Author: mrsfostermusic

Well done to everyone who performed in MusicFest this week. There was such an incredible array of brilliantly performed, imaginative and creative music, from students in every single year group. Special thanks to our tech team and everyone else who helped on the night and behind the scenes.

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March is Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month is dedicated to honouring and learning about women’s contributions to history, culture and society.

Here are some listening suggestions celebrating the work of female composers:

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Concerts and trips this term:

Choir: Click here to hear this term’s songs and practise your part.

Musical Theatre:

Click here for One Day More. Lyrics here.

Click here for My Shot. Lyrics here.

Concert band: click here for West Side Story and here for Pirates of the Caribbean.

Click here for Big Fun in the Sun.

HUB (Hayes Ukulele Band): please see Satchel One for lyrics and chords.

Please make sure that you try to attend all rehearsals this term and remember to let the organiser know if you are going to be absent.

Music department trips

ET film screening with live orchestra:

Thursday 31st March, 7.30pm, Royal Festival Hall, London

Musical Theatre group:

Thursday 28th April, 7.30pm, Sondheim Theatre, London

MUSICAL THEATRE GROUP

CHOREOGRAPHY SESSION – SAVE THE DATE

Our next choreography session with Larissa will be held in CGD after school on Friday 18th March. We need as many of you there as possible so that you are all ready to perform in the Easter concert on Wednesday 30th March, 6.30pm, School Hall.

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Musical theatre opportunity this Easter

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Spotlight on … Beethoven

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FIND OUT ABOUT … The Eye Harp

According to an Arts Council England study, just 1.8 percent of professionals in the music industry identify as being disabled. This contrasts bleakly to the almost 19 percent of the UK workforce who are considered disabled under the 2010 Equality Act. This is unsurprising when a career in the music industry has historically been seen as inaccessible for disabled people.

The Eye Harp

Development of this groundbreaking modern music technology started in 2010, when Zacharías Vamvakousis, a musician and software developer, was studying for his Master’s degree in Sound and Music computing in Barcelona. A musician friend of Vamvakousis was involved in a serious motorcycle accident, and it was unclear if he would be able to play music ever again. Realising that there was no musical instrument accessible for quadriplegic people at this time, Vamvakousis began developing the EyeHarp.

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Did you know that the London Borough of Bromley is home to an iconic outdoor performance venue called the Crystal Palace Bowl?

From 1961 it hosted regular classical music performances by the likes of the London Symphony Orchestra and London Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1971 to the early 1990s the Bowl saw some of the most popular musical acts in the world across rock, pop, punk, blues, jazz, roots and reggae play the ‘Garden Party’ festivals and later Greater London Council organised events. 

Find out more about the history of the venue and plans for its renewal here.

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And finally …

SIGN UP FOR MUSICFEST HERE

The last day for entries is Wednesday 2nd March

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Concerts and trips this term:

Choir: Click here to hear this term’s songs and practise your part.

Musical Theatre:

Click here for One Day More. Lyrics here.

Click here for My Shot. Lyrics here.

Concert band: click here for West Side Story and here for Pirates of the Caribbean.

HUB (Hayes Ukulele Band): please see Satchel One for lyrics and chords.

Please make sure that you try to attend all rehearsals this term and remember to let the organiser know if you are going to be absent.

Music department trips

ET film screening with live orchestra:

Thursday 31st March, 7.30pm, Royal Festival Hall, London

Musical Theatre group:

Thursday 28th April, 7.30pm, Sondheim Theatre, London

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Brooke and the NYO

Well done to Brooke for a fab performance with the National Youth Orchestra at the Warwick Arts Centre last month. You can watch the full concert (including her conducting debut for Meredith Monk’s 1984 piece, Panda Chant II at 1 hour, 23 mins and 40 seconds) here:

Concert review:

Watch the NYO live this April for FREE:

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BYMT news:

Click here for more details.

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Architecture in Music

In his Architecture of Music Series, Charles Brooks uses Special Probe lenses and High Resolution Lumix cameras to capture the inside of instruments in a way that makes them appear vast and cavernous. Each photo is made up of dozens to hundreds of individual frames, carefully combined to give the sensation of space and depth.

