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Latest News

Future Talent Funding

9th Mar 2010

LIMITED PLACES LEFT FOR JAZZ COLLECTIVE!

19th Feb 2010

 

Hurry as there are only a limited number of spaces left for the Devon National Youth Jazz Collective Workshop Weekends
 
The deadline has been extended to Friday 26th February 2010
 
Courses are held over four weekends and you can expect:
 
·         Jazz workshops
·         Master Classes
·         Jam Sessions
·         Public Performances
·         And much much more….
 
 
The sessions are for musicians aged 18 and under and will take place in Totnes on the following dates:
 
-          Sunday 7th March 2010, 12:30pm-6:00pm..........Dartington Hall, Totnes
-          Sunday 14th March 2010, 10:00am-6:00pm (5pm family concert)........Dartington Hall, Totnes
-          Sunday 18th April 2010, 12:30pm-6:00pm...........Dartington Hall, Totnes
-          Sunday 25th April 2010, 10:00am-6:00pm (5pm family concert)...........KEVICC Community College, Totnes
 
The fee is £40 for all four days. Please note that you must attend all four sessions.
 
National Youth Jazz Collective is keen to ensure that no one is deterred from attending its activities for financial reasons. Consequently the NYJC’s Bursary Scheme will cover all or part of the registration and travel costs for those in need of financial assistance.  Please note that the bursary scheme must be applied for separately. For more information please contact Jade Gall at: j.gall@swms.org.uk
 
Please fill in the attached application form as fully as possible and return, along with the signed consent form and cheque made payable to National Youth Jazz Collective to the address at the bottom of the form.
 
The closing date for applications is now Friday 26th February 2010. 
Places are on a first come first served basis
  
For more information on the bursary scheme or application process in general please contact:
Jade Gall
South West Music School
The Barn
Dartington Hall
Totnes
Devon.
TQ9 6DE
j.gall@swms.org.uk

Ross Needs Funds to Realise His American Dream

28th Jan 2010

 18 year old South West Music School student Ross Pike is due to graduate from South West Music School this summer and is jet setting across the waters to Berklee College of Music, Boston. Originally from Falmouth, Ross has chosen Berklee because there is no comparable music course in the UK. Students can learn classical, jazz and modern music all together and have the chance to explore other possibilities and find their own paths. 

Ross is really excited about this opportunity but needs $36,000 a year to make it a reality. For a four year course that is $144,000 (£80,000 at the current exchange rate). 
 
When asked what it means to get there, Ross said:
‘It will give me the chance to spend time learning everything I am really interested in. I have only ever wanted to be a musician and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Some of the best musicians, some of my heroes studied at Berklee and it just makes me realise that they had to start somewhere’.
 
‘I hope to find out who I really am musically and to explore all the possibilities going on in my head. I am doing my Grade 8 theory at the moment, but I still feel I am really only scratching the surface of what goes on in classical music. I want to know so much more about composition, harmony and orchestration, I would like to have the know-how to put into practice all of my ideas. Music is always evolving, and I want to be part of all that’.
 
Ross began learning the guitar when he was nine and had regular guitar lessons. As he progressed however, his learning became more self-taught and he very quickly developed his own unique, yet powerful sound. In 2008 he gained a place with South West Music School and has soared in the programme of tutoring, mentoring and residentials. Ross has worked with the likes of Guthrie Govan, Dario Cortese and John Wheatcroft and has learnt much from them. Ross also has a passion for classical music and is constantly looking for opportunities to incorporate classical music into his electric guitar playing. With the help of South West Music School he will be doing just that in May 2010. He will be performing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons arranged for electric guitar and orchestra. There will be a performance at Dartington Hall, Totnes, and one in Truro.

 

Kaleidoscope CD now available to buy!

22nd Jan 2010

Students from South West Music School and Wells Cathedral School joined together to record their own songs onto CD and IT IS NOW AVAILABLE TO BUY!

'Kaleidoscope' is available to buy for £10.50 inc P+P and can be ordered using the order form which can be downloaded here.

Any questions please call the office on: 01803 847011

Awards for Young Musicians

20th Jan 2010

New Programme Co-ordinator Appointed

19th Jan 2010

South West Music School would like to welcome Sophie Swainger as the new Programme Co-ordinator. 

Sophie will be working on project work such as South West Youth Orchestra, Dartington Summer Youth Programme and Excellent! events. For more information on these please contact Sophie on: s.swainger@swms.org.uk
 
To find out more about Sophie please visit the ‘Our People Page’.

www.foundations-for-excellence.org is NOW LIVE

9th Dec 2009

We are pleased to announce the launch of a brand new website which is the first ever first-stop shop for information on health and wellbeing in young musicians and dancers.

