Merry Christmas!!!

"Two at a time" Two!

The first two books from my new series are now out. The flute and clarinet book, and now the descant and treble recorders book. (Violin and cello out very soon!).

The series aims to introduce two instruments at the same time and I am very excited about it. I hope that in the current times of whole class instrumental teaching, where teachers are being expected to multi task and achieve the impossible, this may help ( even a bit!). There are also lots of really useful early ensemble pieces from lesson one for the looming Christmas concert.

Wow!

Just back from the American Orff Schulwerk conference.

I have just had a very inspiring few days at the American Orff Schulwork conference in Spokane in Western America. The idea was to meet more American music teachers and introduce the American versions of some of my books, and to meet retailers, conference organisers and those in music Education so they could put a face to a name. It was very exciting. There were nearly two thousand delegates there from twenty states.

This was the archway to the exhibition and display areas. There was a huge exhibition hall at the conference centre, and many rooms for presentations and workshops. All the delegates were given all workshop notes and a recorder!

Our stand at the beginning of the conference. We had many visitors, and it was VERY exciting to meet people who were already using my books and knew who we were ( I had a few hugs!). Also many people had seen the review of Red Hot Recorder Method that appeared in an American music magazine in October.

There were a LOT of brightly coloured recorders!

Each Chapter of the Orff Schulwerk Association from all the states had their own banner which they paraded around the exhibition hall after the opening ceremony. They were hung around the hall for the duration of the conference.

The conference was inspiring, and the breadth of the Orff musical philosophy was evident in the workshops and activities offered. Quite an experience!

Bristol Harmonica fest.

We had a nice day in Bristol yesterday at the Harmonica Fest. Not only was Chris "Chromatic player of the year" again, but his pupil James won the junior section. (very proud).

What instrument??

Recently in Brugge, I came across a couple of solutions for people who are unsure what instrument to play.

Just found this!

Music camp 40th anniversary.

Lots of memories shared yesterday at the music camp reunion.
For more photos see www.nationalyouthmusiccamp.blogspot.com

Watch this!

All music teachers watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDF3CHqqb-4

A friend alerted me to this today. Worth a watch if you want to smile.

New term well underway.

The new term is always exciting with new projects , and an important time for me in that its the main time for introducing my new music. I love the thought that someone may be discovering th "EBGB's" and other major works of mine for the first time. September also brings the NAME conference, and teachers inset days and workshops. I have been to a few places this month and met with teachers to share ideas and get creative. Every workshop is different and I tailor it to the interests of the group. Sometimes there are a few teachers in a twilight session where we will sing some songs and I will show some new ideas for the classroom, but recently I have worked with a group of seventy woodwind and brass teachers (all with instruments!). Never a dull moment!. I am very lucky.

"Two at a Time" has landed

The Flute and clarinet version of "Two at a time" is now out, the descant and treble recorder version is at proof stage, and the the violin and cello version is waiting in the wings...... very exciting!

Things are hotting up now the summer holidays are over. I have done a couple of inset days, and it was really nice to meet teachers that have been using my books and to talk to them for inspiration.

I am off to the NAME conference with Kevin Mayhew ltd tomorrow, and am looking forward to seeing old friends there and seeing whats going on .

The summer camps were special this year being the 40th anniversary, and plans are afoot for a big reunion on the tenth of October. Anyone who has been to camp is welcome, and details are available from the education dept at the Stables theatre Milton keynes (01908) 280820.

Visit to Avril Dankworth

Music camp is all finished now, and I have to admit to feeling completely exhausted, having said that, all three weeks were as wonderful as ever. One of the high spots was visiting Avril (our founder and inspiration) to celebrate the 40th anniversary with her. We played music, sang and ate cake. Avril really enjoyed the visit.

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

Watts in Washington DC

Have just flown back today from the States. Exhausting but very exciting. We went to the MENC music week in Washington to promote the American versions of my books, and to also meet a few people and fact find. The few days were very enjoyable and a great success. We met so many nice people and learned a lot about how things work in their music education system. The books were very well received, especially Red Hot Recorder Method and the Red Hot Song Library. It looks as if I may be returning to do other events and workshops very soon. (!).

To review or not to review?

I felt moved to do a post on reviews in general.

Apparently the golden rule in show buisness is never to read your reviews. I have been lucky to have had a few good ones lately,but there is always a slight bit of negativity in them that must be seen by the reviewer to show their ability for critical thinking. The comments are generally about something that I have agonised about, and I feel frustrated that in true Harry Potter style a little paragraph cant magically appear under the review with the title "YES BUT!".