See if you can work out which instruments are photographed below:

Answers and more photos here

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Exciting opportunity for composers in years 10-13

Future Makers is an exciting new opportunity for young London-based musicians. Taking place on 9 November 2022, this main stage event at the Royal Albert Hall will feature young creatives from across the capital performing their original works to a stellar industry panel, invited guests and an audience of young people.

Submissions to take part in the event will be open from 21 February – 9 May 2022. Entrants must be submitted via a London Music Hub. Please see the ‘Criteria’ tab for more information.

A shortlist of acts will be invited to a live audition in the Hall’s Elgar Room in July, and entrants will be informed by the end of July if they will be taking part in the live show.

A cross-genre industry panel will give feedback and advice to all performers following the concert, and the winning act will receive a bespoke package of support and opportunities from the Hall and its partners to continue their development as an artist.

Find out more here.

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And finally …

Join us on our Music Department trip – there are a few places still available

THE LAST DAY TO SIGN UP FOR THIS TRIP IS MONDAY 21ST FEBRUARY (THAT’S THE FIRST MONDAY BACK AFTER HALF TERM)

The parents/guardians of our GCSE, A Level music/music tech students and members of all our music clubs, should have received the trip letter via email on Monday 24th January. Please let us know if your parent/guardian did not receive this email.

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Looking for something to do during half term?

Click here to find out more.

Can’t visit? Watch this walkthrough video instead:

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Watch West Side Story at the cinema

(rating 12A)

A new adaptation of the beloved stage musical (and a loving tribute to its 1961 big-screen iteration) from director Steven Spielberg and Pulitzer Prize-winning screenwriter Tony Kushner, West Side Story follows two teenagers from different ethnic backgrounds who fall in love in 1950s New York City.

As their romance intensifies, they find themselves drawn into the heart of a conflict between two warring gangs.

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For those of you who have Disney Plus at home, this documentary about the making of the new film is worth a watch:

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MUSICFEST

SIGN UP FOR MUSICFEST HERE

The last day for entries is Wednesday 2nd March

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Concerts this term:

Choir: Click here to hear this term’s songs and practise your part.

Musical Theatre:

Click here for One Day More. Lyrics here.

Click here for My Shot. Lyrics here.

Concert band: click here for West Side Story and here for Pirates of the Caribbean.

HUB (Hayes Ukulele Band): Please start learning the lyrics for these songs too:

click here for I’m Yours  

click here for How Far I’ll Go

click here for Stand By Me

click here for Rocket Man

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Another fab FREE opportunity from PercWorks:

Find out more and sign up here.

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Happy Birthday to John Williams

Legendary film composer, John Williams, turned 90 this week.

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Discover instruments from around the world and closer to home in this mini series from the orchestra’s Principal Percussionist.

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And finally …

“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” is a song written and performed by Scottish duo the Proclaimers, and first released as the lead single from their 1988 album Sunshine on Leith. The song reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart on its initial release and has since become their most popular song worldwide.

Karaoke time – enjoy!

Join us to hear John Williams’ Academy Award-winning score performed live by the 80+ players of the Philharmonia, as we watch the film on the Royal Festival Hall’s huge screen. We are really looking forward to it. It will be a fantastic night of music and film.

This clip of John Williams discussing the process of composing the score for ET is well worth a watch:

The parents/guardians of our GCSE, A Level music/music tech students and members of all our music clubs, should have received the trip letter via email on Monday 24th January. Please let us know if your parent/guardian did not receive this email.

The final date for signing up and payment is Monday 21st February.

Concerts this term:

Choir & Musical Theatre singers: click here to hear this term’s songs and practise your part.

Musical Theatre: click here for One Day More

Concert band: click here for West Side Story and here for Pirates of the Caribbean.

HUB (Hayes Ukulele Band): Please start learning the lyrics for these songs too:

click here for I’m Yours  

click here for How Far I’ll Go

click here for Stand By Me

click here for Rocket Man

New MusicFest date:

MusicFests are informal concerts where students from any year group can perform pieces of their own choice to a friendly and supportive audience. We always have a huge range of music, from students’ very first public performance to students who are already hugely experienced musicians. We have all styles of music from classical to rock to musical theatre and students’ own compositions. There are solos, duets and groups.

