Highnotes, January 2012

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Highnotes Issue 18 • January 2012

Highlights

A Music Nation for 2012 2012 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the arts as well as sport. Susannah Simons, BBC Project Executive for the London 2012 Festival, tells us about the many musical activities taking place

Sing Up

at London's iconic Roundhouse on Sunday 4 March.

Voices Now 2012 will see choirs performing in different spaces in the Roundhouse, culminating in the gala première of the Making Music Overture by Orlando Gough, commissioned by Making Music as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Orlando's piece will then provide a soundtrack to the summer, with performances taking place across the country up until September. I'd urge you to visit Making Music's website to find out how you can stage your own performance.

So here we are! 2012 has begun and with it an unprecedented series of events designed to show off the creative and artistic life of the UK. One of the highlights will be the London 2012 Festival, the biggest festival the UK has ever seen, with music, art, comedy, theatre and other events taking place across the country.

Counting down to the festival will be Music Nation, a weekend showcasing the best of the UK's musical talent on 3-4 March. Making Music is representing the voluntary music sector as part of an extraordinary alliance of arts organisations involved in the weekend.

Around 50 major events will be taking place from Land's End to the Shetland Isles, with 14 of those projects being led by or involving Making Music members. Highlights will include Superstrings teaming up with folk supergroup Bellowhead; a celebration of gospel singing in the North East with 20,000 Voices; and a collaborative project aiming to weave musical threads across Renfrewshire.

Making Music, the BBC Singers and Voices Now have also joined forces for a celebration of all things singing

Learn about our new project twinning member groups with Sing Up Award Schools

This year provides everyone with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get involved with a range of vibrant musical activities, the likes of which have not been seen before in the UK. What better legacy could there be for 2012 and the London Olympic and Paralympic Games than a renewed enthusiasm for music and a greater understanding of the role it plays in our national identity?

Olympic Torch Relay

Page 6 Find out how music plays a big part in the Maidstone stop of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay

Making Music groups will be in the thick of all the festivities, and it's not too late to take part. So join in!

Roger Bamber

Superstrings is one of fourteen groups taking part in Music Nation projects

Page 3

Orlando Gough Darren Henley

To find out more about the exciting projects taking place this year, or if you'd like to get involved, visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/2012.

More information about Voices Now can be found at www.voicesnow.org.uk

Page 11 Managing Director of Classic FM comments on the National Plan for Music Education

SUPPORTING & CHAMPIONING VOLUNTARY MUSIC

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Artistic Director John Woolrich

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THE

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Barbershop Conventions are Brilliant!

A Week-end of Fun, Harmony & Singing Come and experience one for yourself The British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS) invite you to attend their 38th annual convention.

Sing 2012 takes place at the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre.

Come for a day or the whole weekend. The full weekend registration fee is only £50 and offers access to all events including the Quartet and Chorus contests and a lot, lot more!

If you like the sound of barbershop harmony then this is the weekend for you.

There are also three shows to choose from with ticket prices starting at just £10!

Over 2000 visitors are expected and you are sure of a warm welcome. There is plenty of opportunity to sing and sing some more!

Come along for a weekend of fun, friendship and song, it’s an experience not to be missed! Visit our web site for full details.

25th to 27th May 2012 www.sing2012.co.uk

Book Now!

. .. .. .. .

The British Association of Barbershop Singers A registered Charity No: 1080930

Quartet Contests Chorus Contest Three Great Shows Award-winning Quartets Top Quality Guests Sing-a-long Sessions Masterclasses Convention Party

Plus lots, lots more!

Sing Barbershop - It’s the Harmony that makes the Difference!

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In brief

2012 launches with new concerts, new musical friends and new challenges.

The Importance of Music – A National Plan for Music Education was published by the Department for

By Karen Cardy Education on 25 Marketing Director November. The plan aims to ensure every child aged 5-18 has the opportunity to sing, learn an instrument, and to take part in inspirational ensemble performances. At the same time government funding for music education reduces year-on-year over the next three years: currently £82.5m, to £77.5m (2012), £63m (2013), to £58m (2014).

So it is timely then, that Making Music has joined with Sing Up to launch a twinning scheme linking twenty voluntary music groups with their local schools, and can already point to such excellent examples of best practice as the West Bergholt Concert Band (see page 7).

Music making is very important in difficult times (as we learned through Gareth Malone's TV programme at the end of last year, The Choir: Military Wives) and we are finding many examples of the power of music through our new Music and Wellbeing strategy. Through the Vocality project, Making Music is teaming up with Sound Sense to start eight community choirs in deprived areas, which would benefit from your experience and input. To find out how you can help, turn to page 5.

Before Christmas our members renewed their annual subscriptions. We want you to take advantage of all the benefits we offer, so turn now to the middle spread to find out what we can do for you in 2012.