The negative points usually are about the fact that synthesised instruments are used on backing tracks. (YES BUT! do they think how long it would take an instrumentalist to record all these tracks perfectly, and how much it would cost for a top notch player to do this... there is more to all this than meets the eye....).

Then, in the same paragraph they say how wonderful it is to have two speeds of backing tracks.... ( add another few days with instrumentalist onto the recording time in a busy in house studio which is trying to produce quality backing tracks for every publication....

Actually what made me laugh, was a few months ago I had a review of a saxophone book from a very eminent prof. of the instrument. His negative comments were that he didn't like the tone made by the tenor sax player on the backing CD ( It was a book for alto sax), and that the player had unwisely decided not to use vibrato in his playing..... not sure he realised it was synthesised!.

Harmonica review

nice review. Click on it to enlarge.

Exciting times.

As a composer I am constantly working on something, but there are times when everything seems to come together and get exciting. I have just taken delivery of Red Hot two, finished proofing class act two, and just finished writing the second of the "Two at a time series".

To top this, things are hotting up for my trip with Kevin Mayhews to the big MENC conference for Music Education in Washington USA. Its been very exciting seeing the six foot banners which will go behind the stand to promote my books. There are new American mailers and instrument stickers. We even have RED HOT MUGS!!. How exciting is that!.

Here at last

Red Hot recorder 2 has arrived! Its always very exciting when the man arrives with the parcel.

I am very pleased with the finished product and hope it will be useful. There is plenty of opportunity for adding treble and tenor for ensemble playing, and some new additions like scales to an accompaniment and an "All made up" section for on the spot composition and improvisation. Its very hard to do a book two of anything, so I am hoping it pleases.

Anyone remember Bee?

Just to let you know that ex camper and member of staff Bryony Sutton ( now known as Bryony Hannah). is playing Louise in the new Ricky Gervais film "Cemetery Junction".
Bee was originally a sax pupil of mine at the Arts Ed, then went onto RADA, and has acted to much acclaim since.
Bee is pictured above ( top with soprano) with the sax quartet who represented the camps at the opening of the new Stables theatre, and also the BBC Jazz awards the same year.

I promise to do my best.

I have just spent a very nostalgic afternoon.

I have been asked to be an ambassador for the Girl Guides, and was invited to attend their Annual banner service today to celebrate a hundred years of guiding.

I spent happy years as a brownie and guide as did both our girls. Many of my songs have been influenced by times singing around a campfire, and the music camps were inspired by Avril's time as a guide. pictured is me as a brownie, and as a guide (front row, far side).

There were ninety banners/flags paraded today to represent each guiding area in the county. They had been designed and beautifully made by the guide companies, and to see them lining the path to the church brought quite a lump to the throat.

The afternoon was rounded up as one would expect with tea and the most creative display of fairy cakes I have ever seen. I chose a butterfly cake for old times sake......... I can feel a piece of music coming on.

For Double Reedies!

I had this sent to me this morning. Thought it may be of interest to anyone with double reed pupils .Morning Oons,
Latest hot news:
You will remember that February 14th last year was a rather special day for a different reason than increased sales of cards, chocolates and red roses.... it was the Big Bassoon Day at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. What started out as an idea from Bob Porter ended up as a monstrously entertaining and informative day with over 100 young oons arriving to learn and be inspired and we have been asking Bob "what next?".
Of course the only way forward is UP so this year 10th October has been booked as a complete take over of the GSMD building with not only bassoons but also OBOES invited and thus it becomes the Big Double Reed Day.. and can only get BIGGER. The plans look amazing and if you were involved last year you will know how much fun it was showing kids the contra/reed adjusting/masterclasses and of course the grand finale - "When the Saints" with dozens and dozens of bassoons in the foyer. Some fantastic players already confirmed but currently all bonded under the official oon secrets act. Watch this space and others for news and please spread the word of the DATE to other bassoon teachers/players and of course oboe teachers who we are hoping can also work out how to have as much fun as bassoonists. Note as this is a Sunday we won't all have to rush off to gigs like last year which should result in a rather large gathering later on.
Meyrick Alexander

Times gone by.

The Grand

The Palm Court

Orchestra gallery

We have just come back from staying at the Grand in Folkestone. I always find going to these places so inspiring, and the high spot of the trip was the "Grand tour". where we were able to see bits of the building that you aren't normally allowed to go (love that!). The Grand has a rich history of exciting events and visitors over the last century, but my favourite bit was the palm court, and the orchestra gallery ( now sadly the finance dept!!). Oh for the days of live music. At least the Grand employ three pianists to play in the afternoons while you have cream teas and watch the boats on the sea ( or in our case the rain!)