Christmas is coming!

There have been a lot of carol arrangements for beginners, and quite a lot for the more advanced pianist, so I thought I would like to write a book for players in between. I wanted this to be a really useful resource for the piano teacher and also a fun book that would inspire the pupil, so have done something a bit different. Each carol arrangement has two "takes". "Take one" is a traditional arrangement, and "Take two" is a jazzy version. This way, the book has everything you would need for pre Christmas piano playing - whatever your preference.
OUT NOW!!!

More photo's from Junior Music camp.

A few pictures from Roger that capture a bit of music camp atmosphere.

A lot of sunshine on Junior camp.

How is it, that kids don't notice the weather!. Torrential rain hasn't dampened the spirits on junior camp, and today and yesterday the heavy showers predicted just never came. Its been another excellent camp. With a lovely creative buzz, some excellent music making, and the best balanced brass group seen on junior camp for years.

The feed back session today when the groups showed each other what they had been doing was wonderful, and the show looks great for tomorrow. Lets hope the weather holds!!!!!!!!!!!.

FANTASTIC week

Just had a really brilliant week at the National Youth Music Camp Teenage camp 2. I was resident for the week and we worked on one of my shows "Loads of lather".

The standard of music making was very high, the campers were wonderful, and there was some very eminent (and awfully nice) tutors.

There was a huge variety of music making with most genre's covered, and was the creative atmosphere was as inspiring as ever.

John Dankworth made an appearance and sat in with our big band. He talked to the saxes about instruments and mouthpieces and told anecdotes about international superstar musicians. ( the kids were awe struck).

If I didn't still feel that I was jet lagged from the experience I would write more...... more later.

Teenage camp 2 well underway

All going brilliantly at T2. Cant report much today, but will report more later.

A few pics to be going on with.

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!.

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.