Here is the video from last term’s MusicFest so you can get a flavour of what it’s like:

SIGN UP FOR MUSICFEST HERE

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Competitions:

Click here to find out more.

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Compose Yourself! is an annual online composition festival open to all young pianists resident in the UK. We aim to offer young pianists the opportunity to develop their musicianship, creativity and self-expression through composition.

There are two main categories: competitive and non-competitive, with classes for different age groups in the competitive category.  Each entrant will receive an encouraging comment sheet from one of our expert adjudicators, a certificate and a piece of music from a leading educational composer. Find out more here.

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Fab opportunity during half term:

Virtual sessions

Click here to find out more.

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For the puzzle lovers:

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And finally …

And here’s one for Miss Werry …

I expect to see photos of your own musical snowman when we finally get a snow day!

Monday 7th March, School Hall, 6pm

MusicFests are informal concerts where students from any year group can perform pieces of their own choice to a friendly and supportive audience. We always have a huge range of music, from students’ very first public performance to students who are already hugely experienced musicians. We have all styles of music from classical to rock to musical theatre and students’ own compositions. There are solos, duets and groups.

Here is the video from last term’s MusicFest so you can get a flavour of what it’s like:

SIGN UP FOR MUSICFEST HERE

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Please make sure you attend all rehearsals this term and remember to let the organiser know if you are unable to attend.

Choir & Musical Theatre singers: click here to hear this term’s songs and practise your part.

Musical Theatre: click here for One Day More

Concert band: click here for West Side Story and here for Pirates of the Caribbean.

HUB (Hayes Ukulele Band): click here for I’m Yours and here for How Far I’ll Go

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Volunteers needed

If anyone is interested in helping me create a regular #MusicAndMe feature for the blog (and perhaps the school newsletter) then please come and see me in CGG or email me. It would involve interviewing members of staff about the role of music in their life. Thank you. From Mrs Foster

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What would you like to see on the blog or happening in the music department?

Let me know your ideas via email. Thank you.

From Mrs Foster

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MUSIC DEPARTMENT TRIP – PLACES ARE GOING FAST. HAVE YOU RESERVED YOUR PLACE YET?

We have arranged a trip to take students up to London on the train to hear John Williams’ Academy Award-winning score performed live by the 80+ players of the Philharmonia, as we watch the film on the Royal Festival Hall’s huge screen. It will be a fab concert!

Filled with unparalleled magic and imagination, ET The Extra-Terrestrial tells the moving story of a lost little alien who befriends a 10-year-old boy named Elliott.

Experience all the mystery and fun of their unforgettable adventure in the beloved movie that has captivated audiences around the world since it was first released in 1982.

Enjoy John Williams’ Academy Award-winning score performed live by the 80+ players of the Philharmonia, as you watch the film on the Royal Festival Hall’s huge screen.

The parents/guardians of our GCSE, A Level music/music tech students and members of all our music clubs, should have received the trip letter via email on Monday 24th January. Please let us know if your parent/guardian did not receive this email.

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Fab opportunity for 11-14 year olds, grade 4-8 standard

Please note: the deadline for completing the application form is Monday 31st January

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Have a look at …

What is Experience Classical?

It’s a new way to discover classical music from the BBC, featuring hundreds of unique audio recordings all performed by the BBC Orchestras, Choirs and New Generation Artists. And alongside these tracks you’ll find radio programmes and podcasts that give you background and insight, so you can get even more out of the music.

Search by categories including Composers, Instruments, Popular Classics, Cutting Edge, Discovery and Moods like Energise, Focus and Wind Down.

Young Musician Podcast

Fab saxophonist, Jess Gillam, hosts this podcast about young musicians, for young musicians.

Here’s an example of the topics covered:

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Weekly Recitals

And finally…

Concerts at school this term

Please make sure you attend all rehearsals this term and remember to let the organiser know if you are unable to attend.

Choir & Musical Theatre singers: click here to hear this term’s songs and practise your part.