Karen Cardy Editor and Marketing Director editor@makingmusic.org.uk If you have any suggestions for articles or you would like to contribute to Highnotes, please contact the Commissioning Editor, Henry Bird on 020 7422 8291 or editor@makingmusic.org.uk Copy deadline for the next issue of Highnotes, May 2012, is 10 February 2012 Any views or opinions expressed by external contributors may not necessarily represent those of Making Music

Sing Up and Making Music launch twinning pilot Andrea Pierides of Sing Up describes an exciting new scheme twinning voluntary music groups with Sing Up Award Schools Last spring, Making Music and Sing Up set up twenty twinning projects between music groups and Sing Up Gold and Platinum Award schools across England. Sing Up is the national singing programme aiming to ensure that all primary school-aged children are able to take part in high-quality singing activities every day, through a unique blend of resources, training and support.

We're hoping to launch more twinning projects during the course of 2012.

Keep an eye on www.singup.org for updates and more!

The twinning project aims to give schools a chance to work with choirs, instrumental groups, orchestras and bands, learning from and singing with them. In return, the music groups have the opportunity to involve their local community in their work while helping inspire a love of music making in pupils from nearby schools.

Chris Christodoulou

Welcome

British Composer Awards Nicola Riches of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Arrangers (BASCA) announces the winners of the Making Music category of the 2011 British Composer Awards The Making Music category of BASCA's British Composer Awards celebrates music commissioned by amateur groups from today's brightest composers. The 2011 prize was awarded to Richard Bullen for his work, I can’t find brumm…, which was created as part of Making Music's Adopt a Composer scheme. The other two shortlisted works were Kirsty Devaney's Hadal Zone, written for the CoMA (Contemporary Music for All) London Ensemble; and Tim Sutton's Christmas carol, The Seven Joys, which was premièred by Nottingham Harmonic Choir and Thoresby Colliery Band.

If you've commissioned a work that you think should be nominated for next year's award, visit www.britishcomposerawards.com

Cobweb Orchestra wins Gramophone Award James Inverne from Gramophone Magazine reports on the winners of this year's Music in the Community Award One of my prouder achievements as editor of Gramophone, a post from which I've just stepped down, is the introduction of the Music in the Community Award as part of the official Gramophone Awards. The prize is given in association with The Times and Making Music, and rewards those unsung heroes who inspire others through the sheer joy of making music.

This year we decided to give the award to a community orchestra. We came up with a shortlist of five fabulous orchestras, all of which have changed lives, literally.

The winner, as voted for by readers of The Times, was Making Music member group the Cobweb Orchestra, a group that exhorts people everywhere to dust the cobwebs (get it?) off their old instruments and start playing again. But all five, and for that matter many more community orchestras, are champions. More power to their elbows. And their violins, and their cellos, and their flutes ...

For details of the other groups in the shortlist, visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/musicinthecommunity

James Inverne

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Music and wellbeing

Green light for music and wellbeing The therapeutic effect of music making is currently a hot topic. Sarah Rogers describes how our 2012 conference was a launch pad for an array of Making Music projects using music to improve health and wellbeing

Nick McGowan Lowe

Delegates at our 2012 conference feel the positive effects of group singing

Our annual conference in Glasgow last September celebrated the rich connection between music making and health and wellbeing, over two days packed with lively and inspiring examples of the great work taking place all around the UK. We were honoured to have Professor Robert Winston speaking passionately about how important participatory music is on the brain's development. Delegates from Nordoff Robbins also gave a brilliant introduction to music therapy, using examples to demonstrate the positive therapeutic impact music can have on an individual.

Since the conference our Music and Wellbeing Group has been meeting regularly to develop a plan of action. The group itself is made up of people with a variety of backgrounds in the field, and we're about to enlarge it with representatives from health professions.

We've published a Manifesto on our website that gives a flavour of the passion and commitment Making Music is investing in this area. Here are just a few of the projects that are now either underway or in development, and which our members can get involved with in 2012:

What music has done for me Music can provide support to people during both good times and bad. In a recent survey we asked our members how being involved with a music group has benefitted their lives. Here are a few responses from people who have felt the positive effects brought on by singing in a choir:

‘‘

Wellbeing choirs: a pilot scheme to establish choirs for NHS patients, aimed at promoting the physical and mental benefits of singing in a group; Workplace choirs: we'd like to help set up choirs in workplaces, helping to alleviate stress among employees as well as providing other benefits. There are many precedents for this already (such as Making Music member group the John Lewis Partnership Music Society) but we think there's room for a whole lot more!

