NCEM Education Newsletter Spring 2008

intune

a chance for you to get involved!

spring 2008

ISSUE 3

SING UP

FOR YORK!

The NCEM is one of 19 organisations in the UK to be successfully given a ‘Hearts and Minds’ award.

The award will enable the NCEM to run a singing programme involving 27 local Primary Schools.This is part of a new initiative called Sing Up which is the Music Manifesto National Singing Programme, produced by Youth Music with AMV-BBDO, Faber Music and The Sage Gateshead, which has just been launched nationally and is supported by the Government.

Sing Up aims to raise the status of singing and increase opportunities for Primary School-aged children throughout England to enjoy singing as part of their everyday lives.The £40 million government investment aims to ensure that good quality singing is central to young childrens’ lives, in Primary Schools, in the home and in the wider community.

During the first phase, which runs through until March 2008, the NCEM will work with 27 Primary Schools in York.The project is called ‘Hopscotch’ and it focuses on encouraging and revitalising songs and singing games in school playgrounds.

Using brightly coloured resources including a distinctive ‘Song Stop’ sign as well as skipping ropes and balls, a trained community musician (from the NCEM) will act as song leader taking the children through traditional and newly invented singing games together.

www.ncem.co.uk

The older children will then become trained to be the ‘song leaders’ themselves so that they can carry on the tradition of playing singing games with their peers and the younger children in the school.

Each York school will have five one-hour playground singing workshops where the musician will work with a group of up to 30 children aged between 8 and 11 years old and a member of staff who will help develop the project in the future.

Hopscotch aims to encourage enjoyment, singing experience, confidence, leadership, social skills and healthy exercise within children and helps schools benefit from a boost to playground and social activity and from new play ideas and musical resources.

It is anticipated that the Sing Up initiative will be of tremendous benefit to schools. Delma Tomlin, Director of the NCEM said: “We hope that this initiative will help to develop music and singing in schools, provide training for staff in leading singing and a boost to playground and social activity. We are delighted to be running this project and able to offer music sessions to so many schools in York.”

If you would like to be involved in the Sing Up initiative in York, please contact us on 01904 632220.

Welcome to the NCEM education and community newsletter – the space for you to find out more about events and activities.

In this issue, catch up on the latest news about a new singing project in York, read about the Minster Minstrels activities and check out what is happening for the Chinese New Year.

The following Primary Schools have already signed up: Fishergate,Tang Hall, Heworth, Lakeside, New Earswick, St Aelred’s, Dringhouses,Wheldrake, Badger Hill, Haxby Road, Robert Wilkinson, Hempland,Yearsley Grove, Naburn, Clifton Green, Skelton, English Martyrs’ RC, Headlands and St Lawrence’s. For more information go to www.ncem.co.uk/ latest/hopscotch.htm

york’s early music ensemble

MINSTER MINSTRELS GROW FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH The Minster Minstrels Vocal Ensemble performed in a sell-out concert at the York Early Music Christmas Festival.

This was the second concert for the newly formed vocal ensemble who performed alongside the well-established Instrumental Ensemble.The concert was an overwhelming success and the programme included English Christmas music written between the Middle Ages and the eighteenth century.

Martin Dreyer, reviewer for The Press commented: “The Minster Minstrels unearthed Tudor jewels with some assurance. Voices alone were confident in Ravenscroft’s setting of Psalm 33.

Bringing early music to the youngest generation, the Minster Minstrels are proving an invaluable initiative.”

The next major date for the Minster Minstrels Instrumental and Vocal Ensemble will be in this year’s York Early Music Festival on Sunday 6 July at the Unitarian Chapel, St Saviourgate,York.

The Minster Minstrels Instrumental Ensemble rehearse every Saturday during term time at Canon Lee School.The Vocal Ensemble rehearse on selected Saturday mornings at the NCEM. The dates for the spring and summer terms are 26 January, 23 February, 8 March, 19 April, 21 and 28 June.

If you are interested in joining either the Instrumental or Vocal Ensemble and would like more information, please contact us on 01904 632220 or email info@ncem.co.uk

MINSTREL

prof ile

Joanna Wherry, aged 17, has been a member of the Minster Minstrels since the group formed in September 2003.

Why did you decide to play the violin?