Musical Theatre: click here for One Day More

Concert band: click here for West Side Story and here for Pirates of the Caribbean.

HUB (Hayes Ukulele Band): click here for I’m Yours

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MUSIC DEPARTMENT TRIP – SAVE THE DATE!

We are in the process of arranging a trip to take students up to London on the train to hear John Williams’ Academy Award-winning score performed live by the 80+ players of the Philharmonia, as we watch the film on the Royal Festival Hall’s huge screen. It will be a fab concert!

Filled with unparalleled magic and imagination, ET The Extra-Terrestrial tells the moving story of a lost little alien who befriends a 10-year-old boy named Elliott.

Experience all the mystery and fun of their unforgettable adventure in the beloved movie that has captivated audiences around the world since it was first released in 1982.

Enjoy John Williams’ Academy Award-winning score performed live by the 80+ players of the Philharmonia, as you watch the film on the Royal Festival Hall’s huge screen.

The parents/guardians of our GCSE, A Level music/music tech students and members of all our music clubs, should have received the trip letter via email on Monday 24th January.

Please let us know if your parent/guardian did not receive this email.

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Practise sight-reading rhythms with the LPO

Can you follow along? 🤯

Tchaikovsky wrote a smashing part for the cymbals in his Fourth Symphony, but we wonder why they don’t play the final note 🤔

What do you think? pic.twitter.com/la2US3Gvyv

— London Philharmonic Orchestra (@LPOrchestra) January 18, 2022

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Electronic music fans

Find out about the history of electronic music and play a synth at home using AR by clicking here.

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The LPO Soundworks Studio is an online space to inspire young people to create and share their own music. Hear from top industry professionals across a range of disciplines, explore resources and find out how you can get involved in LPO Soundworks projects.

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And finally …

Concerts at school this term:

Please make a note of the change of date for the Easter Concert. It will now be held on Wednesday 30th March instead of Thursday 31st March.

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Concert Band

Here’s another band playing the same arrangement of West Side Story that we will be performing in the Easter Concert. Use this to help you practise your part at home:

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Musical Theatre

Here’s the Hayes School assembly flash mob from 2014 that we were telling you about!

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HUB

Hayes Ukulele Band is back! Come along to CGG every Friday lunch to strum, sing and have fun. Bring your lunch and your friends 🙂

Here’s a clip of the original HUB from way back in 2012!

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Local opportunities for song writers

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Reading recommendations

Classical music for everyone – an inspirational piece of music for every day of the year, celebrating composers from the medieval era to the present day, written by award-winning violinist and BBC Radio 3 presenter Clemency Burton-Hill.

Clemency chooses one piece of music for each day of the year, with a short explanation about the composer to put it into context, and brings the music alive in a modern and playful way, while also extolling the positive mindfulness element of giving yourself some time every day to listen to something uplifting or beautiful. Thoughtfully curated and expertly researched, this is a book of classical music to keep you company: whoever you are, wherever you’re from. Playlists are available on most streaming music platforms including Apple Music and Spotify.

waterstones.com

Clemency Burton-Hill is an English broadcaster, author, novelist, journalist and violinist. She  suffered a major brain haemorrhage at the start of 2020 and music played a key role in her recovery. You can read more about her here, and listen to her chat about her music-filled recovery here (from 26 mins).

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Click here to find out what musical things happened on today’s date since the 1960s.

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And finally …

We hope you all had a good break.

Here is this term’s UPDATED rehearsal schedule:

All rehearsals start in the week beginning 10th January

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Concerts at school this term:

It won’t be long before the next MusicFest is upon us so start planning and practising now!

BYMT news – there are lots of opportunities to get involved with this term

Click here to find out more.

The Music Hub @ BYMT

The Music Hub is a social enterprise musical instrument and supplies business based at BYMT. The Music Hub sells anything and everything that’s music-related. They also consider part exchange and have a range of pre-loved instruments for sale.

Please click here to find out more.

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Sheku Kanneh-Mason is a British cellist who won the BBC Young Musician award in 2016. He was the first Black musician to win the competition since its launch in 1978.

Here’s Sheku playing an arrangement of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.

