Thursday, July 31, 2008

Important people!
















Another great day at the National Youth Music Camps, and a rich array of "Allmusic" and exciting things happening. Each camp is staffed by a talented group of tutors from many walks of musical life and all genre's. Its exciting to be among these people. But what is also wonderful, is the talented people who come and cater, do maintenance, costumes and props and admin. Everyone makes a special team who work very hard, but have a lot of fun, and get a lot out of it themselves.





They say an army marches on its stomach, well a music camp plays music on theirs!.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Two new titles




Two new books arrived today. I had been asked by brass and string teachers if I could do some repertoire books for early stages on the trumpet and violin. The pieces for trumpet were chosen by a brass teacher who decided which of the early Razzamajazz pieces would be most useful and beneficial to the pupil and teacher.


The violin book is just fun repertoire covering the early stages of learning to about grade two. I hope it will be a fun and useful resource.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Music camp and everything else


I went into the camp this morning and already there was that wonderful buzz of new and exciting things happening.
Every camp is unique, and each mix of thirty staff always brings new and exciting surprises. I just saw one session this morning, but was thrilled to see a folk group with so many traditional instruments for the campers to try, a choreographed samba band, a steel pan group playing like pro's after only one rehearsal and so many other pockets of creative activity. This session was generally instruments that the campers had never even tried before.

When I got home the proofs for a new re vamp of Red Hot recorder arrived, and some copies of the new Flute prep test book I wrote for the Ass board. A very musical day.... I was so inspired I went out and got some new manuscript paper.... I must so some work.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

First campers arrive
















The first campers have arrived for the National Youth Music Camps. Pictured is the reception commitee of musicians to serenade them as they arrive!. Also the NEW MUSIC MARQUEE. Its so nice everything has got going, and in very nice weather too. There is a good staff with some new faces, and promise in the air.

Friday, July 25, 2008

"Tents up tonight!!"


Can't believe the music camp tents start to go up tonight. Lets hope the weather holds and we won't have to battle with the mud we did last year. Just sent off the final draught of my musical to other members of staff for week two. Its quite exciting as I have reworked a musical I wrote for a teenage camp years ago!.

Hre we go, the THIRTY EIGHTH year of the "National Youth Music Camps".

Monday, July 21, 2008

"Everything is Somewhere else (again)"




Dusted off my bassoon at the weekend and tried to remember which way up it went, to play my piece "Everything is somewhere else" with the London Chamber Ensemble in the Dankworths garden as part of the garden season gala night.


It actually went well, despite it being very cold!!. We took our friend Sol who is over from the Philippines. After entertaining her in the freezing cold with a BBQ I expect she started to question the sanity of the English. Oh well, it was fun.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

New prep test pieces


I have written all the pieces for the new Associated board flute prep tests. The book is out now, and this is the cover!. I haven't seen any more of it yet, but I think it will be fun to do.

Monday, July 14, 2008

The power of music!!


Have to confess to feeling very stressed at the moment for various reasons.

While doing a daily reading today I came across this about David a man who was also stressed. I thought it worth sharing.

"Walk back with David through his musings, and you will find him to be human like you, and he wrote his poem to share your sorrow as well as describe his.
His final act is a peculiarly human habit employed to lift the spirit. He turns to music. Nature is full of music and song, but humans use it to speak to themselves and unlock the prisons of the mind.
David decides he will sing his way out by singing praise to his God because His God has been good to him. He is presenting you with two final strategies here. First he is inviting you to share in the generic habit of singing to lift your spirit – focusing on God’s goodness. He is advocating you find opportunities by yourself or with others to sing your heart out. If you’ve been caught up in such singing you will know its power".

YEH!!!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Food for thought!


I have just discovered the Vienna Vegetable orchestra. Worth a look!


(Potential music camp dabble!)