News from our members

We welcome your brief news (max. 150 words) and high-res images. Please email mj@ism.org The next deadline for copy is 26 November 2021 for the January/February 2022 issue

New music theory app

Treble Music Theory is an exciting new music theory app that offers unlimited practice quizzes and exams to help prepare you for examinations or just to consolidate your knowledge, writes Clare Lawson.

We offer Grades 1-5 for a monthly subscription. As well as full mock exams, you can take short quizzes in the individual areas of music theory, enabling you to work on any problematic areas on an individual basis. You can look at your results and statistics to track your progress! As a music teacher, you can recommend us to your students, and our system tracks results to enable you as a teacher to see which areas need further teaching and saving you valuable time by not having to mark papers! Because it is an online, multiple-choice platform, it provides ideal preparation for the new-style ABRSM theory exams. treblemusictheory.com

New student chamber music anthologies from Nancy Litten

After attending an EPTA conference in Vienna, Nancy Litten was inspired to produce two books of trios. They are arrangements of well-loved piano solos, plus two songs and one orchestral piece, and could be very useful in schools and colleges as well as serving as encores for professional ensembles. ‘The piano, violin and cello parts are all written at the same level of difficulty, making these particularly suitable for GCSE or A-level ensembles. The music is distributed judiciously across the three instruments ... An excellent addition to the chamber music repertoire at this level.’ Pianist magazine ‘They are all beautifully constructed ... Litten has potentially solved one of the overriding difficulties faced in chamber music education when pianists are considered, and for this we should be extremely grateful.’ Murray McLachlan, Piano Professional magazine Classical Vienna (grades 6-7) Alfred Music ISBN10:1470613530 Haydn: ‘She Never Told Her Love’, Canzonetta; Finale from Piano Sonata in D, HOB XVI 37 Mozart: Alla Turca from Piano Sonata in A K331; Rondo from Piano Sonata in C, K545 Beethoven: Adagio Sostenuto from ‘Moonlight’ Sonata Op 27 no 2; Tempo di menuetto from Piano Sonata in G op 49 no 2; Adagio from ‘Pathétique’ Sonata op 13 Romantic Vienna (grades 6-8) Alfred Music ISBN10: 1470613638 Schubert: Song ‘Who is Sylvia?’; A Selection of Waltzes Bruckner: Fantasie J.Strauss the Younger: ‘On The Beautiful Blue Danube’ Brahms: Ballade op 118 no 3; Intermezzo op 76 no 7 Anne Brontë 200: A Fine and Subtle Spirit – A Celebration in Words and Music

A bicentenary celebration for Anne Brontë will take place in Manchester on Saturday, 13 November 2021. Postponed from 2020 due to the pandemic, this unique concert event features choral settings of Anne’s words, written specially for the occasion, as well as new poetry inspired by Anne’s life and example. Lucy Pankhurst, BBC commissionee of The Pankhurst Anthem, has composed the title work which sits alongside other new settings by Paul Vowles and by American composers Cristi Cary Miller, Judith Herrington and Dale Trumbore. There is also music by John Rutter, David Fanshawe and John Joubert. The performers are Manchester Musicians’ Choir, Withington Girls’ School Choir, soprano Lesley-Jane Rogers, pianists Janet Simpson and Wendy Nugent and Brontë scholar Nick Holland. Poets Liliana Pasterska, Philip Watts and Edwin Stockdale will perform their own works. The event is supported by the Ida Carroll Trust, the Hinrichsen Foundation and Arts Council England. Saturday, November 13th at 7:30pm. £15/£12 Cross Street Unitarian Chapel, Cross Street, Manchester M2 1NL The Artistic Director is Pamela Nash. Contact Pamela at: nashhpschdnew@aol.com or go to: na Facebook/Website: facebook.com/ Fa F events/831053234161332 e ev

Michael Jones FISM – 50 years ‘in search of music’

In 1971 Michael Jones FSIM became a church organist, started private piano teaching, and began full time study at what is now the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, graduating in 1974 with prizes for Piano, Advanced Harmony, and Musical Distinction.

Michael joined the ISM in 1977, and in 1979 was mentioned in the ISM Journal for “flying the flag to Germany” for playing the Frank Bridge Piano Sonata at the British Centre, West Berlin. In 1983 he made his first London appearance at the Purcell Room and has subsequently promoted London concerts for the composer’s centenaries of: York Bowen, B J Dale, Julius Harrison, Rebecca Clarke and Dorothy Howell. For Michael’s 50th Anniversary Andrew Downes and Mike Smith have written piano works specially for him, and in early September he appeared on More4 TV talking to Gyles Brandreth and Sheila Hancock (about Nicolas Medtner’s stay in Wootton Wawen during World War 2) on ‘Great Canal Journeys’.

Countdown to Christmas piano anthology

Countdown to Christmas by Darren Day features 25 carols, songs and original solos for piano. Arranged for elementary to early intermediate level (Grades 1–3), it is packed with attractive and interesting arrangements and as most pieces have a key signature of no more than one sharp or flat, even those who feel a little rusty can enjoy learning lots of these solos in the build-up to Christmas. Lyrics are also provided and an added benefit is the inclusion of backing tracks (and slower practice tracks), accessed via QR codes. These are great fun to use while helping to develop important musical skills. You can purchase Countdown to Christmas by Darren Day from Amazon.co.uk. Digital copies are also available from MyMusicResource. com and TopMusicMarketPlace.com Alongside Darren’s busy teaching career, he is also an Examiner for Trinity College London. Trinity College London.

