East Midlands Youth Wind Band

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMondays are Music for Everyone’s weekly emails designed to keep you up to date with MfE events & to circulate interesting finds, special features, and musical musings for your Mondays! We are aiming to send out something new each week.

#MfEMonday – 20th March 2023

20th March 2023 Music for Everyone

Well what a week it’s been for our Youth members!

Last Tuesday members of the East Midlands Youth String Orchestra and the Nottingham & East Midlands Youth Band travelled to Birmingham to take part in the Music for Youth festival at the CBSO centre. They performed brilliantly and received some excellent feedback from the panel.

What a treat on Friday evening when a choir of almost 300 children from the Spencer Academy Trust filled the Nottingham Albert Hall and gave a stunning performance under the expert leadership of Sophie Pascall.

And yesterday our highly-talented youth groups performed a Mothers Day concert at The Grange in Radcliffe-on-Trent.

Phew! Well done to everyone involved. Time for a well-deserved rest!!

We are on the hunt for a new Artistic Director.

As many of you will know, Music for Everyone‘s Founder and former Artistic Director, Angela Kay MBE, stepped down from the day-to-day running of the organisation at the end of our 2021-22 season. We appointed a new Director, Donna Fox, to lead the business and strategic development of MfE from September 2022, with Angela Kay continuing as Artistic Adviser for the current season. We are now looking for a dynamic new Artistic Director to build on Angela Kay’s considerable achievements and develop MfE’s artistic vision, strategy and practice going forward.

This is a key role in the further development of MfE and so please help spread the word far and wide!

Full details can be found via this link: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/about-us/vacancies/

As part of the celebrations for MfE’s 40^th Anniversary, we have 2 new intergenerational ensembles starting in April, steel pan and world drumming! Beginners welcome, suitable for adults and young people.
The first session is FREE – Steel Pan begins on Monday 17^th April, World Drumming begins on Tuesday 18^th April, both at Beeston Methodist Church. Register your interest to admin@music-for-everyone.org

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

20/03/2023

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfETuesday – 24th January 2023

24th January 2023 Music for Everyone

On Sunday our four brilliant youth groups took part in a new year concert at Kingswood Church, Wollaton. Over 60 young people wowed a packed-out audience, with performances from Nottingham Youth Band, East Midlands Youth Band, Nottingham Strictly Strings and East Midlands Youth String Orchestra. From film scores to Philip Glass, Mozart to Bernstein, and folk music from Wales and Romania, there was something for everyone. Congratulations to all our young players on a brilliant concert of a uniformly high standard. If you were foolish enough to miss it, note that the next youth concert will be on Sunday 19^th March at The Grange in Radcliffe on Trent.

Message from Jane, Music Manager @ Bookwise Nottingham

Blow the Dust Saturday on January 7th was very successful and enjoyable for the instrumentalists and the MfE staff who took part as well as the families and friends who came to listen to the concert at the end of the day. I just want to let everyone know that the Bookwise Stall of Music Sales was also a great success. We took £428 – which is more than we have ever done before 😃👍. Many thanks to all the instrumentalists who helped to make the takings so high. We couldn’t have done it without you. Do hope you’re all enjoying your 2nd hand music.🎶.I couldn’t have done it also without the help of Joan Bassey on the day and Ellen, Gary, and Anne. We’ll be there again at the next Blow the Dust later in the year.

And Bookwise will be at the Singing Course this coming weekend Sat & Sunday Jan 28th & 29th with Books as well as Music. This time we’ll be bringing Choral Music, Singing Items, Piano and Duets, Keyboard Music, Piano Voice & Guitar, some Music Books, @and some Choral and Church CD’s. If you’re wanting other items please let MfE know and they’ll pass on the information.

Thanks, Jane @ Bookwise Nottingham.

Did you know that this Friday (27 Jan) is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 267^th birthday? To celebrate why not listen to this little known work, which is catalogue number K.267 (geddit?) – 4 Country Dances, written in 1777 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fNhwgO2Qso

If you haven’t yet booked your tickets for our spectacular Vaughan Williams: Toward the Unknown Region concert on 4^th Feb, now is the time to get them! Tickets available here.

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

24/01/2023

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

https://youtu.be/VviWab5J2ao

#MfEMondays are Music for Everyone’s weekly emails designed to keep you up to date with MfE events & to circulate interesting finds, special features, and motivational moments for your Mondays! We are aiming to send out something new each week.

