Highnotes, May 2012

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Highnotes Issue 19 • May 2012

Highlights

A musical marathon We've teamed up with arts organisation Superact to deliver the 2012 Bandstand Marathon, one of the largest closing events of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Superact's Liz Gordon sets the scene for what promises to be a musical tour de force

Conference 2012

Page 4

Tomas Martinez

Find out about this year's conference and our keynote speaker, Paul Mealor

This September, amateur musicians have a once-in-alifetime opportunity to showcase their music at one of the largest closing events of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We're inviting all Making Music member groups to perform on bandstands throughout the UK on 9 September as part of the Bandstand Marathon, an official part of the London 2012 Festival.

Superact, a Taunton-based not-for-profit arts organisation, is working in partnership with Making Music to deliver Bandstand Marathon, supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

In addition to the performance opportunities, groups can also have responsibility for programming a

Bandstand Marathon event, for which support, expenses and training will be provided. Visit the Making Music website to apply today – the deadline is 1 June 2012.

The Bandstand Marathon started in 2008 as part of the first Open Weekend of the Cultural Olympiad.

Across the South West, 50 concerts took place on 50 bandstands and performance areas. When the event was repeated in 2009, we managed to reach 120 locations across England and Wales, with 3,000 musicians playing and an audience of almost 50,000 people. Our aim for 2012 is to run more than 500 events at the same time on the same day – 1pm on Sunday 9 September 2012.

Making Music Overture

Page 7 Learn about the gala premiere of our special commission

Superact and the Bandstand Marathon are bringing the UK's bandstands back to life, as many of them are no longer used for their original purpose: staging live music. This project will ensure that these crucial parts of our cultural heritage are alive with music once more during this exciting summer of world-class culture and sport – but we need your help to do so!

A Company of Voices performing on Taunton Bandstand in 2011

If you'd like to take part in the Bandstand Marathon, either as a performer or an event programmer, please visit www.bandstandmarathon.org.uk or call Katharine at Superact on 01823 666641. The deadline for Event Programmer applications is 1 June

Sam Haywood

Page 11 Discover the pianist who's turned to digital sheet music

SUPPORTING & CHAMPIONING VOLUNTARY MUSIC

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Dartington International Summer School 21 July - 25 August 2012

Artistic Director John Woolrich

Exceptional teaching Inspirational performances Immerse yourself in music Dartington International Summer School, Space, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6EN Phone: +44 (0)1803 847080 Email: summerschool@dartington.org

www.dartington.org/summer-school DARTINGTON INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL IS A DEPARTMENT OF THE DARTINGTON HALL TRUST, A REGISTERED CHARITY. REG CHARITY NO 279756

Sing Barbershop Harmony for a Weekend Experience the thrill of harmonising in a 90 strong barbershop chorus If you would like to learn and sing some barbershop songs, then you should join with other singers and attend our 34th Annual Harmony College weekend at the end of August.

Open to men and women, joining the weekend college chorus will give you a great introduction to this unique style of harmony singing. You will receive music and learning CDs in advance, expert tuition during the course, and then, along with your fellow choir members, perform on the Saturday evening college show.

34th Harmony College 24 - 26 August 2012 Jubilee Campus Nottingham University

Cost ÂŁ295 Includes course fees, learning materials, all meals and en-suite accommodation.

Bed & breakfast available on the 23rd for just ÂŁ50 extra.

We look forward to welcoming you to a wonderful Everyone Welcome weekend of singing, fun and laughter. Other Quality Educators specialist courses are also available at this high quality educational event.

Online Booking

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In brief

New Head of Membership

Welcome

This issue we don't mind blowing our own trumpet, too. Last month, through the lobbying efforts of Making Music, the music library in Wakefield was saved and now groups from all over the UK can continue to hire their music from Yorkshire (page 5).

Finally, if you are the Making Music Rep for your group you can play a vital role by passing on Making Music e-newsletters and this copy of Highnotes!

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, September 2012, is 22 June 2012 Any views or opinions expressed by external contributors may not necessarily represent those of Making Music

I look forward to working for and with you all in my new role. Having run membership organisations for the last 17 years, I hope I can bring valuable experience to supporting Making Music members throughout the UK. To get to know you, I will be talking to, meeting and exchanging emails with as many of you as possible this year.

I will also be reviewing Making Music's member services to understand how they may be improved and developed, to ensure each of you has access to useful services, delivered appropriately and to the highest standard. I always welcome your comments, so please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Barbara Eifler

I'm delighted to be joining and playing a part in such a dynamic organisation, and would like to thank everyone for their warm welcome.