Hospital residencies: we're working with NHS arts co-ordinators to see how we could facilitate musical residencies in hospitals in order to engage patients, staff and families with music making. One project being considered is Singing Grannies and Grandpas, which will provide volunteers to sing to babies and children in hospitals;

We'll be bringing you news about these and other projects during the course of 2012. Visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/musicandwellbeing to find out more

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’’

Angela, Chesterfield

‘‘

Singing for COPD: our successful pilot projects with the British Lung Foundation have given us lots of positive material to run further 'singing for breathing' courses for those with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

As Professor Winston commented in his closing remarks, 'clinical evidence now supports what we've known for a long time: music is fantastically beneficial for people's health. This is the start of something really exciting, and music groups all around the country can play a part in it!'

I contracted Chronic Fatigue Syndrome five years after joining a friendly local choir, and ever since singing has been the one outside activity I have always managed to maintain.

The choir is like an extended family; singing lifts my spirits and helps ward off the accompanying depression I am prone to, and taking on jobs within the choir gives me a sense of self worth that I have not been able to have by resuming my career.

Singing in a choir is always hard work, sometimes very challenging, but such fun, with a sense of community. It makes me feel extended physically and mentally and gives me such a feeling of wellbeing and wonder at being part of the beautiful sound.

’’

Ailsa, Leicester

‘‘

Singing in my choir makes the complicated world disappear and no matter how tired I feel at the start I always leave exhilarated.

Elizabeth, Kirkintilloch

’’

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Making Music update

In October, we launched a campaign to save the Yorkshire Libraries and Information (YLI) Music and Drama Service, one of the largest collections of printed music in the country. Judith Sunderland, Making Music Yorkshire and North East, outlines the current situation In late 2011, the YLI announced it was ceasing to provide its lauded Music and Drama Service 'in its current form'. At Making Music, we knew this was likely to mean the collection was going to be broken up and possibly even removed from the public domain. As such, we decided to act. Nearly 100 letters were written by Chief Executive Robin Osterley to Ministers, Shadow Ministers, MPs, MEPs and Councillors. Over 2,500 letters were received by YLI, leaving no room for doubt as to the strength of feeling from our members.

Expressions of interest have since been received from three organisations prepared to house and manage the service. These vary in scope from bids to manage a single element to those pledging to manage the entire collection.

The YLI council meeting on Monday 12 December, to which Making Music was formally invited, discussed both the initial proposals and the next steps.

Councillor Andrew Pinnock, chair of the YLI Committee, has once again emphasised the need to ensure that this valuable collection is preserved, stressing that the final solution must be the right one for both the Council and the public.

A smaller working party, of which Making Music is a member, will make a recommendation to be presented to the next Council meeting in late January.

The staff at the Music and Drama Library have asked that we thank everyone at Making Music for their continued support. Councillor Pinnock and the YLI Council are also very grateful for the contribution that Making Music is making to the process. We will continue to keep everyone informed via the Making Music website, but in the meantime please do continue to use the YLI library service!

To find out more about the campaign, visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/ylicampaign

Community-changing choirs are go!

Kathryn Deane, of community music organisation Sound Sense, announces the locations for the eight choirs being formed as part of the Vocality project Making Music and Sound Sense have now launched the Vocality project.

Funded by the Headley Trust and the Rayne Foundation, the project aims to help create community development through singing. Eight song leaders are now setting up community choirs across the UK, targeting areas of disadvantage and diversity: • • • •

Rabab Ghazoul, Cardiff Jenny Goodman, Kirklees Sarah Harman, Newport Hugh Nankivell, Torbay

• • • •

Philip Milburn, Brighton Juliet Russell and Simone Niles, London Ann Stott, Boston Liz Terry, Gloucester

We'd welcome your help! If you live in one of these areas and think you could share useful information with the song leader, helping ensure the choirs are set up in areas where they're most needed, please contact evan@makingmusic.org.uk

Gareth Malone awarded Sir Charles Groves Prize 2012 The star of The Choir: Military Wives has been given this year's prize in recognition of his enormous contribution to British choral singing The 2012 Sir Charles Groves Prize has been awarded to choir master and TV presenter Gareth Malone. The prize, awarded annually to an individual or organisation for making a significant contribution to British music, has been presented to Gareth in recognition for programmes such as The Choir: Unsung Town and The Choir: Military Wives 2011.

Making Music Chief Executive Robin Osterley says: 'Gareth is a worthy recipient of this year's prize. His inspirational TV programmes and live events have helped create the huge current interest in singing, and we are delighted to be able to offer this recognition of his influence on British musical life.'

Katura Jensen

Campaign to save Yorkshire Music Library

To find out more, visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/ grovesaward Gareth was one of the key speakers at Voices Now 2011

Representing jazz Catherine Tackley outlines what she hopes to achieve as Jazz Representative on the Making Music Council I am delighted to have been selected as a member of the Making Music Council. I am the founder and director of a successful community big band, as well as being Musical Director for a wind band. In my day job I am Senior Lecturer in music at the Open University.

