Showcase

Josie Newton EP Release

29th Jun 2010

Feeder Scheme Session 5

10th Jun 2010

6^th June 2010 brought the Feeder Scheme students together again for their fifth of six sessions. This time the focus was rhythm and how it translates into all aspects of music. Simon Preston came to run the day and brought with him an array of percussion instruments; from Boomwhackers to African marimbas and cowbells to congas.

The day started with the students on Boomwhackers, playing out simple rhythms and working them into a full piece using call and answer, a round and picking their own rhythms within a set pulse. They looked at how dynamics can make a piece more interesting and how the strictness and accuracy of the rhythm is crucial to turn the piece from a lot of noise to a structured piece that people would want to listen to.

They then transferred what they had learnt on the Boomwhackers to various percussion instruments. This was an opportunity for those students who had not done any percussion to have a go and for the percussionists in the group to try a different (and maybe slightly more unusual) percussion instrument.

The final part of the day was transferring the rhythmic work of the Boomwhackers and percussion instruments onto the students’ own instruments and putting a piece together.

Parents were invited in at the end of the day to watch the final performance and were greeted with a procession of Boomwhackers across the stage, a drumming bonanza and a very rhythmical, musical performance.

Throughout the day parents were also having mentoring sessions with Carole Jenner-Timms looking at different opportunities available to their children and talking about the re-auditions to gain a place on the Core Programme for the following year.

Rotary Young Musician of the Year!

10th Jun 2010

On May 29^th I was lucky enough to be the recipient of the Rotary Young Musician Of The Year 2010 Award. Rotary International is a fantastic charitable organisation which encourages and supports worthy enterprises and projects, and recently, along with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation they have pledged to raise $555 million towards the global eradication of polio.

However, the ‘Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland’ also hold annually a Young Musician Competition, in which I was entered by my music teacher at school. Having never really done many competitions before, I didn’t really know what to expect but regardless, the performing experience was bound to be invaluable, and provided a good opportunity to perform the pieces I had been studying this term.

So, having got through a preliminary heat and two regional finals, I found myself in the National Final amongst some sickeningly good musicians. With 7 vocalists and 8 instrumentalists, the 3 hours of music that emanated from the stage were, as one judge said, “of a ridiculously high standard.” So I didn’t fancy my chances!

Nonetheless, Brentwood Cathedral (in Essex), as a venue, was beautiful to play in. Built within the last 20 years, it was designed specifically with acoustics in mind, and it was therefore very flattering – the saxophone equivalent of singing in the shower! I played the Phil Woods Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Nigel Wood’s ‘Schwarzer Tanzer’, and the audience gave me a warm reception, after which I felt thoroughly elated. And, after lots of deliberation, it was announced that I was the winner!

This experience has given me lots of confidence in myself as a performer, and valuable experience that I can take forward into a career in music ultimately. I would just like to thank South West Music School, who have utterly transformed me as a musician since I joined 3 years ago, for their infinite love and support, my saxophone teacher Andy Tweed for all his worldly expertise and the inspirational head of music at Malmesbury School, Mr. Bradshaw, for entering me in the first place!

Lastly, I would say that if there’s one I’ve learnt from the competition, it’s the importance of presentation - look smart, smile, be confident, and speak with enthusiasm about your pieces. And then it shouldn’t matter if your breathing is all over the shop!

http://www.ribi.org/news/articles/sing-when-you-re-winning

Harry Smith, SWMS 2010 graduate

Torbay and South West Music Festival winner!

28th May 2010

Paul Fraser had another successful year, at the Torbay & South West Music Festival, winning 5 of the 6 classes that he entered with his recorder playing. He was awarded an Outstanding mark (the only one awarded to a solo instrumentalist) with his remaining pieces all being Distinctions. At the presentation of special awards at the Gala Concert, Paul was presented with The David Campbell Shield for Woodwind.

Young Artists Performance Series

11th May 2010

Three of South West Music School’s young, up and coming musicians, performed at Wiltshire Music Centre on Sunday 25^th April 2010 to a 100 strong audience. Ruth Knight (flute), Josh Rose (voice), Harry Smith (saxophone) performed 20 minutes each of music ranging from Gabriel Fauré to Gilbert and Sullivan and Phil Woods to Gershwin. Jackie Bevan ably accompanied the three musicians commenting that they were a pleasure to work with and more professional in their approach and ability than many paid professionals she has worked with!

The performance was a great success and followed on the series nicely from performances at Dartington Hall and The Pound Arts Centre in Corsham.

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