You can get in touch with Barbara at barbara@makingmusic.org.uk

Charitable Incorporated Organisations Robin Osterley, Making Music Chief Executive, outlines the current status of the new charitable structure For some time now, the Charity Commission has been promising the introduction of a new form of structure for charities: the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). This structure will enable a charity to incorporate (i.e. become a company) without having to go through the procedures and complexities of registering as a company limited by guarantee through Companies House.

We believe that the CIO structure will provide many of our members with an ideal structure for limiting the liability of trustees as well as providing other safeguards. Unfortunately, the regulations enabling the CIO to come into existence have yet to be debated by Parliament, so there is a while to go before they come into force. We will be keeping a very close eye on the situation and will issue guidance when appropriate.

If you'd like to know more about what the new CIO structure will mean for your group, visit the Charity Commission website at www.charity-commission.gov.uk

New funding for music making Miriam O'Keeffe, Director of the BBC Performing Arts Fund, announces new funding opportunities for UK grassroots music groups Have you been watching The Voice on BBC One? The new Saturday night show will be raising money through phone voting for the BBC Performing Arts Fund, which will be awarding up to £450,000 in grants to the music sector this year.

We've been keen to work with Making Music again since the success of the Choral Ambition project in 2009, where our joint efforts saw £208,000 distributed to 98 choirs. Making Music has since helped us develop a new scheme, launching in May, which will help fund grassroots music groups across the UK. We want to help these groups carry out training, attract new audiences, encourage new members and raise their profile in their communities.

Grants of up to £5,000 for projects and up to £10,000 for new commissions will be available. Whether you're a choir, a brass band, an amateur orchestra, a drumming circle or any other music group, visit our website to find out more!

Jeremy Freedman

As members of Making Music you benefit from new partnerships organised to help you flourish: your group can take part the Bandstand Marathon (page 1), receive funding for participatory activities from the BBC Performing Arts Fund (this page), and perform new music by Paul Mealor and Orlando Gough, especially commissioned for you (page 7). You can also book each of the six young artists on the subsidised Philip & Dorothy Green Award scheme for just £130 (page 6).

Barbara Eifler has recently been appointed Making Music's Head of Membership, and is responsible for making sure our services meet your needs

The Stage

Welcome to the summer edition of Highnotes. In this issue we celebrate the increasing range and diversity of our 3,000 member groups, introducing you to some of them on pages 8 and 9.

By Karen Cardy Why not come Marketing Director along and meet more at our conference in Cardiff on 15 and 16 September?

For details of how to apply for the fund, visit bbc.co.uk/performingartsfund

Highnotes • May 2012 • 3

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Participation

2012 conference: save the date!

This year's conference will be a chance for anyone and everyone to try their hand at music making This year's Making Music conference, 'Joining In – Making Music For Everyone', will take place on the weekend of 15-16 September in the gorgeous new building of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff.

We are delighted to be welcoming as keynote speaker Britain's current favourite composer, Paul Mealor. Paul became an international star following the broadcast of his piece, Ubi Caritas, to billions across the globe as part of the Royal Wedding last year. More recently his song Wherever You Are, written for Gareth Malone's Military Wives' Chorus, became the UK Christmas number one. We are hoping to feature some of Paul's music – maybe even a premiere! – in the concert on Saturday evening in the stunning Dora Stoutzker Hall.

So do join us for two days of inspiration, fun and plenty of music making, to recharge the batteries for another year. Fees will be in line with last year's conference: under £90 for the whole weekend for members, and an additional £4 discount for unwaged attendees.

Keep an eye on www.makingmusic.org.uk/conference in May, when booking opens. We have CDs of Eric Whitacre's new Virtual Choir Album, Water Night, to give away to the first 10 delegates to book!

The focus of the conference will be participation, and Saturday will see a host of workshops covering various musical genres for all to join in.

Always been a singer, but never touched an instrument? Or have you spent years wondering if barbershop would prove as difficult as you imagine it to be? Is banging the drums, samba-style, easier than it looks? What does Welsh traditional music involve? And would they like my flute in a jazz band? It all starts with having a go, and the focus will be on trying something different.

Both days will also provide ample time to discuss, both in structured sessions and informally over refreshments, those matters of concern to you and your group. There will be opportunities to share best practice and learn something new, particularly about linking up with communities and young people, widening your membership base and involving more people of all shades of musical conviction in making music.

The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Joining in Participatory arts specialist Robert Wells gives some food for thought in advance of our conference As a musician whose career centres on participatory arts, I'm motivated by the belief that quality of life can be improved by making music with others. My work involves teaching, managing, and advising on various participatory arts projects.