#MfEMonday – 9th May 2022

9th May 2022 Music for Everyone

If you follow MfE on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) you may have seen a lot of activity last Thursday when we spent a ‘Day in the Life of…’ following Josh on his busiest day working for MfE. Josh conducts the Daytime Orchestras, Thursday youth bands, Strictly Strings groups and accompanies the Lunchtime Voices – a total of six groups! Four of these groups meet on a Thursday and we posted regular updates so everyone can see a typical day in the MfE world!

Here is a recap of his pictures for those that missed it or were not able to see it. In between many rehearsals, Josh pops into the office for an admin catch up and a trip to Windblowers to collect some music!

If you don’t already follow us, all the links to join Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are at the bottom of this e-newsletter.

As we move into May with the first glimmers of summer on the horizon, surely we should have a spring in our step and joy and hopefulness in our hearts? Unfortunately with the cost of living crisis, the various debacles in Westminster and ongoing situation in Ukraine, you might be feeling less than positive at the moment!

However, here at MFE, we firmly believe in the life changing and affirming power of music, and it would seem that we are not alone in this thinking –

“Life seems to go on without effort when I am filled with music”. – George Eliot

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything”. – Plato

“Music produces a kind of pleasure which nature cannot do without”. – Confucius

“As long as we live, there is never enough singing”. – Martin Luther

Most of us will have experienced a situation when listening to music or participating in music-making has brought much-needed relief or sense of perspective back into our lives. When we came across this video of the Kiev Symphony Orchestra playing Ukrainian composer Maksym Berezovsky’s Symphony No. 1, it certainly blew away some of the storm clouds away and let the warmth of the sunshine appear again. Enjoy!

If you have a spare few minutes, why not try your hand at this Guess the Classical Composer quiz? Let us know if you get them all correct. Good luck! https://youtu.be/H2H0IoBB5os

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

09/05/2022

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

Johannes Brahms – Lullaby

#MfEMonday – 21st March 2022

21st March 2022 Music for Everyone

On Saturday afternoon, the MfE youth bands put on their end of term concert, Bandtastic! at West Bridgford Methodist Church. All 3 groups performed individual items as well as joint pieces they had been working on throughout the term and the result was a brilliant concert enjoyed by all!

As part of the concert, MfE’s Instrumental Animateur Josh Goodman arranged a piece especially for the adult player helpers who give their time each week to support our young players.

The chosen piece, Melodia, was written by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk and recently featured as an encore by the CBSO in concert. Here is a recording of our performance on Saturday on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/n9yPun9pN10

This week, we are preparing for the Family Sing, taking place this coming Saturday 26^th March at Kingswood Methodist Church in Wollaton.

We still have spaces left for families to attend – children, mums, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents – bring everyone! More detail and how to sign up here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/family-sing-workshop/

We love a playlist at MfE, so here’s one to help you celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday.

Perhaps the most recognisable piece associated with mothers, this gentle little number has been soothing babies to sleep since its first performance in 1869.

Richard Strauss – Muttertändelei

This rapid-fire tongue twister captures the joy of a new mother who would not give her child away ‘for all the coins in the world’.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – O Zittre Nicht, Mein Lieber Sohn

The aria from Mozart’s The Magic Flute is a comforting song from mother to son that translates as “Tremble not, my dear son / You are innocent, wise, pious.”

Anton Dvořák’s – Songs My Mother Taught Me

A song of love spanning generations. A young woman recalls hearing a lullaby from her mother, and then completes the cycle by singing it to her own child.

Schumann’s – Frauenliebe und Leben

The song-cycle chronicles a woman’s experience of finding love, marrying, and having children. An meinem Herzen, an meiner Brust (On my Heart, on my Breast) is a dance-like, joyous expression of the mother’s joy over her newborn.

Edvard Grieg – Grandmother’s Minuet

Don’t forget Grandma! Grieg certainly didn’t with this piano piece. It’s unclear whether it was written specifically for his own grandmother, but we still think it deserves a place on this list!

Click here to have your say in the battle of the coluratura! Our money is on Diana Damrau for full-on Queen of the Night drama, or (for the Harry Potter fans amongst you) Kathryn Lewek for channelling pure Bellatrix Lestrange vibes!

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

21/03/2022

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 14th March 2022

14th March 2022 Music for Everyone

MfE Review of 2020-21
Yesterday the MfE AGM took place via Zoom. The meeting ended with an entertaining review of the MfE Year 2020-21 on our YouTube channel. If you would like to watch it then please, just click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mCtQsBBvDA

It’s an enjoyable watch – get the popcorn out!

