Dear Musicians and Parents,
I hope this finds you safe and well.
It would be our first week back at Music Centre this week so I am sending you an update as we can’t meet together in person!
At the moment, due to lockdown, we have to follow the government guidelines and stay at home. We do not know yet when the lockdown will lift for us or when we can meet again to practice and perform together but we know it will be at least 3 more weeks and it looks unlikely before half term.
However, this doesn’t mean that we have to stop music making!
I hope individually, you have time and space to practice your instruments?
Do you know of any online sites that are worth a listen to or have resources of free music to play along to or print parts? Please let me know and I will share them with everyone.
I’ve found some great music to listen to and even some music that is free to print at a range of levels so the whole music centre could play together. I have chosen three pieces from the site, one we did last term as the Orchestra from 6-7pm, but there are easier parts for everyone. (Please see the link below).
It would be great if you take a look at the site and see which parts you can play. This is for all groups and for all musicians in those groups. I will send more info soon when I have found out if we can play online together or we may have to wait til we are back at music centre.
Let me know how you get on with the site and if you need any help with printing music etc. It would be good to know if you try any of the pieces so keep in touch!
Best wishes
Moira Devonport
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/ten-pieces/get-creative-with-classical-music-at-home/z6tqqp3
If you click on this link and go to the Orchestral and choral arrangements and click on this. There are a good number of different styles and composers to chose from. Below are the three pieces I think we could look at individually then put together when we can. Or even record at home and edit together online! To hear the tracks and info about the composers follow the links on the site.
| Igor Stravinsky – The Firebird — suite (1911) (Finale) – Instrumental arrangements | Arrangements suitable for orchestral instruments, for beginners up to Grade 5. All parts have been designed to work together to enable mixed-ability groups to perform together.
Beginner/pre-Grade 1 Violin (open strings) | Cello/Double bass (open strings) Flute | Clarinet in B♭ | Oboe (or any mid-range instrument in C) | Bassoon Trumpet in B♭ | Horn in F (F and Bf fingering) | Trombone (or other bass instrument in C) Tenor horn/Alto sax in E♭ | Euphonium/Baritone Bass (or any large) drum | Glockenspiel Piano beginner Transposed score Grade 1-3 Violin | Cello/Double bass Flute | Clarinet in B♭ | Oboe (or any mid-range instrument in C) | Bassoon Trumpet in B♭ | Trombone (or any bass instrument in C) | Horn in F Tenor horn/Alto sax in E♭ | Euphonium/Baritone Bass (or other large) drum Piano Intermediate score Grade 4-5 Violin | 2nd Violin (based on viola) | Viola | Cello | Double bass Flute | Clarinet in B♭ | Oboe | Bassoon Trumpet in B♭ | Trombone (bass clef) | Trombone (treble clef) | Horn in F | Tenor horn/Alto sax in Eb Euphonium/Baritone | Bass in B♭ | Bass in E♭ (treble clef) | Tuba Bass drum Full score | Piano accompaniment |
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| Doctor Who Theme by Delia Derbyshire
(original theme composed by Ron Grainer)
NOTES FROM THE ARRANGER By Iain Farrington |
Available parts:
Flutes, Oboes, Clarinets, Alto Saxophones, Bassoons, Trumpets, Horns, Euphoniums, Tenor Horns, Trombone, Tuba, Bass in Eb Timpani, Percussion Violins, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses Guitar, Ukulele Piano |
For Beginner, Intermediate and Grade 4/5
Universal notes for all instrumental arrangements:
All parts have been designed to enable mixed-ability groups to perform together. A certain amount of simplification has been required to adapt the pieces for mixed-ability. A successful rendering of each piece would require the essential melodic material and bass line which are often in the Grades 4/5 parts, especially in the piano.
There are scores for each difficulty level plus three other scores for each piece: 1. Grouped according to ability 2. Grouped according to instrument type 3. ‘Short score’ in C, grouped according to ability
There are three ability levels – beginner, intermediate (Grades 1-3) and Grades 4-5. • Flute parts can be played by the violins • Oboe parts can be played by the flutes and violins • Trumpet parts (in Bb) can be played by the clarinets • Violin parts can be played by the flutes (except when in the lowest register) • The ‘percussion’ part is a beginner part and can be played on any drum. It adds a simple rhythm layer to each piece. Timpani and full percussion parts are for intermediate or Grades 4/5
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| Edward Elgar – ‘Enigma’ Variations – Theme (‘Enigma’), variations 11, 6 & 7 – Instrumental arrangements | Beginner/pre-Grade 1:
Violin | Cello | Guitar | Ukulele Flute | Clarinet in B♭ | Alto saxophone | Oboe | Bassoon Trumpet in B♭ | Trombone | Trombone in B♭ | Tenor horn | Horn in F | Euphonium Percussion Piano Intermediate/Grade 1-3: Violin | Viola | Cello | Double bass | Guitar Flute | Clarinet in B♭ | Alto saxophone | Oboe | Bassoon Trumpet in B♭ | Trombone | Trombone in B♭ | Tenor horn | Horn in F | Euphonium | Tuba Timpani | Glockenspiel | Snare drum/Triangle/Bass drum/Cymbals Piano Grade 4-5: 1st Violin | 2nd Violin | Viola | Cello | Double bass Flute | 2nd Flute | Clarinet in B♭ | Alto saxophone | Oboe | Bassoon | Bass in B♭ Trumpet in B♭ | Trombone | Trombone in B♭ | Tenor horn | Horn in F | Euphonium | 2nd Euphonium | Tuba Timpani Piano |
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The trustees and I have been carefully assessing the developments and I am writing to you to let you know of changes to rehearsals and concerts we had planned. All rehearsals and concerts are cancelled until next term.
Newsletter Autumn 2019
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- Newsletters keep you in touch with news and events at Music Centre. Please read and keep for a while, so you know what is happening. Keep in touch on twitter and Facebook.
• Please pay fees and return a registration form due for this term as soon as possible. If you pay by BACS, please also complete and return a registration form. All members need their parent or carer’s signed agreement to take part in Music Centre activities, which is why we need the completed registration form.
• Music Centre members should stay on site until collected at the end of your ensemble. Please do not leave the schools between ensembles, for your own protection and safety. If you change your normal arrangements, please let someone know!
• THIS TERM’S CONCERT is at the Centenary Hall on Friday 29th November at 7.00pm. This concert is for all music centre groups. Tickets will be available at the door and at Music Centre rehearsals. Please wear smart black trousers/skirt and white/coloured top with festive touches.
• Seating rehearsal schedule at the Centenary Hall on Friday 29th November:
4.30pm: Reed Choir (clarinets, saxophones and double reeds), 4.45pm: Flute choir, 5.00pm: Concert Orchestra, 5.15pm: Percussion, 5.30pm: Orchestra, 5.45pm: Youth Strings, 6.00pm: Concert Brass
Fast Forward group will meet Bistro Hall at 4:30pm, so that they can have a rehearsal with the Thursday Fast Forward group then head over to the Centenary Hall to set up for 5.15-5.30pm.
6.30pm: doors open for the audience.
7pm: Concert starts
• We would welcome contributions to the raffle at the concert. Could we ask you to bring a contribution to the interval refreshments? Biscuits, cakes, and savouries would be welcome. The Music Centre will provide drinks at no charge.
• Remaining rehearsals this term are on 8th, 15th and 22nd November. After the concert on 29th November, there will be a break until Friday 10th January 2020.
Thank you for your hard work this term and great music making! Have a very Happy Christmas, I hope you enjoy the holiday and we look forward to seeing you in January 2020!
Best Wishes,
Moira