In the last 20-30 years, a movement has emerged in the UK advocating the importance of participatory music. Professional ensembles have begun to include community engagement as part of their work.

Numerous undergraduate and postgraduate courses have started training musicians to work in community contexts. Mainstream music

education has been influenced by participatory practices, and nationwide initiatives have drawn on them.

These changes have even affected the types of music being written, with art centres and music funders increasingly commissioning works for amateur groups or works where audiences participate in creation and performance.

There are still challenges, and engaging people in regular groups and projects is not easy. We are battling a reputation of elitism and the effects of old-style music education (I regularly meet people who believe they can't make music due to their experiences at school). People feel they simply can't spare the time to join a choir or play in a band, and there is no longer a strong culture of live music. Recent research suggests that less than 1% of people regularly engage in music making at an amateur level.

While they aren't always easy to run, participatory music projects are important not just for the health and happiness of individuals, but for the harmonious functioning of society as a whole. Music making is noncompetitive, with a shared desire to 'get it right'. It is a great way for communities to bond, and for individuals to make new friends. Music is transformative, boosting confidence, enhancing interpersonal skills and providing insights into ourselves, others and the world at large.

Participation has the power to move us beyond creation and consumption, and towards citizenship.

Katie Henfrey

Making Music's conference will be a chance for us to explore these themes and more.

Weekender: Urban Stories is one of many participatory arts events hosted by the Barbican Centre's Creative Learning Division

4 • Highnotes • May 2012

Robert Wells is Programme Leader at the Guildhall School and the Barbican Centre's Creative Learning Division. Find out more about the research he's currently undertaking in the Americas at culturaladventurer.com

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Making Music update

Yorkshire Music Library is saved!

Judith Sunderland, Making Music Yorkshire & North East, celebrates our successful campaign to save one of the UK's largest collections of printed music We are enormously proud that, as a result of Making Music's national campaign, the Yorkshire Library and Information (YLI) Music and Drama Service is to remain intact and available for public use.

In November 2011, the situation looked bleak: the service, run from the soon-to-be demolished old West Yorkshire Library building in Wakefield, was to cease operation from March this year. As no other suitable building could be found, the service was likely to have been broken up or possibly sold.

The library itself is significant in that it comprises material from almost a century of keen collecting by the old West Riding County Council, which was brought together in the then-new library building in the 1960s by the legendary last chief education officer, Sir Alec Clegg.

Recognising the significance of this library for groups across the country, Making Music contacted its 3,000 member groups, resulting in over 2,000 letters and emails being written to protest against the decision to close the service. Robin Osterley, our Chief Executive, himself wrote over 100 letters to ministers, MPs, MEPs and Councillors to bring their attention to the campaign.

The YLI Committee, comprising representatives from all the contributing local authorities, was swayed by public opinion and resolved to find a solution. As no individual council was either prepared or able to take on the entire collection at that stage, expressions of interest were sought from other sources that would be willing to run the service on behalf of YLI. The final outcome is that the music will go to Kirklees Council's library service in Huddersfield. It will be managed there by Fresh Horizons, a longstanding local social enterprise that works on a not-for-profit basis. The drama collection is being moved to Leeds Library.

Rosalyn Wimpenny, Project Manager for the new Yorkshire Music Library, said: 'It is essential this much loved collection is retained and developed nationwide as well as ensuring it supports local groups and societies. Thank you to everyone for your support and patience while we transfer this valuable service.'

This is a fantastic result, and Making Music would like to thank all of its members who helped us save this essential resource.

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

A welcome boost for our volunteers

By Evan Dawson, Head of Programmes and Development We're thrilled to announce that Making Music has been awarded £85,500 by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, one of the leading independent grantmaking foundations in the UK. In particular, the money will fund our Head of Volunteer Management post, which was created in 2011 as part of a series of major changes we undertook in our volunteer programme.

this new source of funding will help us achieve our goal of creating a large, vibrant team of volunteers throughout the UK, enabling us to deliver more than ever for community music making.

To learn more about the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, visit www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk

We're happy to say that interest in volunteering with Making Music has increased dramatically during the past few months. We're confident that

Wanted: Member Development Officers

Volunteers' Week 2012

By Peter Stokes, Head of Volunteer Management Volunteers' Week on 1-7 June will be our opportunity to celebrate, thank and reward our volunteers and to highlight the great work they do for Making Music and for voluntary music in general.

This year will see the Wall of Fame return, along with a new batch of volunteer stories. We will also have the chance to see some of our volunteers in a whole new light. But I don't want to spoil the surprise, so watch this space …

Keep your eye on www.makingmusic.org.uk/ volunteers to find out more Peter Stokes

We’re looking for volunteers to act as a regional point of support to members.