I hope you will find this a useful resource.
 
Just visit www.foundations-for-excellence.org
 
We have also launched a publication from the Foundations for Excellence Conference 2009. This is available for free download from the Foundations for Excellence site and also to buy for £14.95 + p&p. Please download an order form.
 
If you would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact us at info@swms.org.uk or call 01803 847011

Student EPs available soon!

19th Nov 2009

BREAKING NEWS!!!!

South West Music School singer/songwriters Josie Newton and James Aldridge will be releasing their very own EPs (Extended Plays) in time for Christmas.

Watch this space for more information or contact the the office on: 01803 847011 to pre-order your copy.

 

National Youth Jazz Collective - Cornwall

19th Nov 2009

New and exciting chance for young musicians to work with the best jazz musicians in the business.

The Cornwall National Youth Jazz Collective workshops will be held over 4 weekends at Helston Community College. The tutors will be; Rob Townsend, Simon Colam, Andrew Bain, Mark Hodgson and Chris Batchelor.
A new and vibrant National Youth Music Organisation, funded by Youth Music and parented by the Foundation for Young Musicians.
The sessions will take place at Helston Community College on the following dates:
-          9th/10th January 2010     
-          6th/7th February 2010      
-          13th/14th March 2010                       
-          27th/28th March 2010       
The application deadline is FRIDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2009
For a full information pack and an application form please contact: ibowden@cornwall.gov.uk

Young Artists Performance Series

19th Nov 2009

Since the start of this learning year we have had two highly successful performances at Dartington Hall by our Devon & Cornwall students as part of the new Young Artist Performance Series.

Indigo Hicks (cello from Cornwall), Ben Comeau (piano from Cornwall) and Henry Tozer (piano from Devon) kicked off this term's series in style in October.  This was followed by a percussion spectacular by Devon students: Kizzy Brooks, Molly Lopresti-Richards and Harriet Riley and the KEVICC percussion group.

The next concert in this series is at The Pound Arts Centre in Corsham on 17th February.

For more information about the students please contact the office on: 01803 847011

Jazz Professional Development course

23rd Sep 2009

The National Youth Jazz Collective is delighted to launch a unique professional development opportunity, led by the legendary Pete Churchill, designed for a total of up to 20 music educators, music leaders and Jazz musicians from the South West region wishing to develop their teaching of jazz skills. Pending completion of the programme and successful graduation, participants may then be invited to become regionally endorsed member of the National Youth Jazz Collective’s teaching team.

Applications are now closed for the Jazz CPD course.

Feeder Scheme: Session 1

22nd Sep 2009

Sunday 20th September saw the official start of the new South West Music School: Feeder Scheme. 22 students from across the South West joined together to work with Andy Baker on Music creativity and composition.

We started the day with some warm ups and ice breakers. These consisted of pass the clap, lining up in order of birthdays, eye colour, height etc and then a hello game at different speeds and in different languages namely English and Martian! This taught us about the skills of listening in music both to instructions and to each other and also gave an insight into the confidence needed to perform without feeling embarrassed. The group then sat to listen to a selection of different pieces of music from classical to modern and minimalist to rock and pop. This gave the students a chance to think about style and to compare different genres of music in terms of dynamics, melody, pitch, texture etc.
 
This was followed by a ‘free composition’ produced by the students on their instruments. Andy gave the instructions ‘start’ and ‘stop’ but in between these, the students could play what they liked, when they liked. This started as a competition to see who could play the loudest (this was inevitably won by the drummers!) but they were then told to really listen to each other, that ‘less is more’ and even if you start playing you can stop again. This was done 3 times in all and each time became more musical as they listened to each other and ideas began to flow between them. This moved on to playing more descriptive pieces, so music to describe a whale for example. 
 
This gave the students the basics skills and ideas for what the small group activities would be. They were then taught a riff of a melody and chords which each group would work on in a different way. The melody was the famous ‘Hallelujah’ song. The group was split into four smaller groups and each was given a musical element with which to incorporate the riff into. These elements were: texture, dynamics, melody and rhythm. The groups worked on their own with guidance from Andy and Lisa.
 
The day ended with the groups coming together to perform their work to each other and their parents. Each group’s interpretation was linked with an improvised riff, a lot like the first musical exercise of the day where the students had to listen to each other to create a musical interlude. This time however there was a deliberate recurring theme which the students had composed. 
 
The performance was described as a bus journey travelling from one destination to the next and stopping off every so often.
 
