Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Notes to a harmonica player


Shortly to go to print, is a set of three pieces for chromatic harmonica. I wrote these pieces originally for Chris, as he found the chromatic repertoire is quite sparse and unobtainable in this country. Kevin Mayhew ltd have published them in time for the National Harmonica Festival, and also for us to take to the world Festival in Oct. It was quite a challenge writing for the instrument, which has quite a few technical peculiarities (!!) it was quite different to my normal writing ( which now seems quite straight forward).

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

NEW MUSIC CAMP BLOG!!!!

As we enter our 40th year of the National Youth Music Camps, I have started a Music camps Blog. I have always wanted to do this, so am very excited. Its a place to celebrate what has gone on in the last forty years, to enjoy what is happening now, and toast what we hope will happen in the future. I hope it will reunite old camp alumni , rekindle music camp memories, and enable people to follow camps as they happen.
Please take a look at what is there at the moment, and keep coming back as more is added. Please leave a comment and feel free to contribute. Not only are there some old pictures of camp ( more to come), but also pictures from T2 today.
Please pass the link on to any ex campers or staff you think may be interested. I hope it will be a nice place of meeting and reference.
www.nationalyouthmusiccamp.blogspot.com

Sunday, July 26, 2009

T1 arrives!!

The reception commitee for campers arriving today for the National Youth Music Camps.
Well, its that time of year again, and the first teenage campers arrive for the start of our fortieth year! The tents are all in place for another year of creativity and music making. The reception commitee is poised to welcome everyone. Notice the first aid dept accepting medications.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Back from Ghana





































Martha is back from two weeks at the Mansec Music service in Ghana. Here are just a few of the (very many ) photo's she took. The crocodiles are real!!!.








click on the pictures to make them bigger.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Busy times.






















Just coming to the end of a really crazy few weeks. Did a big teachers day for the music teachers of Kent which was a lovely day. I did workshops with groups of thirty to forty, and was able to introduce for the first time the new song books. ( above). They were received enthusiastically which was exciting. I am hoping to launch them properly at the NAME conference in Sep.






I had a good day adjudicating at "Music for Youth" where Chloe spent the week working on the staff. She has just gone off now to start her year placement at the LSO, very exciting!. Martha is in Ghana (!!) with the music service, and loving it. We are having lots of enthusiastic texts.






Things are hotting up for the music camp will post more here when it gets started.