This coming Saturday afternoon, 19^th March, MfE’s three youth bands have their Easter concert – Bandtastic! – at West Bridgford Methodist Church. For an afternoon of great windband music, find out more on our website! Tickets will be available on the door: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/youth-bandtastic/

Musicals course (Saturday 23 April) and concert (Sunday 24^th April).
We are in the process of sorting out all the music for our Musicals course. If you haven’t signed up and would like to come along and sing some of the best music from well-known Musicals then it’s not too late! Just visit our website https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/ncm-come-and-sing/ download the attached form or give our office a ring on 0115 958 9312 – we would love to see you there.

The 75^th BAFTAs took place yesterday, celebrating the best in film from the past year.

Amongst the winners were several musical films, including brand new music and the remake of a classic!

You may well have heard of new animated film Encanto (almost definitely if you have children and grandchildren!) This gets a mention regularly in our office, here’s a catchy song from the film to keep your Monday afternoon going: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQwVKr8rCYw

Another big winner of the night was a story we all know well… the remake of West Side Story has received high praise and brings back those classic songs, including this one that needs no introduction! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoQEddtFN3Q

Did anyone else see the chihuahua performing a routine from Swan Lake at this year’s Crufts? (Yes, it really did happen…) They entered the ‘Heelwork to Music’ category, see a snippet here https://www.classicfm.com/composers/tchaikovsky/chihuahua-swan-lake-crufts/?fbclid=IwAR1QDWnj8bmHjF61j1vmnxeSwwPlgKWBbYkXkrkBek14fV_vDNeC6l_6-94

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

14/03/2022

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 24th January 2022

24th January 2022 Music for Everyone

This week saw all of our regularly rehearsing groups spring back into action! Four Daytime Voices choirs, two Daytime Orchestras, three Open Voices groups, one Flute Choir, one Swing Band, one Lunchtime Voices choir, one Chamber Choir, two Youth String groups and three Youth Wind bands! That’s approximately 500 people in one week. And all of them delighted to be back making music together.

Perhaps you weren’t aware of the wide variety of groups that MFE run on a regular basis. Do have a look at our website www.music-for-everyone.org to see information about all these groups and the upcoming youth and adult events.

In last week’s MFE Mondays we mentioned the Nottingham Festival Chorus workshop on Saturday 5th February. At the end of the workshop there will be free concert starting at 4:30 featuring music by Mendelssohn, Handel, Haydn and Faure. If you would like to attend, please order your pass by following this link https://www.music-for-everyone.org/nfc-concert-passes/

Many of us make New Year’s resolutions and often fail to continue them beyond the end of January! However, some people choose to make a musical New Year’s resolution. Here are a few examples –

“My goal in 2022 is to dedicate myself to practicing regularly for my weekly keyboard class so I can expand my musical horizons!” Project Manager

“My 2022 New Year’s resolution is to sing better even if it’s only the car or the shower.” Designer

“My music resolution is to play my trumpet regularly again. It’s just sitting in the case right now collecting dust. Thus year I’m going to get it back out and play more often!” Office administrator

“I don’t play any instruments, but I’m an avid music listener. My goal is to find a new artist to listen to every month this year.” Web developer

What will your musical resolution be this year? Do let us know.

Why not start the year off by testing your musical knowledge? This online quiz is great fun but might have you scratching your head on some of the questions – http://classicaltest.net/ Congratulations if you manage 100%!

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

24/01/2022

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMondays – 4th October 2021

4th October 20214th October 2021 Music for Everyone

Coming soon, our Big Youth Music Experience! Saturday 6th November (Wind band workshop) Sunday 7th November (Strings workshop) with a joint concert on Sunday 14th November at the Albert Hall, Nottingham!

If you know any young instrumentalists who might enjoy playing in an ensemble there is still time to sign up, music packs are coming out this week! Follow the link for full details: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/big-youth-music-experience/

If, like us, you’ve been enjoying glitz and glam of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, you may like to discover more about the fabulous musicians who bring the show to life.

Dave Arch and his orchestra are the musical backbone of Strictly Come Dancing, arranging and learning up to 14 songs a week for the celebrity dance show. Rarely seen on-screen, the 20-piece band have to master everything from orchestral suites to body-popping R&B! They only get together for a rehearsal on the Friday evening and then spend a very long day rehearsing with the dancers on the Saturday before the live show.

Follow this link to find out what goes on behind the scenes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20811167

So how much do you know about the dances on Strictly? Take our quiz to find out… https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/49604374

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

04/10/2021

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF