So, it's half term here in Gloucestershire... but not anywhere else, apparently. Good for those here - all holidays are "low season"; except I have to work. The independent schools where I'm employed are with the rest of the country with their half term next week, so tomorrow I will be back at work! I thoroughly enjoyed the concert last Friday. Wotton Training Band's first concert without the main band was a huge success. The band played really well under Diane's baton and the audience (hopefully) learned a thing or two about some of the pieces and their composers. The concert did lead to an invitation to help out at the main band's Poppy Proms concert on Saturday, held in Lister's Hall, Dursley (for details see their website). I am really looking forward to next month's contests with the City of Bristol Band. We have signed some new players and only need a cornet player now. With really good odds for the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association and reasonable odds for the Leicestershire Brass Band Association (looking at the competing bands, I hagree that one will be some contest!), I am thoroughly enjoying our testpiece (and the march for the GBBA) and can't wait to put it on stage.
0 Comments
I have found a couple of really useful items in the last week. First is a video promoting the Shining Brass series; this is the set of books commissioned and published by the ABRSM for use in their exams. The aim of these books is to promote cross-instrument tuition and make the syllabus more contemporary and up-to-date. I have found them a very exciting new series with some excellent works from both new and established composers. Next is a website for helping with your theory. How boring?! Actually, it's quite adictive and one I shall be sharing with my trombone students who are trying to learn a new clef! I was sat here at my computer having fun (whilst knowing the answers, of course!). http://classic.musictheory.net/ The pages I was using were found under the Trainer drop-down box --> Brass. Choose your instrument and practise your valves or slide positions for each note! The date of my pupils' exams should be known by the beginning of November. If you have been entered, then you should know before Wednesday, 7th November, and as usual I will email you as soon as I know.
And a final thought... I was once again very impressed by the service of Normans Musical Instruments. I ordered a new gig bag from them on Sunday (via a retail website) and the bag arrived today (Tuesday); a really efficient and value-for-money company! Just what I need to walk to the concert on Friday... It was great to meet Angus and Flora last week. They came along for their first lesson with me and seemed to enjoy themselves. They are both established players and could be very fine musicians. At least Angus came back today! (Flora was on a school trip, so I'll let her off this week!)
I have also had an email today with the potential of a new school. I hope to hear back from them this week to see if we can work together, but I really hope this will be a success. I have been invited to help out with Wotton Training Band next week (as a player). It so great to see a thriving training band, giving access to music making for children and even better to know that most of the band are my students! They are performing at St. James the Great Church, Dursley, on Friday, 19th October. Details can be found on Wotton Band's website. |