A song-writing supply teacher who believes music is a powerful education tool has penned 50 songs that will be made available to schools.
The TT Festival is one of the topics where Donna Teare saw there was a need for more classroom resources, and led to her writing the five-verse song ‘The Isle of Man (vroom, vroom) TT Race’.
This action song was performed by youngsters from Theatrix performing arts company – where Donna works as a singing teacher – at the Villa Marina Gardens on two days during TT week.
On one occasion, the audience weren’t just there to soak up the atmosphere, they were were handed out lyrics sheets and encouraged to join in with the song too.
Donna explained: ‘It’s an action song which engages the children, through which they are able to learn the story behind the TT.
‘It starts with everyone coming to the Isle of Man and goes through the race and how riders feel. It’s a celebration of the TT. I felt there weren’t many resources to engage children in the TT.’
She said the second performance – on Thursday last week – was ‘really well attended’.
‘There were lots of bikers, and friends and family. We had 100 lyrics sheets and I’m pretty sure they were all handed out.’
Donna has written 50 songs over two years, and as a Christian, believes she’s meant to be using her gift for song-writing in this way.
They cover everything from the 6Rs of the island’s curriculum to promote positive behaviour in schools, to the role of the sun and moon in the seasons.
A number of Donna’s songs are faith driven.
‘The Isle of Man (vroom, vroom) TT Race’ is available on Donna’s website at www.songs4schools.com
The website is currently under construction – and will feature Donna’s entire song collection.
She said it was important that her songs were fun to sing, easy to learn and with memorable melodies.
‘They are educational but not boring,’ she said.
‘Music is such a powerful medium for learning.’
• Donna also leads Roc Vannin, a mixed choir which meets on Tuesday evenings, from 7pm to 9pm at Tower House, in Douglas.
The choir performed at the Villa Marina Gardens last week, including a very different style of TT song penned by Donna ‘We are riding the race of our lives’.
Anyone interested in joining Roc Vannin should get in touch with Carey Chung by calling 466399.