Richard Poyer, Member Development Officer in the Yorkshire & North East region, outlines what applicants stand to get from the role Richard Poyer

As a Member Development Officer, I am the local contact for a small group of members that include choirs, Northumbrian pipes, orchestras and brass bands. I make contact with these groups at least once a year, meeting group representatives at rehearsals, concerts or over a drink to talk over their situations.

Groups contact me for help with a range of issues, and I enjoy the personal contact this provides, meeting new people and helping groups move forward. I would certainly recommend the role to anyone with an interest in amateur music who enjoys a challenge.

We are recruiting Member Development Officers across the country. If you'd like to apply, visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/volunteer-for-us Highnotes • May 2012 • 5

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Making Music projects

A Tudor twinning project Through Making Music's twinning project with Sing Up, Heighington Millfield Primary Academy has created a partnership with City of Lincoln Waites. Teacher June Kay describes the unique, cross-curricular lessons that have ensued Singing has always been an integral part of our school life, and we were delighted when we received our Sing Up Gold Award in 2010. The village of Heighington is a close-knit community, and the school has a long history of involvement in many aspects of its life. As such, it was a natural progression to extend our links and become twinned with a music group based in nearby Lincoln.

Our school was partnered with the City of Lincoln Waites, a group of six local musicians who play Tudor music on authentic instruments. I was very excited at the possibilities that this project presented, not only in enhancing the children's music learning but in other areas of the curriculum as well.

City of Lincoln Waites

Through the partnership, we have used technology to share music, lyrics and other information. During the autumn term, the Waites supported the Year 3 and 4 classes with their Tudor topic. In an afternoon which was just like going back in time for the

children, the group, in full Tudor dress, demonstrated and discussed their different instruments, playing tunes and teaching the children a song. The children sang this song, which had Latin words, to the school community at our carol service, accompanied by the Waites.

This term the school choir are practising for a concert that will take place in May in Lincoln. The Waites have been in school teaching the choir two Tudor songs which they will perform together at the concert, with the children performing some of their own songs as well. Other plans for the future include further classroom sessions using musical instruments to teach the older pupils about the science of making sound, and lessons about Tudor dance for the younger pupils.

Feedback to date has been very positive from staff and parents, who have commented on the band's enthusiasm and on how much the children have enjoyed the performances. The feedback from the children has also been positive, which was especially noticeable from those who do not normally participate fully in singing. One child said 'I played the drum with the band and I felt very proud', while another said 'It was a great experience, I loved learning and singing Latin words, my mum was amazed I could do it!'

This is one of 17 twinning projects taking place through the scheme. If you'd like to start your own project with a local Sing Up Award School, drop us a line at singup@makingmusic.org.uk

Celebrating young talent Pianist Tom Poster, one of the judges of the 2012 Philip & Dorothy Green Award for Young Concert Artists, announces this year's winners I remember vividly my own audition for the Award for Young Concert Artists in 2003, and it Tom Poster was a pleasure to find myself sitting on the other side of the table this year as a panel member. This was one of the most rewarding weeks I can recall, filled with outstanding music making. It was a privilege to share the tough decision making with fellow judges Joy Mammen and Peter Ash. Each of this year's award winners is – in our opinion – an artist with something to say, able to let the music speak in a way which we found especially compelling, touching and joyful. We recommend the following artists to you unreservedly: Edgar Bailey, violin Lucy Roberts, soprano Adi Tal, cello

Njabulo Madlala, baritone Mark Simpson, clarinet Rosanna Ter-Berg, flute

Making Music members can now engage these artists for recital or solo performance opportunities at discounted rates, and I'd urge you to visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/ayca to find out more.

These awards provide outstanding support and encouragement to young musicians at a crucial stage in their careers – though I hope the

6 • Highnotes • May 2012

fact that this particular prize eluded me might offer some reassurance to those who didn't get through on this occasion.

Tom Poster's recent and forthcoming engagements include concerts with the Hallé Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, recitals with Ian Bostridge and Steven Isserlis, and recordings for Chandos. www.tomposter.co.uk

Anyone can Learn to Sing Winnie MacMillan of Cumbernauld Choir describes her group's Learn to Sing course, allowing those less experienced at singing to find their voices Cumbernauld Choir was delighted to host a Learn to Sing course, funded by Making Music Scotland through The Robertson Trust. There were a range of participants, some of whom had previous singing experience, others who were trying choral singing for the first time.