Elementary / Early Intermediate UK Grades 1–3Countdown Christmas to 25 CAROLS, SONGS & ORIGINAL SOLOS FOR PIANO DARREN DAY

Single User Licence FREE BACKING TRACKS VIA QR CODE

Celebrating the life and work of pianist and composer F S Kelly

Pianist Alex Wilson released a CD of previously unrecorded piano works by the British-Australian pianist, composer, Olympic rower and war hero F S Kelly last year on the Toccata Classics label.

Born in Sydney, Australia, in 1881, Frederick Septimus Kelly performed with Pablo Casals and Jelly d’Arányi in concerts around the world, won a rowing gold medal at the 1908 London Olympics and died at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, aged 35. He was perhaps Australia’s first great romantic composer, composing music for piano, voice and orchestra. His music is reminiscent of Scriabin, Chopin and Vaughan Williams, full of passion, emotional resonance and youthful exuberance.British pianist Alex Wilson has been working with Kelly’s music since 2014, performing it to honour the recent WW1 centenary and recording most of his piano music on the Toccata Classics label. Most of the repertoire had never previously been recorded, or even performed in public during the last 100 years. The CD, featuring Kelly’s 24 Monographs and 12 Studies, is available at alexwilsonpianist.com or at the Toccata Classics website.

The delayed launch event for this CD happened at Southwark Cathedral, London on 30 October 2021, a concert featuring Kelly’s piano works alongside a substantial world premiere by Sadie Harrison: a series of works based on Kelly’s diaries.

Penelope Roskell’s course for piano teachers

Penelope Roskell, ISM member and Professor at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, is pleased to announce the launch of her new online course: Teaching Healthy, Expressive Technique. After the success of her award-winning book, The Complete Pianist, Penelope has teamed up with Informance Publishing to produce a nine-hour series of videos which gives teachers, both new and experienced, an in-depth understanding of how to teach all aspects of technique. The course forms the basis of the Trinity Laban Pedagogy course and is available to ISM members at 30% discount. Click here for details: mailchi.mp/informance/

Echo Ensemble

It’s been a constant joy (and a creative challenge!) to find new ways of bringing you live music during the pandemic, writes Noah Max. As we begin to emerge from COVID-19, we can’t wait to welcome you to more live performances soon. The Echo family are delighted to announce a new collaboration with The Epiphoni Consort. This Remembrance Day, at 8pm on Thursday 11 November 2021, we will perform Duruflé’s iconic and astonishingly beautiful Requiem in the composer’s intimate chamber version. The programme also features music by Brahms, David Bednall and the London premiere of a new work of my own, Nebulae.

Tickets are limited; find out more and book yours now at noahmax.net/ events.

We look forward to welcoming you for what promises to be a truly special, moving and thought-provoking evening to mark an important occasion.

A New Song for Christmas!

ISM member Philip Colls has been conducting The Cappella Singers since 1981. This Gloucestershire choir, which was founded in 1960, will be joined by the Baroque instruments of Warwick Cole’s Corelli Orchestra at Holy Trinity Church, Minchinhampton, on Thursday 16 December. The programme was originally planned for the choir’s Diamond Jubilee and includes a specially commissioned setting of ‘O sing unto the Lord a new song’ by Mark Blatchly; and there are works by Purcell and Handel. You are advised to obtain tickets in advance. For more information see cappellasingers.co.uk Escape to the Dance Floor

Share the GOOD NEWS with earlier time! 6-7pm Escape to the Dance Floor in St Leonard’s-on-Sea, Sussex with composer/ musician Marguerite MacLean

Inviting you to a FUN HOUR THURSDAY at the BANK HOTEL: Music 2 inspire Movement

Do you just love to FreeStyle Dance? Then JUST DANCE! WHERE? At the TOP BALLROOM of the Bank Hotel, St Leonard’s TN37 6DR WHEN: Thursday evenings 6-7pm BOOK YOUR SPACE, due to limited space for movement, by regular monthly payments in advance or pay £4 cash on arrival. A donation will go towards education in the third world. Seriously...they have 100 pupils per class. Your FUN in dancing towards a healthier you will make a real difference for these schools. Pianist, examiner and ISM member David Richard’s new resource for beginner pianists

Daily Drills stems from years of trying out piano tutorials and realising that the vast majority of students struggle with notation, no matter what book is used. Using mnemonics such as FACE and All Cows Eat Grass (and overrelying on them) is the go-to method but it never allows students to reach fluency. In fact it usually slows them down!

Daily Drills is the ideal companion to the piano methods on the market at the moment. It contains 100 bite-sized note reading exercises. The book starts in the five-finger starting position and notes are added gradually and methodically throughout the chapters. Once the first few notes are covered, the hands move to different positions. There are also rhythm exercises and bonus pieces, so that students can apply what they have learnt with famous repertoire.

margueritemaclean.co.uk

Obituaries: We are sorry to announce the deaths of the following members: Miss Eileen A Godier FISM of Eastbourne Gerard Healey of Frodsham, Cheshire Mrs Stella L James FISM of Reading Mr Dennis J Taylor FISM of Sunderland