We did a little this or that! Retweet 🔁 if your answers are more similar to me or react with ❤️ if you're more like @IsataKM…

If you also love Rachmaninoff, check out the third movement of his sonata which features on our new album MUSE – https://t.co/bUjAHHftiC pic.twitter.com/kIXGOuuFvt

— Sheku Kanneh-Mason (@ShekuKM) November 6, 2021

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Music preview 2022

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And finally …

What are the lyrics and meaning of Auld Lang Syne?

Click here to find out.

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Concerts at school this term:

It won’t be long before the next MusicFest is upon us so start planning and practising now!

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BYMT news – there are lots of opportunities to get involved with this term

For those of you not already in a BYMT ensemble, take a look at this:

For those of you in years 7 and 8:

BYMT ‘Bitesize’ on Friday 7 January 2022. Choose an instrument & come along and try it! Booking essential – click here

BYMT Musical Theatre are looking for performers for our forthcoming full-scale musical productions of BUGSY MALONE and THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

We are looking for singers, dancers and actors and the information for both productions are as follows:

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Audition Date: Wednesday 12th January
Time: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – The Von Trapp Children auditions (ages 8 – 15. For unbroken voices).
Time: 8:15 pm – 9:00 pm – Adult roles in the show (ages 16 – 21).

Please prepare the song ‘The Sound of Music’. We will need to hear solo singing and see some scene work. Audition scenes will be provided on the day.

Rehearsals: On Sunday afternoons in February and March for the Von Trapp Children and the adult roles plus Tuesday evenings for the adult roles only between 7:45 pm – 9:15pm.

Show Week and Performances: Monday 21st March – Saturday 26th March 2022.

BUGSY MALONE

Audition Date: Wednesday 12th January
Time: 6:45 pm – 7:15 pm – For ages 8 – 11.
Time: 7:15 pm – 8:00 pm – For ages 12 – 15.

You do not need to prepare or bring anything as we will teach all the audition material on the day.

Rehearsals: On Sunday afternoons in March and April as well as every Tuesday during term time at the following times:
4:30 pm – 5:45 pm – Ages 8 – 11
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Ages 12 – 15

Show Week and Performances: Friday 29th April – Monday 2nd May 2022.

If you want to sign up for an audition, please use the following link:  https://forms.office.com/r/6EwUiCrfi1
There you will find a very simple form that you will need to fill in. Once you have filled in the age of the student, the appropriate options available to them will appear for you to tick.

If you have any questions, then please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing: max.reynolds@live.co.uk

Good luck to Emily from all of us here at Hayes.

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Listen to this:

This is Väsen and Chris Thile performing “Flippen” in 2013. Väsen are a Swedish folk music band founded in 1989, consisting of Olov Johansson (nyckelharpa) and Mikael Marin (viola). Chris Thile is an American mandolinist, singer, songwriter, composer, and radio personality.

A nyckelharpa (“keyed fiddle”, or literally “key harp”) is a traditional Swedish musical instrument. It is a string instrument or chordophone. Its keys are attached to tangents which, when a key is depressed, serve as frets to change the pitch of the string.

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And finally…

Well done and thank you to everyone involved in the concert on Wednesday. You were fantastic and there were lots of positive comments about your performances from those who watched. Click here to watch the video.

BYMT news

BYMT Musical Theatre are looking for performers for our forthcoming full-scale musical productions of BUGSY MALONE and THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

We are looking for singers, dancers and actors and the information for both productions are as follows:

THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Audition Date: Wednesday 12th January
Time: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – The Von Trapp Children auditions (ages 8 – 15. For unbroken voices).
Time: 8:15 pm – 9:00 pm – Adult roles in the show (ages 16 – 21).

Please prepare the song ‘The Sound of Music’. We will need to hear solo singing and see some scene work. Audition scenes will be provided on the day.

Rehearsals: On Sunday afternoons in February and March for the Von Trapp Children and the adult roles plus Tuesday evenings for the adult roles only between 7:45 pm – 9:15pm.

Show Week and Performances: Monday 21st March – Saturday 26th March 2022.