The repertoire was quite challenging for the newer singers but, under choir leader David Sangster's leadership, the choir succeeded. David followed clear lesson plans each week and it was amazing how quickly his group of singers was evolving into a choir. 88 people attended each week, 26 of whom have since joined the choir. One participant said: 'I'd never sung before and had actually been outside on the first night debating whether to come in or not. Another gentleman persuaded me to take the plunge and I enjoyed every minute after that!'

There are more courses taking place in Manchester and London later this year. Visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/learntosing to find out more

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Music for 2012

Making Music Overture Adrian Peacock, bass singer in the BBC Singers, describes the gala premiere of the Making Music Overture Olympiad, supported with funds from the PRS Foundation and the RVW Trust.

David Hennigson

The BBC Singers had first encountered the work last autumn when we recorded it one afternoon in Maida Vale Studios to put on the internet as a teaching aid for choirs wishing to give it a go. With the BBC Singers' customary keenness to rise to a challenge, during the two hours allotted to get from a standing start to finished product we were all taken with the piece's light hearted and quirky style, as well as John Agard's amusing lyrics on the very British subjects of making tea, the weather and cricket.

Hertfordshire County Youth Choir

On a wet Sunday morning at the beginning of March a host of choirs, as mixed in musical taste as in age, converged on The Roundhouse in Camden for Voices Now 2012. Over 20 choirs and singing groups were involved (including four Making Music member groups), giving performances throughout the day in various spaces in the Roundhouse. I was struck by the consistently high levels of achievement and enthusiasm from all alike. From large primary school choirs to small groups of adults, every group seemed to rise to the buzz of the occasion.

The BBC Singers' contribution included participating in Orlando Gough's Making Music Overture alongside Hertfordshire County Youth Choir and Berkshire Youth Choir. Called 'Traditional Values', it was newly commissioned by Making Music as part of the London 2012 Cultural

Spinning a Yarn Conductor Rachael Howarth describes Abney Orchestra's contribution to BBC Music Nation Abney Orchestra's Music Nation project involved us working with a group of local composers on a new piece of musical theatre, Spinning a Yarn. The weekend was jam-packed with rehearsals and performances, as well as two BBC Radio interviews – one on Radio 3 and the other on Radio 1's Edith Bowman show.

Both performances were completely sold out, and we had to try to squeeze an extra 50 chairs into the hall. The performance ran really smoothly on both days, and on the Sunday we took two curtain calls to finish.

We had about 40 musicians involved, with 14 dancers and 60 singers.

Over the two nights we played to about 650 people. We have since had quite a lot of enquiries from people looking to book us, and have recruited two new trumpets and a flute – not a bad result!

Adam Young Photography

Abney Orchestra is one of 13 Making Music member groups that led or took part in projects as part of Music Nation, a countdown event to the London 2012 Festival, the finale of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. To find out about the other events that took place, visit www.makingmusic.org/musicnation

Players from Abney Orchestra

The performance at Voices Now was broadcast live on Radio 3's The Choir, and the arrival of presenter Aled Jones, alongside the adrenaline of the 'red light', created a real buzz among performers as we went onstage. The first two movements were performed by Hertfordshire County and Berkshire Youth Choirs respectively, with the BBC Singers finishing with the third. Both youth choirs demonstrated admirably how they had learned the work, and how much they enjoyed it.

Orlando has stated that he intended the piece to be 'affectionate, ironic and celebratory … with influences of pop music, gospel, reggae, calypso, bhangra and qawwali'. We were left in no doubt that he has achieved all of those things, and would heartily recommend any group of musicians to apply to perform it. You'll have great fun – guaranteed!

Applications to perform the Making Music Overture are open until 30 June. To apply, visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/overture

Jubilate! Jubilee!

Composer Paul Mealor describes his new piece, written for Making Music members in honour of the Diamond Jubilee As you'll undoubtedly be aware, this year sees the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's ascension to the throne. The Diamond Jubilee celebrations will range from small street parties to large-scale concerts, and Making Music decided it was only right that voluntary music groups should feel able to take part.

That's why they commissioned me to compose a new piece to be performed by as many of its member group choirs as possible.

Funded by the British Council, the piece is entitled Jubilate! Jubilee! and is scored for SATB choir and Paul Mealor piano. The work is a setting of a specially written poem by Rt Revd Dr Geoffrey Rowell (The Bishop of Gibraltar), and has a duration of around five minutes. If you want to sing your part in this historic occasion, I'd recommend you take a look!

If you'd like to perform Jubilate! Jubilee!, visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/diamondjubilee Paul is also the keynote speaker at our 2012 conference – turn to page 4 to find out more

Highnotes • May 2012 • 7

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In focus

Our diverse membership A snapshot of the wide-ranging nature of our membership It's Making Music's mission to ensure voluntary music groups of all shapes and sizes – bands, festivals, orchestras, music clubs, choirs – are able to be part of the UK's vibrant multi-cultural music scene. As such, one of the key objectives set out in our five year plan, Making Music for Everyone, is to increase and diversify our membership.