I am committed to making sure music, particularly jazz music, is accessible to all. Through my role on the Making Music Council, I hope to encourage the expansion of the organisation's initiatives within a jazz context. I also look forward to advising on how jazz member organisations could provide useful models for groups in other genres.

We're currently looking for a brass band representative to join the Making Music Council.

To apply, contact peter@makingmusic.org.uk

Catherine Tackley

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Out and about

Carrying the torch Mandy Hare of Hazlitt Arts Centre tells us about the music making happening on the Maidstone leg of the Olympic Torch Relay Maidstone Borough Council was thrilled to secure a stop on the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. We're now keen to show Maidstone off to its best advantage, giving the chance to as many of the hugely talented members of the Maidstone community as possible to participate. All this in the 20 minute time slot we have been allocated during the event!

Working with the local amateur arts council (Maidstone Area Arts Council) and Kent County Council (who have provided funding for the project) the concept of the Maidstone Theme was created. We have invited composers to create a new piece of work using Maidstone as the inspiration while reflecting the values of diversity, inclusion and youth engagement. We are thrilled with the response that the composer call out has had and we thank Making Music for being instrumental in spreading the word.

LOCOG

The Olympic Torch will come within a one hour journey of 95% of people in the UK

To find out where the Olympic Torch Relay is coming to in your region, visit www.london2012.com/ olympic-torch-relay

Choir of the Year is back!

Helen Price from Choir of the Year gears up for this year's quest to find the UK's best singing group Since the Wellensian Consort won Choir of the Year 2010, musical director Christopher Finch has been bowled over by offers of recording contracts, broadcasts and high profile concerts. 'The competition provided us with invaluable advice from many of the country's leading musical figures', Chris says. 'It is an utterly inspirational environment that has provided us with a series of amazing opportunities.'

The search for the Wellensian Consort's successor is now on, and auditions for Choir of the Year 2012 begin in Buxton on 29 January. Over the next three months choirs representing all age groups and styles of music will perform in a series of events leading up to the grand final at London's Royal Festival Hall on 28 October.

Alongside the competition, Choir of the Year is once again joining forces with Making Music and the British Association of Barbershop Singers for Learn to Sing, a series of courses for adults who long to sing but may not have the confidence to join a choir. Applications are open for member choirs in Manchester and London who would like to host courses in September.

Visit www.choiroftheyear.co.uk for tickets to this year's auditions. If you'd like to host a Learn to Sing course, visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/learntosing

The Wellensian Consort were crowned Choir of the Year in 2010

Bandstand Marathon 2012 Katharine Lane, from community arts organisation Superact, reports on this year's Bandstand Marathon Following on from the success of Bandstand Marathon 2011, which saw brass bands, rock groups, choirs and musicians of all ages playing on bandstands across the UK, this fantastic event is set to return on 9 September 2012. This is a great opportunity to play your part in a project as part of the closing event of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, while helping create a musical legacy for everyone once the games are over. Plus you'll have the chance to perform in some of the most beautiful and unusual locations in the UK – some of the bandstands are truly magnificent! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I would encourage every Making Music member to join in.

The Bandstand Marathon will see groups performing on bandstands across the UK

6 • Highnotes • January 2012

The aim for this year's event is for 500 groups to take part. If your group would like to participate, contact katharine@superact.org.uk

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Diverse groups

Recruiting young people is a breeze Michael Allen of West Bergholt Concert Band outlines the various ways his group encourages local youngsters to have a go alongside students from primary schools through to university. In order to retain this mix of players, the band performs regular workshops and concerts with local schools. Music teachers are encouraged to send their pupils to weekend workshops, where the band's experienced players guide the new recruits through music that is specially selected to be playable and enjoyable. The workshops culminate in a concert, often attended by the Mayor and our local MP, who once congratulated the band on their 'impressive performance' after a schools concert.

Youth participation runs through the heart of West Bergholt Concert Band

West Bergholt Concert Band was formed in 1978 with the aim of giving young musicians the opportunity to play in a fun concert band. The band includes two groups: Training Band for Grades 1-4 and Concert Band for above Grade 4. We always support charities through our work, with recent concerts raising over £20,000.

Last year we celebrated our conductor's 30th year in post. He joined as a clarinettist at the age of 12 whilst being taught by the band's founder; after moving to lead saxophone (and commuting back from York University for rehearsals and concerts) he took the baton 22 years ago.