BUGSY MALONE

Audition Date: Wednesday 12th January
Time: 6:45 pm – 7:15 pm – For ages 8 – 11.
Time: 7:15 pm – 8:00 pm – For ages 12 – 15.

You do not need to prepare or bring anything as we will teach all the audition material on the day.

Rehearsals: On Sunday afternoons in March and April as well as every Tuesday during term time at the following times:
4:30 pm – 5:45 pm – Ages 8 – 11
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Ages 12 – 15

Show Week and Performances: Friday 29th April – Monday 2nd May 2022.

If you want to sign up for an audition, please use the following link:  https://forms.office.com/r/6EwUiCrfi1
There you will find a very simple form that you will need to fill in. Once you have filled in the age of the student, the appropriate options available to them will appear for you to tick.

If you have any questions, then please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing: max.reynolds@live.co.uk

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Spotlight on… Brooke

Every Saturday I get up at 6.15, get dressed and then we drive up to London with the double bass, so that I can attend the Royal Academy of Music.  My day starts (9am) with choir, where we sing a range of choral music and practise sight reading.  From this, I head straight off to Chamber Music class where we explore and play a piece of music in great depth, looking at how it is constructed etc.  Next comes Alexander Technique, where I learn how to make the best use of my body in order to make the best sound possible when playing and how to keep my body healthy and injury free.  It is then a rush to get to orchestra, where I join lots of other musicians to work on orchestral repertoire.  A quick refuel at lunch is followed by conducting class which is always great fun.  We all take our instruments along and create a make-shift orchestra, while we each take turns to conduct.  It is hysterical when you wave your arms about and no-one starts to play, or when you wave them at random, ever changing speeds and the playing goes crazy – the tutor is surprisingly patient!  Next up is General Musicianship, a 45-minute class where we study music theory and look at complicated harmony and melody features in different types of music.  My brain always hurts after this class!  Immediately after this, I grab my bass and go to Bass Class, where all the double bassists get together and hone our performance and analysis skills. My day ends with a 1-1 double bass lesson with my teacher Josie.  I love all the classes but this is my favourite because I get to work on my technique and own repertoire. 

Aside from the Royal Academy, I am excited to be a London Philharmonic Junior Artist for the year.  Being part of the LPO family is a real privilege and comes with lots of opportunities, for example, I have a double bass mentor (Laura) who plays for the LPO.  I also learn from professionals about the industry, get to carry out work experience with LPO and am invited to watch the LPO in concert a number of times (they are amazing live!).  You can find out more about it here. https://www.lpo.org.uk/education/edu-junior-artists.html

Finally, I auditioned for the National Youth Orchestra and was successful in getting a place for the third year running.  The NYO is incredible and I count down the days between courses.  We stay in universities all over the country, sometimes for weeks on end, play incredible music all day, perform in some of the country’s top venues with some of the world’s best conductors. It’s just brilliant and I am lucky to be a part of it!  I also love the NYO Inspire activities, which are all about reaching out to, and working with, other young musicians from all over the United Kingdom so that everyone has the opportunity to make music.  NYO Inspire is all about getting as many young people involved in music as possible and if you want to find out more about it and perhaps apply look here https://www.nyo.org.uk/inspire

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Listen to this fab arrangement of Sleigh Ride for trombones

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Calling all drummers – free online masterclass this Sunday

Learn first-hand from Peter Erskine, the ten times ‘Best Jazz Drummer of the Year’. Explore his vast knowledge, gathered across a career featuring on over 700 album recordings, countless artist collaborations and 2 Grammy Awards. Click here to find out more and to sign up.

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Something to try over Christmas for the jazzers among you

This is a fantastic opportunity. Once registered, you will have full access to a selection of resources specifically designed to help you practise, perform and improve from wherever you are. Click here to register and access all the resources.

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Music + recycling project to do over Christmas!

I’ve already suggested a kalimba performance for next February’s Musicfest. Here’s another suggestion for you and your friends to try:

The History of Christmas Carols 

How much do you know about the carols we sing each year? Click here to find out more.

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And finally …

Have a great, music-filled Christmas, and we look forward to making LOTS MORE MUSIC in 2022!