While the many and varied projects described in this magazine are testament to our commitment to providing opportunities for people to get involved, we wanted to use this space to show just what a diverse community we represent. All the groups mentioned here have different reasons for having joined, and they all make use of different services that we offer. What unites them is a passion for making music. Read on to find out more!

Bloco do Sul

that forms part of the West Sussex – Ahead of the Game programme.

By Mick Pyke, Musical Director

Our overall goal is to bring disabled and non-disabled people together to create, perform and take part in all aspects of carnival. Individual participants of Boom Tribe not only learn samba music but also get the social benefits of being in a music group, which include increased confidence, self-esteem and motivation among other things. We joined Making Music to take advantage of their insurance offer, and I understand that many groups like ours have done the same.

The idea is for the group to provide appropriate support and resources for people with additional needs. Although Boom Tribe is very young, it currently attracts about 25 people, including 10 with disabilities, plus several key members form Bloco do Sul who have been adopted as 'God Parents'.

Ruth Naylor

Boom Tribe and Bloco do Sul will both be playing at this year's Ryde Carnival. Dance, costume and singing will be provided by Blue Touch Paper, an Arts Council-funded project

Warrington Signing Choir

www.makingmusic.org.uk/bloco-do-sul

Ruth Naylor

Bloco do Sul is an open community samba group with around 22 members, formed in 1988 and based in Dorking, Surrey. In late 2011, we were approached to help start up a new integrated/mixed ability group in Horsham, Sussex. The new Horsham 'bloco' (a Brazilian Portuguese term for a samba group) is called Boom Tribe.

Bloco do Sul

legislative world. We also take advantage of the guidance they provide from the helpful information sheets.

By Wil Baker, Making Music Representative Warrington Signing Choir formed in July 2011, and we have 25-30 regular members and helpers, both Deaf and hearing. Supported by the Golden Gates Housing Trust, the choir aims to make learning sign language enjoyable, as well as to bring music to a Deaf audience. We also aim to raise the profile of Warrington Deaf Club and raise money to help support local Deaf children and pensioners.

www.makingmusic.org.uk/warrington-signing-choir

We choose easily signed songs that have to be enjoyable to perform and watch. For every song, we print off the lyrics and, with the help from a Deaf member, translate them into BSL (British Sign Language).

The song is then practised by the member responsible for leading the choir, before being practised with the choir. We go through songs in sections without the music several times first, and when we feel confident enough we include the music.

We joined Making Music because of the organisation's wealth of expertise on how to tackle issues we may face in the ever increasing

8 • Highnotes • May 2012

Warrington Signing Choir

96198_MM__ 04/05/2012 18:48 Page 9

In focus

The Zemel Choir

By Anthony Cohen, Joint Marketing Manager The Zemel Choir, now in its 57th year, is proud of its international reputation as one of the world's finest mixed voice Jewish choirs. Our wide-ranging repertoire embraces all the traditional Jewish cultures: Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Yiddish and Israeli. With over 50 members, we regularly perform in major venues throughout the UK and overseas.

Besides singing well-known favourites, we're particularly proud to present new music. The choir has maintained its reputation as a result of professional musical direction and a strong commitment to rehearsals by its members. We come together not only to sing, but to be part of a warm and friendly social group.

We have been a member of Making Music for many years, and have continued to derive benefits and support from our membership. In recent years we used the organisation's connection with the BBC's Play it Again campaign to promote our Celebrate with Song event, which included a series of workshops and a final concert at St John's, Smith Square. We have also received other marketing assistance from Making Music's London office to help promote our concerts.

Inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we are organising an International Jewish Choral Festival on 17 June.

After a series of workshops, choirs from Rome, Vienna and Paris will join us in a gala concert at the West London Reform Synagogue.

To reflect the inspiration behind the project, we applied to use the London 2012 Inspire mark on our marketing materials. Having charitable status, the choir's application was accepted in principle, but it was only with the help and support of Making Music that it was fully accepted. Thanks again to Making Music! www.makingmusic.org.uk/zemel-choir

Zemel Choir

Grayshott Concerts

By Peter Harrison, Making Music Representative

Grayshott Concerts is a village community classical music promoter on the Hampshire/Surrey borders. Our aim is to enable local people to experience the very best music, without the hassle of travelling many miles to hear it.