The band's membership includes all ages, abilities and walks of life, with airline pilots, retired heart surgeons and music teachers performing

The young people love being involved, with one parent saying 'my son loves band – it's the highlight of the week'. The opportunity to perform in the area's finest venues is a particular highlight for the young people, and they in turn help to keep the band's repertoire current by requesting pieces; this is reflected in the programme for our youth concert last year, which included music from Twilight, Lady Gaga, Glee and Family Guy. This contemporary repertoire sits alongside more traditional works by Shostakovich and Gershwin, among others.

Breadth of repertoire is a great benefit to young musicians, as it exposes them to styles and pieces that they otherwise might not have come across. The band is also frequently chosen as a Duke of Edinburgh Award activity, and we provide young people with the opportunity to help run the band and mentor younger or older players.

We joined Making Music four years ago and have benefitted greatly from learning about other groups' approaches to events and fundraising.

Find out how to start your own youth participation projects on our website at www.makingmusic.org.uk/youth

Equinox: Cultures in Harmony Composer Chris Long was paired with City of Birmingham Choir through Adopt a Composer 2005. Six years later, he is working with the choir again as part of a multi-cultural choral extravaganza

Equinox will bring together 12 choral and percussion groups from different cultures

In August last year, I was contacted by the City of Birmingham Choir (CBC) about an ambitious project bringing together choirs from AfroAmerican, Chinese, Indian, Arabic, Eastern and Western European traditions. The project, called Equinox: Cultures in Harmony, was to culminate in a concert at Symphony Hall featuring a newly-commissioned piece of music.

As I'd already worked with the CBC through Making Music's Adopt a Composer scheme, they asked if I would be interesting in composing the new piece. Naturally, I jumped at the chance and set to work composing a three-movement work based on the ideas of cultural awakening, conflict and resolution. None of this would have been possible had it not been for Adopt a Composer, and it has been a unique privilege to have been able to work with so many diverse choral groups.

Equinox: Cultures in Harmony takes place at Symphony Hall on 17 March 2012. Keep an eye on Twitter for updates on the project @ChrisLongCOMP

Adopt a Composer 2011/12 is underway!

Fiona Harvey, Operations Director at the PRS for Music Foundation, announces the pairings for this year's Adopt a Composer scheme Now in its eleventh year, Adopt a Composer pairs amateur music groups with up-and-coming composers. Over the course of a year, each composer will create a new piece of music especially for the group they've been paired with.

Here are the pairings for this year's scheme: • Kew Wind Orchestra with Ella Jarman-Pinto • The London Chorus with William Dougherty • Woking Symphony Orchestra with Bernard Hughes • Flautissimo with Ruta Vitkauskaite • Llandaff Cathedral Choral Society with Duncan MacLeod • Grimsby Philharmonic Society with Lauren Redhead Follow the groups' progress on the Adopt a Composer Blog at www.makingmusic.org.uk/aac.

Applications for next year's scheme will open in April 2012

Duncan MacLeod

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In focus

Making the most of your m At Making Music, being there for our members – 3,000 and growing – in person, on the phone or online is vital.

Sarah Rogers, Head of Membership, describes just a few of the ways we can help you flourish in your music making

Nick McGowan-Lowe

Creating inspiring opportunities for music makers everywhere; helping members with local funding applications; advising on audience development; providing insurance; putting people in touch with their local music community – all part of a day's work for our dedicated team of 22 staff and 150 invaluable volunteers.

Whether you are a new group finding your feet, a well-established organisation with a strong structure Sarah Rogers underpinning what you do, or a group looking to see how it should evolve with the changing times, we hope that you will find services that support your particular needs.

www.flickr.com/photos/vwingate

We're taking this opportunity to profile a few highlights of services that you might find useful as members.

Our insurance can help you if severe weather affects your concert

Insurance You will probably know about our insurance scheme (even if you have never had to use it) and we are rightly proud of this excellent service, which is provided by Ecclesiastical – our insurance partner for 50 years! The scheme protects trustees for all of the critical risks involved in running voluntary music groups. But were you aware you can add on Abandonment Cover to insure against the cancellation of concerts? If your soloist is ill on the day, the insurance will cover your additional costs in finding a replacement at short notice. Likewise, if you have to cancel an event because of extreme weather conditions, it will cover you for the costs you have already committed to paying.

Nick McGowan-Lowe

'As a very small set-up we'd never considered joining any kind of organisation before. However, our trustees were worried that we didn't have insurance for cancellations, so we signed up to Making Music. Thank heavens we did, as our festival is held in the depths of winter, and the very next year we were engulfed in thick snow. One of our concert venues was snowed in, musicians were delayed, all was chaos. Making Music were amazing, and helped us sort out the insurance to cover the four-wheel drive we needed to hire to carry on with our concerts! Some of our audience made it through the snow too, and we managed to put on one of our best festivals ever. I think without Making Music the festival would really have struggled to survive.'

