humanoid Boogie,1968

Fat Worm Error, Lets Fool the Meat To Hassle the Room, 2006

Fat Worm Error, special bonus thing, 2006

Vivian Stanshall, Yelp, Bellow, Rasp Et Cetera, 2012

Experimental Tunes and Children Episode 6 29.11.24

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:16:23 +0000

This months episode looks at children’s music that focuses on creative movement, defined as acting out what is envisaged in the mind through movement. Introducing musician educators, committed to using their work to support children’s learning and development, that recognised the power of simultaneously engaging the mind and body through action songs, group participation and imaginative play.

Hap Palmer, Put your hands up in the air, 1969

Bilal Abdurahman, Imaginary Trip Through African Rainforest, 1976

Bilal Abdurahman, Shake It Loose, 1976

Bilal Abdurahman, Join The Funny Parade, 1976

Bilal Abdurahman, The Subway Train, 1976

Bruce Haack and Miss Nelson, Songs From Dance, Sing, Listen, 1962

Bruce Haack and Miss Nelson, Machines, 1962

Kids in Motion, The Body Rock, 1987

Kids in Motion, Animal Action, 1987

Yo Le Tengo, Hokey Pokey, 2006

Ella Jenkins, Stop and Go, 2010

Andrew Gunsberg, Can you Fool Your Shadow, 1983

Andres Gunsberg, Round and Round, 1983

Andrew Gunsberg, The Giant, 1983

Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 5 01.11.24

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:14:35 +0000

This episode explores how children’s toys have been used in experimental music. From bands solely consisting of toys and toy instruments, toy piano orchestras, toy pop and noise to electronic instruments designed to be playful, circuit bent toys and 17th century classical music composed for toys.

B. Folten, Toy Drama 3

Trevor Helminski, Barcarolle, 2021

IKP, Hannah’s Dancing Lesson, 2023

Puzzle Punks, Puzzap, 2023

Toychestra, Shirley’s Temple, 2005

Caroliner, Rainbow Open Wound Chorale, 1991

sELF, I Am a Little Explosion, 2000

Pianosaurus, Going Downtown, 1986

Edmund Angerer, Kindersinfonie, 1785

Tod Machover / Toy Symphony Project Talk

Ok Housecat- Homemade Electronic Musical Oddities 2024

Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 4 04.10.24

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:05:36 +0000

This episode reflects on feelings experienced in childhood. The struggles of emotional regulation and trying to come to terms with the fears of the world. The show moves from anger, chaotic energy to more insular feelings of fear and uncertainty through jazz punk, crisis energy rock and experimental pop and ambient electronica.

Electric Eels, Agitated, 1978

Guttersnipe, PIpa Pipa Portalspawn, 2018

Nomeansno, So Low, 2006

The Ramones, I don’t wanna grow up, 1999

Rubber Zebra, Broken Clown, 2007

Swans, Weakling, 1983,

Animal Collective, Safer, 2007

The Caretaker, The way ahead feels lonely, 2017

Meredith Monk, Scared Song, 1971

The Threshold HouseBoys Choir, So Young It Knows No Maturing, 2008

Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 3

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:02:54 +0000

This episode of Experimental Tunes and Children looks at the use of music to learn the letters of the alphabet, numbers and counting and how they feature in experimental music. From songs about recognising letters to playful sesame street scenarios, learning numbers in different languages and sampled educational recordings in electronic music and counting song riffs in J-pop and noise music.

They Might Be Giants, Letter Not A Letter, 2005

Boredoms, B for Boredoms, 1994

The Beatles, Let It Be Rehearsal Clip

Sesame Street Grover, Alphabet Soup

Akiko Yano, To The ABC A Giant, 1977

Kraftwerk, Numbers, 1981

Lene Lovich, Lucky Number, 1978

Medicine Head, One And One Is One, 1973

Boards of Canada, Aquarius, 1998

The Seatbelts/ Yoko Kanno, 3.14, 2001

Pizzacato Five, One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Barbie Dolls, 1995

Quintron, 9-4-9, 2000

Phillip Glass Ensemble/ Michael Reisman, Einstein on the Beach: Knee Play 1, 1979

Death to Giants, Anyone Can Learn to Count in Chinese, 2013

Mountain Goats, Counting Song For Bitter Children, 2007

Daniel Johnson, Rocket Ship, 1983

Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 2 12.07.24

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:00:45 +0000

Follow Experimental Tunes and Children for a daily routine of waking in the morning, walking the dog, going to school, doing housework, hanging out at home, cooking, brushing our teeth and getting ready for bed, through an eclectic mix of bubble pop and domestic sound inspired musique concrete, folk rock, electronic music and noisy post punk pop.

Kero Kero Bonito, Waking Up, 2016

Barry, Stretch Your Legs, 2019

Laurie Anderson, Walk The Dog, 1985

Pom Poko, Andy Go To School, 2021

Bilal Abdurahman, Sounds Are All Around Us, 1971

Pierre Henry, Variations for a door and a sigh, 1963

The Candy Band, Cars and Trucks, 1978

Carol Channing, Housework, 1972

B52’s, Housework, 1986

The Cock and Bull Band, Trip To The Laundry, 1981

Denim, On a Chicory Tip, 1997

Arthur Russell, Time Away, 2008

Ammakasie Noka, Cooking Time, 2003

Senka Guitar, Shining poo poo world, 2024

Sesame Street, Kids Just Love to Brush Their Teeth,

Lullatone, Still Feeling The Waves When You Go To Bed, 2013

Little Jimmy and the Sparrows, Snorin’, 1958

Experimental Tunes and Children - Episode 1 09.08.24

Wed, 20 May 2026 14:58:10 +0000

This episode of Experimental Tunes and Children considers the songs, sounds and stories of playgrounds. From sampled sounds of children playing to singing, skipping and clapping games across different locations and time periods, adventure playground soundscapes and retellings of childhood exploits and music inspired by them.

XTC, Playground, 2000

Grethe Agatz, Play Song, 2005

Tony Schwartz, Clap Games- NYC 1, 2, 3 and a Zing Zing Zing, 1953

Ewan MacColl and Dominic Behan, Skipping Rope, Bouncing Ball and Counting Rhymes, 1958

Bounce Ball, Can You Fool Your Shadow? Game and Concept Songs for Children

Andrew Gunsberg, 1982

Karoly Cserepes, Choco Choco La La, My Name is Elvis Presley (Children’s Games), 2018

Who Stole The Cookie? NYC Kids Rhymes, Songs for Children from New York City, 1978

Andrew Gunsberg, Bubblegum, Game and Concept Songs for Children, 1982

The Free Design, Bubbles, 1998

Skip Rope Games, Sally Ate a Pickle,1955

East London’s Adventure Playground, Glamis Adventure Playground in Shadwell, 2017

Tiny Tim, Neighbourhood Children, 1968

Triangle Adventure Playground 2021-2022 Soundscape

Masakatsu Takagi, Festival In The Forest, 2001

Lady Allen Adventure Playgrounds, Pathe, 1970s

Howard Finster, Kids Games, Riddles, Walking and Singing, 1984

Background image is from Dreamscape, a year long collaborative project with artist Amy Leung, Anson Primary school pupils and Camden Arts Centre for reimagining and building new spaces for play.