Focusing on symphony concerts, oratorios, operas and classical drama, we engage top-flight performers (including London Mozart Players, Tasmin Little, Howard Shelley, Alison Balsom and The Tallis Scholars) to perform in our village church, which is usually filled to capacity during concerts. Our patron is Karl Jenkins, from whom we have commissioned a major new work for world premiere in 2014.

Subscriptions from the Friends of Grayshott Concerts, together with business sponsorship and occasional grants, help us to feel fairly independent, but membership of Making Music has revolutionised matters for us. The insurance deal is a huge bonus and we have had vital free advice from the Chief Executive himself on a tricky contractual situation. The events and networking opportunities have also been invaluable, and we know there are many more membership benefits still to explore.

Grayshott Concerts

www.makingmusic.org.uk/grayshott-concerts

This article is just a snapshot of some of the amazing and innovative music making happening under the umbrella of Making Music. To find out about the groups in your area, visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/findagroup

Highnotes • May 2012 • 9

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96198_MM__ 04/05/2012 18:49 Page 11

Musical musings

Readers' right to reply Highnotes reader, Hilary Potts, responds to Elaine Gould's What gets my goat feature from issue 18 with a vision of a digital future for sheet music

Mass in Blue

Elaine Gould writes persuasively against free or very cheap music downloads, although she doesn't mention that you can hire music from a regular music publisher and still get dreadful parts. Those handwritten copies of Russian music with rests which look nothing like any printed versions one has ever seen. As for condition, as an orchestral librarian, I have before now borrowed parts which literally fell apart and snowed bits of yellowed paper on the floor when I opened the parcel.

“one of the UK's most

sought-after, versatile composers” Tempo

Complaining is liable not to get you very far because it's not economic for publishers to reprint music that gets borrowed less than once a year. Some music will only survive if somebody puts it into electronic form before the original print edition falls completely into dust.

Is anybody in the music publishing industry working on this? I can't wait for the day when I don't have to stagger along to a rehearsal with another load of heavy paper.

Yours, Hilary Potts

www.flickr.com/photos/rfranklinaz

The future for orchestral music must surely lie in some kind of music Kindle with the parts linked to the score. Imagine – the pages will turn whenever the conductor turns his – so no page-turning for the players. He says 'back to A', clicks on A, and everybody's page turns back at once. The copies will be self-lit, so no extra lighting. Corrections and cuts would be made in the conductor's score and appear automatically in every part.

An electrifying setting of the Mass for choir and jazz ensemble which choirs love to sing.

Performed more than 100 times around the world since its 2003 premiere.

Find out more and download a vocal score at willtodd.com

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Going digital Hilary Potts' ideas aren't actually that far-fetched, and we've managed to find one professional musician, Sam Haywood, already trading in his paper music for a digital alternative I think it is simply a matter of time before orchestras start to use digital forms of sheet music. Some orchestras have already tried going paperless – the California State University Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, for example, which used Musicpad Pro devices for a concert in 2006. The latest digital music reading devices and electronic music stands are now available from www.sightread.co.uk. Using a stylus, musicians are able to quickly add markings by drawing on the touch screen. Whereas use of such devices by orchestras is still rare, more and more pianists seem to be shelving their sheet music.

Sam Haywood is a classical pianist, composer, transcriber and editor. As a pianist, alongside extensive work as a soloist, he regularly performs with Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis, both in the UK and abroad. www.samhaywood.com

For me, the iPad 3, with its long battery life and high screen resolution, is the perfect stage companion. As with the devices from Sightread, pages can be turned with an Airturn bluetooth footpedal. Using the ForScore app, you can either scan your own scores (also using the iPad's built-in camera) or download from the vast online Petrucci library. It is possible to annotate, link scores to audio tracks, rearrange and duplicate pages (to avoid having to turn back for repeats, for example) and much more.

The advantages of using tablet computers are numerous. As Hilary Potts mentions, there are no heavy scores to carry around (though I do always take specific works for a concert with me as back-up); you are in complete control of when the pages are turned and I feel you get a better sense of a work as a whole without the visible punctuation of someone getting up to turn a page. I must add, however, that I have had some wonderful page-turners, some of whom gave out such good vibes they actually improved the performance!

Sam Haywood

Highnotes • May 2012 • 11

96198_MM__ 04/05/2012 18:49 Page 12

Sherborne Summer School of Music

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The gleeful reinvention of Choral music continues apace… …with new POP classics

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Email choral@lso.co.uk or call 020 7382 2522

Lin Ireland, soprano

96198_MM__ 04/05/2012 18:49 Page 14

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Classified section

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ICONIC BACH Enthusiastic audiences welcome eminent musicians to four wonderful weekends of magical music in the amazing acoustics of Thaxted Parish Church.