Olivia Lacey, Wye Valley Music At Making Music, we're here for you in person, on the phone or online

8 • Highnotes • January 2012

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In focus

r membership

One-to-one support and training For many of our members it can be reassuring to talk to someone for advice or support. We are here to help, and we speak to members every day on a range of issues. Some of the common areas in which we offer advice are: • Charity governance: trustee liabilities, organisational structures, what to do if things go wrong;

Lobbying Our lobbying activity may seem far removed from your day-to-day involvement with your music group, but this is an area of our work that can have a big impact on you. We spent 14 months in negotiation with HMRC, arguing the case for amateur music groups to be able to claim Gift Aid on their membership subscriptions when HMRC was planning to revoke their eligibility altogether. The outcome was that we were able to save members literally thousands of pounds that they would otherwise have lost.

• Music and venue licensing: copyright, music recording, using music online, public entertainment licensing;

'HMRC indicated that our membership subscriptions did not quality for Gift Aid, and that we would potentially be liable to repay over £18,000.

This was of huge concern to us, and we were very pleased with the new guidance from Making Music clarifying that HMRC's position will only be applied to future claims. I feel certain that the result achieved by Making Music was far better than could have been achieved had we negotiated with HMRC individually; the assistance and support we have received on this issue alone makes the Making Music subscription excellent value for money.'

Jo Underdown, Treasurer, Twickenham Choral Society

We are running more events with our Regional Managers and volunteer teams across the UK in 2012. Keep an eye on our regular news bulletins to find out what's happening in your area.

‘‘

When the production company left and the local people took on the management of the choir, we decided to look for experts to give advice in the areas we were lacking – so we joined Making Music.

Terry Pettitt, South Oxhey Choirs (BBC Two's The Choir)

’’

• Child safeguarding: working with children, developing a child safeguarding policy, applying for CRB checks; • Audience development, membership recruitment and marketing tools and techniques.

And much more ...

There's so much more to membership than the few things we have highlighted here. We are here to help you run your group day-to-day. As you'll see from reading this magazine, we also aim to provide you with opportunities to get involved with national or local projects, while keeping you up to date with the latest news in the voluntary music sector.

For a broader list, and suggestions of how you could make greater use of our services to help music flourish in your community, request your copy of our new membership guide at www.makingmusic.org.uk/membership

Young artists scheme

'The Making Music young artist scheme has grown over the years to become a reliable resource for amateur orchestras, choral groups and music clubs. Expectations are always high; to be at ground floor level with an artist on the verge of a career is both a privilege and a reward. Use the scheme to the full; I have never been disappointed. The only problem has been that I am invariably spoilt for choice!'

Christopher Fifield, Music Director, Lambeth Orchestra

Alex Rumford

At 50 years old and still going strong, our Award for Young Concert Artist scheme is the flagship of a portfolio of programmes we run to help you put on high-quality concerts more frequently and more affordably. Through the scheme, you can book today's most talented young performers at preferential or subsidised rates.

As well as recognising the UK's best young musical talent, our Award for Young Concert Artists provides a high-quality and affordable service for hiring performers

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Musical musings

What gets my goat ... poorly presented music

By Elaine Gould

Picture the scene: your orchestra concert on a midsummer's evening. As you turn the page to perform a dreaded passage of scurrying semiquavers, the sun positions itself through the church's west window to just over the conductor's shoulder, right in your eye line. So you can't see a thing. What makes matters much worse is that you're reading from an ancient orchestral part of brownish hue that should have been binned 30 years ago, so you don't have a chance of reading the tiny hand-copied notes with accidentals so small that sharp and natural signs look identical.

It infuriates me that so often we musicians are expected to read from copies that are the wrong size (too small for players, too large for singers) or the print too faint. View A4-sized instrumental parts with deep suspicion and check the notes are legible for your desks of string players sharing a stand, and for your bass players and your percussionists.

And here's another thing that drives me mad: crummy old editions, such as those 19th century vocal scores with illegible crotchet rests. But at least these editions were edited – once. Someone really did think about how the music should lie on the page, and checked the notes were correct. Not so necessarily with free internet downloads, which have often never had any editorial input at all. You may spend all your valuable rehearsal time arguing about how many mistakes there are in this 'free' version. Then, whoops, suddenly it's the performance and theres no time for a final runthrough. Oh, and who sung the wrong note in performance because they weren't listening to the conductor when he gave the choir the correction?

I'm paid to think about how to better the life of musicians reading music.

That's why I spent nearly 20 years compiling a book on the subject (not that it was supposed to take that long). In these times of careful financial management, be aware of false economies: find decent editions and the appropriate materials can be put at your service, to help you render the sensational performance of your life. Good luck with it!