This was a great first day with promises of a successful pilot year for the Feeder Scheme.

South West Music School: Feeder Scheme

10th Sep 2009

The South West Music School: Feeder Scheme will comprise of 6 days with international quality artists developing talented young musicians’ skills through the exploration of different musical workshops and themed days.

The aims:
To develop the skills of students who have shown musical talent & potential but have been unsuccessful in gaining
a place on the main SWMS scheme due to lack of places.
To give potential SWMS students a trial year and develop a relationship with them before joining the main scheme
(although there is no guarantee that you will progress onto the main scheme).
Developing a new recruitment process for SWMS.
 
September 2009
Creativity & Composition with Andy Baker
Working in small groups to create new works through a collaborative creative process. This
session will also work on areas of ensemble, musical structure, listening skills and dynamics.
 
November 2009
Improvisation with Keith & Julie Tippetts
Exploration of skills in improvisation and spontaneous composition.
 
February 2010
Music & Movement with Kim Pedrick
An exploration of the relationship between instrument/voice and the body. Looking at how music influences
movement and also areas of proprioception.
 
April 2010
Listening Skills with Wren Music
Developing music through the oral tradition in the genre of Traditional English Folk. A real test for your listening skills.
 
June 2010
Rhythm with Simon Preston
Working in the genre of Samba / Cuban you will develop strong rhythmic foundations & skills. Working in areas
of syncopation, cross rhythms, poly-rhythms and time signatures.
 
July 2010
Performance Presentation & Practice with Richard Williams
Looking at all areas of preparing for a performance apart from playing the notes. Covering areas such as
warm-up, how to practice successfully, avoiding injury, performance anxiety and presentation / communication skills.
 
Advice & Additional Support
At each session there will be two SWMS mentors available for drop-in advice/mentoring sessions for parents
and students on their musical development, sign posting to other organisations who may be able to provide
additional support, information on teachers, additional financial support, etc.
 
Depending on the individual students on the pilot scheme there may also be opportunities for performances
through the SWMS Young Artists Scheme and also participation in SWMS activities such as the Bournemouth
Symphony Orchestra ‘taster day’ and masterclasses at Wells Cathedral School, etc.

Josie Newton on 'Take it Away'

15th Jul 2008

As mentioned in June 2007, the Arts Council set up an initiative called 'Take it Away' in 2006.  Since then it has grown and expanded and now includes our very own South West Music School student, Josie Newton.

You can see her at: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/takeitaway/index.php?video=4

Take it away is an Arts Council initiative designed to help more people get involved in learning and playing music. The scheme allows individuals to apply for a loan of up to £2,000 for the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, and pay it back in nine monthly instalments, completely interest free.

Take it away is open to everyone (over the age of 18), but primarily designed to help those who might otherwise be unable to afford an instrument appropriate for their needs.

Our priorities are:

  • to encourage children and young people to develop their interests and skills in music making
  • to inspire new players of all ages to begin learning an instrument
  • to enable those on lower incomes to acquire an instrument appropriate to their needs (or the needs of their children)

Take it away is only available through registered outlets. For details please see participating stores.

Arts Council England - Take It Away

12th Jul 2007

Take it away is a new Arts Council initiative designed to help more people get involved in learning and playing music. The scheme allows individuals to apply for a loan of up to £2,000 for the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, and pay it back in nine monthly instalments, completely interest free. Following the success of a six month pilot in the South East region during 2006, the scheme is now being rolled out nationally through a network of 100 outlets across England. Take it away is open to everyone (over the age of 18), but primarily designed to help those who might otherwise be unable to afford an instrument appropriate for their needs. Our priorities are: to encourage children and young people to develop their interests and skills in music making to inspire new players of all ages to begin learning an instrument to enable those on lower incomes to acquire an instrument appropriate to their needs (or the needs of their children) Customers using the scheme to buy a new instrument may include peripheral items such as amplifiers, music stands, sheet music and sometime tuition as part of their loan to help manage these costs too. Take it away is only available through registered outlets. Please go to www.takeitaway.org.uk for a list of participating stores. For further information please contact takeitaway@artscouncil.org.uk or telephone Lucy Jamieson on 020 7973 6452

We're in The Independent

22nd Mar 2007

Published: The Independent - 22 March 2007 Music in Schools:

Making sure talent doesn't slip Regional music centres are making sure talent is spotted nationwide. Michael Church reports on the South West. Music tuition in the state system is mostly discussed in terms of paucity or plenty: while teachers with long memories hark back to the good old days when peripatetic instrumental tutors were available on tap from every local authority, optimists like Howard Goodall make films to prove that things have never been better. But this argument relates to the generality of children: less attention is paid to what happens to children at the top end of the ability-range, despite the regular excitement over who becomes BBC Young Musician of the Year.