Brandenburg Sinfonia, Brodowski Quartet, Choir of St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College Cambridge, Charles Owen, J J Vinten Band, Ruth Palmer, Alastair Sampson, Charles Court Opera, Laura Wright, Harlow Chorus, Red Priest, Cantate, Yehudi Menuhin School Orchestra Programme includes: Bach: Mass in B minor, St John Passion, Double Violin Concerto, Toccata & Fugue, Brandenburg Concertos; Mozart & Beethoven String Quartets; works by Mendelssohn, Stravinsky, Corelli, Stainer, Vivaldi, Schumann, Bernstein, plus Opera, Folk Music and Jazz. www.thaxtedfestival.org.uk thaxtedfestival@btconnect.com 01371 831421

Would you like to see your advert in a future issue of Highnotes? Making Music members benefit from a discount on display and classified advertising. Please contact Antoinette Marley at Space Marketing directly on 01892 677721 or email: sales@spacemarketing.co.uk for reasonable rates and bookings.

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

96198_MM__ 08/05/2012 10:31 Page 16

Noticeboard

ons ti p ri sc b su ip h rs e b m e M

caused concern to subscription charges has to me that the change to r clea and I wanted to e , om ject bec sub the ckly on qui mbership, it has of letters from members ber num a of tive On starting as Head of Me nta rese Lang's letter below is rep your comments. some of you this year. Jean listening carefully to all of you that we are of course re assu to nity ortu towards opp use this the question of what counts increase for some of you, of the end of the size ore the n bef ch bee e tou e become aware of hav ulations. Do please get in The main issues that I hav s at Board level. plexity of the form and calc nge com cha the the of and s, act nge imp cha the the reviews income, the late notice of them in as Making Music issues, so that I may feed June if you have any further

By Barbara Eifler

c.org.uk barbara@makingmusi

Head of Training & Events

Letters

Sarah Rogers outlines how she hopes to help develop Making Music's training programmes in her new role

Dear Making Music

After six years as Head of Membership, I'm changing roles to develop a new programme of training for our members. This means taking stock of what we have offered in the past, assessing what members most need and working with Regional Managers to establish consistent and relevant programmes around the UK.

Because of your change in subscriptions, this year we have had to pay an increase of over 115%.

While I can accept that you felt it necessary to change the base for payments, I am not aware that there was any consultation of societies, nor was there any warning.

Sarah Rogers

Sarah can be contacted directly at sarah@makingmusic.org.uk

British Composer Awards 2012

By Rebecca Chapman, British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) Nominations are now open for the tenth British Composer Awards. This year, the Making Music category has been widened to celebrate all works written for voluntary, amateur or youth ensembles. The closing date has been brought forward to Thursday 12 July in order to bring it in line with the other awards categories.

Run by BASCA, the British Composer Awards celebrate the art of contemporary music composition. Nominating a work for these prestigious awards is a great opportunity to throw a spotlight on your group and on composers who have written for you.

Visit www.britishcomposerawards.com for details on how you can nominate a work

Adopt a Composer

By Evan Dawson, Head of Programmes and Development Adopt a Composer, supported by the PRS for Music Foundation, is going from strength to strength. Through the scheme, six composers and groups collaborate over the course of a year to produce new works. In March, BBC Radio 3 broadcasted performances and interviews with last year's groups and composers during Performance on Three. All were very excited to tell their stories and audience feedback was positive too.

You can read stories from this Ella Jarman-Pinto is year's scheme on one of the composers our Adopt a in the 2011/12 scheme Composer blog at www.makingmusic.org.uk/aac-blog.

Applications for next year's scheme are now open. Please visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/aac to find out more

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

Yours faithfully, Mrs Jean Lang Treasurer Dorchester Choral Society Send your letters to editor@makingmusic.org.uk

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

A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales no. 308632 Registered Charity in England and Wales no. 249219 and in Scotland no. SC038849 Advertising by Space Marketing 01892 677740

16 â&#x20AC;˘ Highnotes â&#x20AC;˘ May 2012

Whilst size of membership may not be the best way of calculating subscription, neither is income, since it takes no account of expenses. As a rural society with limited venues we find it almost impossible to make profits on concerts, and survive on the generous support of a few individuals and the support of our council. I hope that you will reconsider this for future years, take full soundings from your members and give proper notice.

Sapphire Studios

Nick McGowan-Lowe

I've had the most rewarding and interesting time looking after our membership services and getting to know so many of you through our conversations. I'm really looking to continuing that relationship in a different guise, and hope our paths will cross in the future. Your Regional Manager and I will keep you posted as plans unfold; do get in touch if you have any questions or suggestions to make about training.