The 'Musical Mystery Tour' show is an hour of songs, music, fun, participation and information, introducing a variety of stringed instruments. Many of the songs were originally written for BBC TV and Radio schools music education programmes.

The lyrics and musical content fulfil many National Curriculum requirements for language and literacy, music and creativity.

Word play, story, metre and melody feature strongly and can be used in a variety of ways to teach phonics, rhythm and pitch. The songs are available on the five Musical Mystery Tour CDs. These recordings all use a wide range of musical instruments and sounds in interesting arrangements.

Sticklands School, Dorset

the banjo-mandolin is
about the right size

but the mandobass is
something to grow into!

'Simon Mayor and Hilary James have the remarkable ability to put across ideas about sound and rhythm in a way that very young children can understand. And they are entertaining with it.'

The Scotsman

The show is suitable for both infants and juniors. For schools covering both age ranges, we are happy to take separate groups. However, where space allows, there can be more of a sense of occasion if the whole school participates together. The infants benefit from the responses of the older children and rise to the occasion.

For pre-school we offer a shorter 40 minutes version, tailored to the needs and attention span of the children.

We feature a wide variety of string instruments - usually a selection from the violin, guitar, double bass, banjo-mandolin, and the mandolin family of instruments (mandolin, mandola, mandocello, mandobass).

If you'd like to find out a little more you can visit the instruments page in the 'fun things to do' part of this site.

trying out the frame fiddle

a visit to Sticklands School, Dorset