To be honest, I’m not completely sure, I remember when I was about 8 years old a York City Council music teacher visited our school and gave an assembly about learning the violin. I suppose there was just a connection; the violin just seemed the right instrument for me.

How often do you practise?

It has always been different, when I was younger I didn’t do as much, but as you work up the grades there is obviously a lot more practise involved.

Now I am working towards my Grade 8, so naturally I’m trying to fit in all the practise I can!

What sort of music do you enjoy listening to in your spare time?

I have a radio in my room and it’s always on, usually tuned into Radio 1. I also always carry my ipod around with me - I hate it if I don’t have any music to listen to! I do enjoy listening to Early Music, though I admit I don’t listen to it enough. In particular, I love to listen to music that I have played either with the Minster Minstrels or with other groups.

Has playing in the Minster Minstrels changed the way you listen to music?

Yes, without a doubt! I am more aware of the music around me and I enjoy it more because I can hear all the subtle differences that I wouldn’t have noticed before.

What are you learning from the musicians who are teaching you at the Minster Minstrels?

Ailsa and Lizzy are great, they are so helpful and talented; they are a real inspiration to all of us.

The Minster Minstrels is great and has helped improve my playing dramatically, as a group we play more musically, really listening to each other and playing together. I have grown in confidence during my time in the group and I have learnt so many things; the tutors always listen to any suggestions we may have and we often work together to put the finishing touches to each piece.

Does it help your musical skills being part of a group?

Most certainly. I play in orchestras too, but that is different for me as a string player. I like the fact that I’m stuck on my own in the Minster Minstrels.

It adds a little danger but also ensures that you try to play really well - I wouldn’t want to perform a piece that I couldn’t really play! The group is great; we get on really well and enjoy making music together.

What do you want to do when you leave school?

I really don’t know! It’s scary as I will have to decide pretty soon but I expect I will do something at University to do with English or Music. If I don’t choose music as a career path, it will always be something that I keep up. I don’t think I could survive without it!

early music resources and activities

ENJOYING EARLY MUSIC A NEW WEB RESOURCE A new resource for Early Music leaders has been launched by the NCEM in association with the Early Music Network.

The web-based resource, ‘Enjoying Early Music’ has been designed and researched by Cathryn Dew, the NCEM’s Education Consultant, and aims to help leaders of Community and Education activities design, manage and deliver successful Early Music projects.

The resource grew from a rigorous research project undertaken jointly by the National Centre for Early Music and the Early Music Network.This investigated the range and geographical spread of Early Music Community and Education activities taking place throughout the UK and helped to identify what information, guidance and support musicians and administrators need to develop their work further.

The resource includes downloadable PDF information sheets, sheet music and audio files divided into the following three categories: Information on designing and managing successful projects, Musical Ideas for projects and Case Studies, featuring projects that have been tried and tested at the NCEM. It provides helpful advice on setting up Community and Education projects, covering aspects such as identifying and recruiting participants, budgeting and fund raising, as well as Child Protection and Risk Assessment.

Turning to the musical side, the resource also contains a number of downloadable sheets, exploring subjects such as working with young voices, using classroom percussion instruments and working with Early Music within the

framework of the National Curriculum and includes a Resource Bank of repertoire.

Cathryn Dew said: “Early Music is an ideal musical genre to explore within Education and Community Projects. The wealth of repertoire, spanning a millennium, and originating from countries across the globe, provides a huge range of material upon which a workshop leader can draw, ranging from simple melodies easily learned by rote to technically challenging coloratura, much of which is equally appealing to young and older participants.”

The resource can be found at www.ncem.co.uk in the Education and Community section.

COMPOSE FOR THE TALLIS SCHOLARS Young composers under the age of 18 from the region are being offered the opportunity to compose a new a cappella piece with the chance of having it performed by The Tallis Scholars in their concert in Beverley Minster (Friday 23 May, 7.30pm) as part of the Beverley and East Riding Early Music Festival.The piece will be for Soprano, Alto,Tenor and Bass and composers are being encouraged to visit Beverley Minster to explore the extraordinary acoustics that it has to offer. A shortlist of entries will be performed by The Ebor Singers and recorded by students from the University of York at a public event at the NCEM on Tuesday 22 April, when a panel of judges, led by the director of The Tallis Scholars,

Peter Philips, will select the winning entry. During this session, the young composers will receive some expert advice from the judging panel.