Elaine Gould is Senior New Music Editor at Faber Music, and author of Behind Bars: The Definitive Guide to Music Notation, which was published in January 2011. She is a member of the Joyful Company of Singers, the New London Chamber Choir and the London String Players

UK government recognises the importance of music education Darren Henley, Managing Director of Classic FM, comments on the new National Plan for Music Education Voluntary music groups will be able to play a part in the hubs, alongside professional music educators. Where appropriate, this could provide amateur groups the opportunity to play a greater role in music education.

And well they should; many voluntary groups are an inspiration to young people, broadening their musical horizons and demonstrating how musical study during school can lead to a fulfilling musical life in adulthood.

To understand more about how Music Education Hubs will work, visit www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/music-education-hubs

www.flickr.com/photos/rickleefilipkowski

DID YOU KNOW 29 January marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of British composer Frederick Delius. To mark this special anniversary year the Delius Society is promoting events around the country, and would like you to get involved.

If you are considering programming Delius into your 2012 concerts, the Delius Society can offer you support by: • helping with repertoire information The National Plan for Music Education aims to provide more musical opportunities for every child in the UK aged 5-18

• offering discounts on sheet music hire and, in some cases, free downloads • providing details of artists who like to perform Delius

In early 2011, I authored an independent review on Music Education for the government. My review made a range of recommendations to tackle the problem of patchiness in music provision across the country.

The government responded by publishing The importance of Music – A National Plan for Music Education. Excitingly, this is England's first ever national music plan. It outlines the use of 'hubs', consisting of partnerships which could include local authorities, schools, and arts organisations, as a means of funding music education in England from September 2012.

• providing publicity support – including promotional flyers, biographical information and speakers for your events • promoting your concerts on the Delius society website, as well as in journals and newsletters.

To find out more about the celebrations taking place this year, visit www.delius.org.uk

Highnotes • January 2012 • 11

94140 MM__ 10/01/2012 16:59 Page 12

Sherborne Summer School of Music

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29 July - 19 August 2012 Piano and Vocal Masterclasses

Piano Course and Piano Accompaniment Course Masterclass for Singers 1, 2 and 3

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CSSM

SUMMER SCHOOL

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19-27 August 2012 Keele University, Staffordshire

at Sherborne School, Dorset July 21st to July 28th 2012 Director John Huw Davies

Inspiring week for singers, conductors and vocal leaders • Friendly atmosphere, with sociable, purposeful, like-minded people • Huge variety of music and exciting concert opportunities •

Symphony Orchestra Chamber Orchestra String Orchestra Symphonic Wind Band String Chamber Music Wind Chamber Music Art of Accompaniment Art of Singing Chamber Choir ‘Play More Notes!’

Practical Arranging Combined Choir Tutors’ concerts Choral Evensong g at Sherbor rne ne Abbey Sherborne

5-Day Conducting Courses – across the UK, beginning in January 2012 Weekend for Conductors and Singers – London, 25-26 February 2012

Supported by John Lewis Partnership

In Partnership with Bolton Music Service Registered Charity No. 270384

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94140 MM__ 10/01/2012 16:59 Page 14

AIMS INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SCHOOL at Eastbourne College AUGUST 19th – 26th 2012 The sixth Summer School for Singers run by Neil & Penny Jenkins will take place once again in Eastbourne College, Eastbourne. There will be a variety of classes for choral singers, with the large groups performing Karl Jenkins’ Gloria, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria and Mozart’s Davidde Penitente with Brian Kay and Nigel Perrin. Smaller groups will work on Partsongs, close-harmony, G & S choruses, madrigals, and the music for Compline and a sung Mass.

Residential Courses Day Courses Saturday Talks Summer Schools Concerts

Solo singers can choose from classes studying every branch of vocal music from Early Music and Oratorio up to Artsong, Cabaret and Music Theatre. There will be 6 fully staged Opera scenes for which singers audition in advance. James Bowman and Ian Partridge will give one-day Masterclasses, and the week will commence with a Gala Recital given by Catherine Wyn-Rogers.

