Sizzling songz in the Philippines

Chris has been visiting a centre for street children in the Philippines with a group from our church. They do a lot of singing, so he took out copies of Sizzling songz. Chris worked with the kids and showed the teachers how to use the book.

I would love to have been a fly on the wall.

Spot the difference!

The new American version of "Red Hot recorder" has now landed. The American distributor reported that it had arrived on an eighteen wheel truck!.

The book had to be completely redesigned with Measures, quarter notes etc, even some of the titles had to go!!. A big marketing drive is underway.

EXCITING!!

Check this out!

We went to hear the Adriano Adewale group on "stage two" at the Stables last night. It was AWESOME. Its so exciting to go to a concert that really inspires you, and this one did.

Adriano says "Music starts and finishes with silence. From beginning to end there is much to be seen and experienced.

Our music varies in shape, weight and colour. It takes you on a journey where sounds uncover intrinsic identities of simpicity and beauty, translating images, words and movement into music".

Check out

http://www.adrianoadewale.co.uk/

www.myspace.com/adrianoadewale

Alan Ganley

Remembering fondly the legend Jazz drummer Alan Ganley who sadly died yesterday aged 77.

The end of an era!!

Felt rather sad this morning.

Most of my work is now writing, but apart from adjudicating and workshops etc I do have a few private pupils. These are mainly children of friends.

I have been teaching one family for years, and all four of them have stayed with me until sixth form. This morning the yougest, Daniel (yes Dan the man!!) had his LAST lesson before starting A levels, and there are NO MORE!!!!!!.

I was saying to Dan this morning that the family have been with me from the very early stages of my writing, testing out pieces and playing from manuscripts, even co writing pieces, and certainly influencing things .

The piano piece "Angels" was written for all the Cashmans, "Anna Lou" which appears in some violin books was for Anna, and even the Mum, Charlotte had a piece ("Madge's maggot"in Razz 2), written to celebrate her becoming a magistrate.

Its so nice that in my new choral book "Sparking Songs for Starter Choirs", Mike (the Dad, and a clever lyricist) has contributed the words for some amusing songs.

I would just like to say Tom, Peter, Anna and Daniel, I am waiting for the next Generation!!.

The picture is of the French window that Tom Cashman ran into while trying to get into our back garden. Sorry a strange harmonica player got in the way.

Greatest challenge yet.

I have just finished writing "Harmonica Romantica" a virtuosic piece for harmonica.. I set out to the task with five sheets of manuscript showing chords and note combinations that were possible on the instrument, and started on the mind blowing task of writing around the restrictions of blowing and sucking ( or drawing as its called) and the note combinations that were possible.

It was like doing a Sudoku puzzle trying to put something together that worked, and actually sounded musical.

After finishing the project it was interesting looking at how people like Gordon Jacob tackled the task .

I eagerly await the first performance by the (pictured) world famous harmonica player. El Shrimpo.

Happy Easter