Thursday

I am artistic director of the National youth music camp which is in full swing at the moment. You may like to look at our blog. www.nationalyouthmusiccamp.blogspot.com
A few pictures from this afternoon at camp. All is going well, and there are some very exciting projects emerging. It was nice today seeing groups of campers preparing group items, and forming their own ensembles and groups. The camp orchestra did a full run through of all three of its pieces, which went well, especially an arrangement of a tango with complete accordion section!.


Strings and woodwind

How many orchestras have you seen with a accordion section?

Some choreography to accompany vocals.

A campers group.

We were able to come by footage of the first camps that Avril had put onto video. Dave edited some of it, and showed the campers. They were amazed at how basic everything was, and will be recreating some of what they saw in the sports this afternoon (Walking backwards race and egg and spoon). A few familiar faces in the film, Avril, Jacqui and Alec Dankworth, Alison Tumber, Jane Lloyd, Neil Conti among others. We hope to show it all three camps.

Class Act Two

Class Act 2 is now out!. People have been asking for it for a while having found book one useful for both private teaching and a mixed ability group. The book takes the player into the next octave and adds a few more accidentals while still providing accessible and fun pieces to inspire. I hope It will provide a valuable resource for reinforcing note and rhythm reading while having fun.

Back from Scotland

Plenty of inspiration while away. I sat in our van writing out music surrounded by lakes, mountains and cups of tea ( wonderful). We hoped to hear some traditional folk music while there, and did hear three numbers in two hours ( they took lots of beer and cigarette breaks).

Weren't bothered by midges.... they are all in this tube!.

Kerry Camden

It was with sadness that I found out that Kerry Camden had died aged 74.
Kerry was my bassoon professor at The Royal College of Music for four years, and gave me many opportunities for playing and exploring the wind chamber music repertoire he loved. He supported me when I was a penniless music student by allowing me scholarships to attend Stowe summer school and the wonderful Berwang holiday music course in Austria that I went to for six years. He even gave me reeds and a bassoon crook that belonged to his famous bassoonist father Archie Camden. I will always be very grateful for this.
Kerry will be sadly missed.
http://www.musicholiday.com/index.html