Delma Tomlin, Director of the Beverley and East Riding Early Music Festival is delighted to be able to offer the opportunity: “This is a tremendous chance for young composers in the region - particularly as this work can be offered as part of the A level music syalbus and will be recorded and will be downloadable from the NCEM website.”

Full details about the competition and how to enter can be found at www.ncem.co.uk/bemf.shtml.

latest news

CHINESE CELEBRATIONS The NCEM is working in partnership with the National Railway Museum,York Museums Trust, Fairfax House, the University of York and York St John University on a programme of activities supported

by Yorkshire Forward to mark the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Its musical celebrations are also part of CHINA NOW - the largest festival of Chinese culture in the UK showcasing the very best of modern China. CHINA NOW is an inspirational celebration of vibrant, dynamic 21st-century China offering an insight into China’s rich heritage and brings the diversity of modern Chinese culture to life.

There will be a musical/craft workshop to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The Dragon Scales and Chinese Hats Workshop (Sun 3 Feb, 1pm - 5pm at the NCEM) will give you the chance to work with Chinese artist Linda Tomlinson to make a Chinese hat and take part in a spectacular musical creation led by two community musicians. Craft and music making skills are not required.This workshop is suitable for 5 - 14 year olds and all young people have to be accompanied by an adult.Tickets cost £5.00.

Participants will get the chance to showcase their work at a prestigious event at the Castle Museum on Wednesday 6 February which is the launch event for their Chinese programme.

For more details about Chinese music concerts later in the season visit the website at www.ncem.co.uk/whatson. More information about CHINA NOW is available at www.chinanow.org.uk

MUSICAL PLAY IN A WEEK SUMMER SCHOOL!

Once again, due to popular demand, the NCEM joins forces with the Riding Lights Theatre Company for its annual Musical Play in a Week.The workshop will take place from Monday 11 - Friday 15 August 2008 with a final performance for friends and family on the Friday evening.

The course will cost £75 per young person for the week with a limited bursary scheme offered to families on a low income.

Stop Press….

MELODY MONKEY TRAINING COURSE ANNOUNCED Find out about how to use Melody Monkey’s Marvellous Music Box more effectively in a training session led by Susan Hollingworth, co-creator of the Box, who is a Senior Advisory Teacher for the Voices Foundation and Music Advisor to North Lincolnshire.The following aspects will be covered: • Learning song repertoire suitable for the Foundation stage • Using puppets, lycra and other props in the music session • What music can do for the development of the whole child • The use of instruments in the music session • How to improvise songs for any situation • Incorporating music into stories and storytime • Creating an indoor and outdoor music area • The concepts of pulse, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, pitch and timbre for early years There are two training courses taking place on Thursday 7 February and Friday 9 May at the NCEM. The course costs £60 + VAT to include lunch.

For more information go to www.ncem.co.uk/melody.

More information will be available in April on our website at www.ncem.co.uk

LATE LEARNERS JAZZ WORKSHOP RETURNS

There will be two Late Learners Jazz workshops running in 2008 as part of the NCEM’s highly successful Jazz Weekends.The workshops will take place on Saturday 10 May and Sunday 23 November from 10am to 1pm and will be led by jazz musician Rob Lavers and his session players.The workshop is aimed at people who have dabbled with music in their youth, developed an interest whilst supporting and encouraging a child to learn an instrument, or reached a certain age and realised that they wanted to learn to play Jazz.The atmosphere will be relaxed and creative. No grades required, just bring along your instrument and enthusiasm.

contact us

For more information about this workshop and to book a place, please ring 01904 632220.

Design|RedBonsai.01759 319471

For further information about any of the activities, events or resources mentioned in this Newsletter please contact the NCEM on 01904 632220 or email info@ncem.co.uk.To book tickets for events, please contact the Box Office on 01904 658338 or email boxoffice@ncem.co.uk.

National Centre for Early Music, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate,York YO1 9TL

All details are correct at the time of going to press but we reserve the right to amend the published programme if necessary.

Promoted by York Early Music Foundation Registered Charity No. 1068331