A scheme which has been steadily growing since its inception in 1973 has recently taken a great leap forward: news of its latest manifestation comes from a bright-eyed young woman named Lisa Tregale. But first some history. Before 1973, local authorities gave talented young musicians means-tested help; a sympathetic Gulbenkian report proposed that specialist music schools such as Chetham's, Purcell, Wells Cathedral School and the Yehudi Menuhin should form part of a state supported Music and Ballet Schools Scheme.

In 2003, Charles Clarke - then Education Secretary - announced a Music and Dance Scheme to support national organisations including the National Youth Orchestra plus its jazz counterpart, as well as the National Children's Orchestra, the National Youth Choir, and the South Asian Music Youth Orchestra. Enter arts consultant John Myerscough, with a report proposing a radical intervention on behalf of those talented children who were still falling through the net. Observing that large parts of the country were not covered by the requisite institutions, that there was a glaring imbalance between public and private provision, and that not all parents understood how to get their talented offspring launched, he suggested that a new infrastructure be created to remedy all this. The result is the creation of Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) in those parts of the country in greatest need: in the North-east, Yorkshire and the Humber, the East, the West Midlands, London (yes, deprivation there too), and the South-west, which is where Tregale hails from. And as director of the newly-created South West Music School, she's inviting applications for student places from this week onwards. "At last we are branded, we have an identity," she beams. And a building? "We will never have one - we are a virtual organisation." This is the big difference from the other three existing CATs, one attached to Yorkshire's youth college of music, one to Sheffield University, and one to the Sage, Gateshead - all of which take place at weekends, with the young musicians visiting then going back home. "But we in the South-west cover such a large area that it would defeat the object of the exercise to base it in one building," says Tregale. "If we set up in Exeter one day a week, it might as well be in London for people who live in Penzance or north Gloucester. We are going to offer flying support to musicians in their own area, on a one-to-one basis. Then two or three times a year we will bring them all together, to break down their isolation, and let them work as a cohort." Each student will get a mentor - but she won't choose those till she has chosen the students. "It's got to be a bit like a dating agency - matching teachers to pupils."

When I suggest this sounds impressively elitist, she bridles: "Not at all!" But surely it fits the definition of the word. "People have different interpretations of that word, some positive and some negative, so I hate to use it." What word would she use instead? "I don't use one. I'd say we're looking for exceptional talent. As our programme is individually tailored, I wouldn't put any labels on it." OK, let's say you're fostering an aristocracy of talent, as in sport. "Right. That is a positive thing. We are completely multi-genre, open to anybody from any background, of any age between eight and 16." And when she starts talking about the kind of students she's looking for, it does sound open. "They don't necessarily have to have had loads of formal teaching - or indeed any teaching. If they have outstanding talent, that will be enough. It could be somebody who's only been playing for six months. We're certainly not saying you must have grade eight violin to apply. It's all down to whether you've got that spark, that gleam of potential." And the nature of the region does underline the need for this virtual institution. The nearest conservatoire is in Birmingham, whereas students in the North have one in Manchester. "We have huge geographical and transport problems," adds Tregale. "Not enough trains and buses, and there's a general difficulty for young people to find out what's going on." Then there's the economic angle, in a region where salaries are low. Specialist music tuition can cost up to £100 an hour, but at £10-£20 the average lesson still represents a challenge for low-income families.

Tregale stresses that they are not going to barge in and support things which are already working. "We will simply give additional support - maybe topping up the hours, sending the student to master-classes, giving them performance opportunities, or getting them professional exposure. Talented players might want to start composing, or conducting. We could get them shadowing players in a symphony orchestra. With our help, a young musician who is already doing well could soon be flying." The local bodies which will feed in mentors and performance opportunities include Dartington Plus, The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Wells Cathedral School and Wiltshire Music Centre. Tregale, who grew up in Exeter, started out as a classical saxophone player, and believes that if she had had the benefit of her scheme she would have got much further as a performer. "By the time I was 16, my local teachers said they couldn't teach me any more. For a student like I was then, we would bring a teacher down, maybe from London, once every few weeks. And they would sit down with the student and talk about the profession, and how the student wanted to develop. I would love to have had that sort of help." Not that she's now dissatisfied with her lot. So - stand up the new Chloë Hanslip, the new Alison Farr, the new Alicia Keyes, and the new Jamie Cullum: the support is there. For more information, visit: www.swms.org.uk