Comments from this year’s students include: “...I am an AIMS ÂľYLUJLQÂś P\ ÂżUVW WLPH EXW FHUWDLQO\ QRW P\ ODVW , ZDV WRWDOO\ LQVSLUHG DQG LQ DEVROXWH KHDYHQ ´ Âł 2QFH DJDLQ LW ZDV D ZRQGHUIXO ZHHN RI OHDUQLQJ SHUIRUPLQJ DQG DSSUHFLDWLQJ ZRQGHUIXO PXVLF DQG ZRQGHUIXO VLQJLQJ ´ Âł 7KHDWUH FULWLFV ZRXOG KDYH WKH KHDGLQJÂśTriumphÂś , FDQQRW EXW WRWDOO\ DGPLUH WKH DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ LW LV IDXOWOHVV ´ Âł 7KH FRQFHUWV KDYH EHHQ ZRQGHUIXO WKH PDVWHUFODVVHV HQOLJKWHQLQJ WKH ZDUP XSV DQG YRFDO WHFKQLTXH FODVVHV KXJH IXQ 7KDQN \RX IRU PDNLQJ WKH ZHHN VXFK D IXOÂżOOLQJ H[SHULHQFH ´ For details of fees for Residents and Non-Residents contact: Address: AIMS, Barn End, Castle Lane, Bramber, West Sussex, BN44 3FB Telephone: 01903 879591 Email: neil@AIMS.uk.com Full details are shown on the website: www.AIMS.uk.com

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Making Music members benefit from a discount on display and classified advertising. Please contact Sharon Maslen at Space Marketing directly on 01892 677740 or email: sales@spacemarketing.co.uk for reasonable rates and bookings

Highnotes â&#x20AC;˘ January 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ 15

94140 MM__ 10/01/2012 17:00 Page 16

Noticeboard

Volunteer for us

By Peter Stokes, Head

Peter Stokes

ent of Volunteer Managem

ic people with for dedicated and enthusiast king Music? We are looking Ma in t site par r web you and g play nin to Would you like ent, marketing, event plan g should be research, people managem erin g, nte isin dra volu fun eve g beli udin We incl e. s skill ry music scen port the flourishing volunta making all voluntary management, to help us sup , and we pride ourselves on fun and in. ble essi acc l, gfu anin me , ing ch to see how you can join ard tou in rew , get se iring plea insp starts with having a go, so all It ial. efic ben lly tua mu opportunities g Music, please visit volunteering with Makin ion If you are interested in on the link for your reg k clic and s eer uk/volunt www.makingmusic.org.

What's new on the website

By Mathurot Chuladul, Digital Communications Executive, Making Music Since our new website launched just over a year ago, we've been observing how our members are using our online tools and services in order to identify areas for improvement. In response to our findings, we are planning a series of new developments in 2012: • Events calendar: introducing a new format and design layout to make it easier for you to promote your events; • My Making Music area: introducing Mathurot Chuladul a new layout that will highlight the content most relevant to you; • Find a musician: launching an exciting new tool to help you find other amateur or professional musicians (either for performances or informal music making), as well as composers, conductors and soloists; • Music Bank: improving our tools to help you programme your concerts, including a major expansion of our Music Exchange scheme to offer library services to instrumental groups and choirs.

You will need to be registered to the website to get access to all of our online tools. To find out how to register, or for tips on navigating around our site, visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/help

Letters Dear Making Music I wanted to thank Robin Osterley for his help and insight on the issues we have been experiencing with a contract we're preparing.

You've given us some authoritative advice which strengthens our negotiating position enormously. All of a sudden we feel able to take this one on where, otherwise, we would have felt well out of our depth.

All in all, you've given us a clear strategy to work to – with some useful 'fall-back' positions. I never expected to get this level of support from Making Music – and from the Chief Executive himself too. Very impressive!

You can now use our Music Exchange facility to borrow or lend instrumental repertoire

Thanks again for such an instant response.

Yours sincerely, Peter Harrison Grayshott Concerts

New Regional Managers

Send your letters to editor@makingmusic.org.uk

Peter Stokes, Head of Volunteer Management, welcomes the new members of the Regional Development Team We are delighted to announce the appointment of Making Music's four new Regional Managers: Cheryl Bennett (East), Sue Bradley (Yorkshire & North East), Cat Duval (South East) and Stuart Isaac (West).

Cheryl, Sue and Cat are new to Making Music, while Stuart moves from his former position as Transition Manager in the Yorkshire & North East region. All four bring a wealth of experience and talent to the organisation, which we are sure will be of great benefit to our volunteer teams and members. They join the existing Regional Managers, Kate Allen (South West) and Craig Roberts (Wales).

We're sad to be saying farewell to our Regional Development Officers, Alice Little, Kate Murdoch, Micaela Schmitz and Becky Stickland. I'd like to thank them all for their contributions to Making Music's work over the years, and to wish them well in their future careers, which I know will be successful!

Find out more about what our Regional Managers will bring to Making Music at www.makingmusic.org.uk/regionalteam

To subscribe please contact us directly.

Highnotes is the official journal of Making Music, The National Federation of Music Societies, 2-4 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3NW Tel: 020 7422 8280 info@makingmusic.org.uk www.makingmusic.org.uk

16 • Highnotes • January 2012

If you need us to make any of this information more accessible, please call Making Music on 020 7422 8280 or email info@makingmusic.org.uk

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