#MfEMondays

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10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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#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 – 24th October 2022

24th October 2022 Music for Everyone

November is just around the corner, that must mean that MfE Christmas and 2023 events are now open for booking!

Concerts

Nottingham Chamber Singers present A Mystical Christmas at 3.30pm on Sunday 4^th December at St Mary the Virgin Church in Bunny.

Christmas is Coming! On Sunday 11^th December, members of the MfE ‘singing family’ come together for MfE’s annual Christmas concert at the Albert Hall, Nottingham, featuring a special appearance from Father Christmas! Children tickets are just £5 each.

Further details and ticket booking link for concerts can be found here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/whats-on/concerts/

Workshops/Courses

Christmas Vocals – open to all primary aged singers, a singing afternoon on Saturday 10^th December, then join the Christmas is Coming concert to perform on Sunday 11^th December! https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/vocals-christmas-is-coming/

Nottingham Community Voices – Christmas. Members of Daytime Voices and Community Voices are invited to join Vocals on Sunday 11^th December at the Albert Hall, Nottingham for MfE’s annual Christmas concert. Optional rehearsals from 28^th November, https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/christmas-is-coming-daytime-voices/

Blow the Dust off your Instrument Saturday 7^th January 2023

Nottingham Festival Chorus workshop weekend and concert 28/29 January & 4 February 2023

https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/nfc-course-weekend/

The Nottingham Festival Chorus will be celebrating the 150^th anniversary of Ralph Vaughan Williams in their next event, a singing weekend course and concert in January/February 2023, performing the stunning work Toward the Unknown Region.

The anniversary itself is being commemorated and celebrated throughout 2022 (our celebration comes a little later than the actual anniversary!) with October being the anniversary of his birth.

A champion of music-making in the community, he was a central figure to British musical life. His work The Lark Ascending is regularly voted the UK’s favourite classical work, and he was well known for writing for most major forms of genre in music, including film and stage.

Have a listen to brighten a rainy Monday to The Lark Ascending: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR2JlDnT2l8

Bake Off fever has hit the office again, we’ve been enjoying some musical puns linked to baking – this one in particular made us giggle!

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

24/10/2022

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 17th October 2022

17th October 2022 Music for Everyone

Call out for singers!

Josh and the Loughborough Daytime Orchestra are on the look-out for some keen singers to come and join their almost-Christmas concert on the morning of Tuesday 6^th December at All Saints Church Loughborough. This will be a chance to join MfE’s wonderful Loughborough Orchestra in some festive music and sing in one Leicestershire’s most historic and beautiful parish churches! Please contact us if you’re interested!

Choral Librarian

Following 15 years’ sterling work organising our vast collection of choral music, Jen Adams has stepped down as choral librarian. This means we are looking for a new volunteer to fill Jen’s rather large shoes (proverbially speaking, of course…) If you have an urge to organise, a desire to detail or a craving to catalogue, we want to hear from you!

As we approach the autumnal equinox on Friday, we are enjoying this gorgeous playlist of Autumnal-inspired music.https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/classical-pieces-inspired-by-autumn/

Horn Players – please see the attached flyer for British Horn Festival 2022, taking place in November in Birmingham!

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

17/10/2022

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 10th October 2022

10th October 2022 Music for Everyone

The Music for Everyone family would like to thank Robin Reece-Crawford for his contributions to the organisation over many years, as he has decided to leave his current role as Senior Adult Co-ordinator. Robin’s first involvement was as part of the first choral event (Verdi Requiem) in July 1983. He enjoyed singing in the East of England Chamber Choir for years and became a member of the core staff team over eight years ago. Robin has worked in various capacities within the charity and will be missed. Although he is stepping away from his current role he is looking forward to continuing to sing at festival choir events. Well done for organising a hugely successful event on Saturday with Brian Kay, which was a sell-out. We wish you all the best in your next chapter Robin!

Jen Adams has been volunteering with Music for Everyone for fifteen years. She has supported the organisation as choral librarian, she has catalogued all our music, doing a wonderful job. Jen has been singing with us for many years and will continue to sing. We look forward to seeing her at future events and would like to say a big thank you!

Both Robin and Jen were thanked formally at a presentation on Saturday at the NUT Clifton Campus in the middle of the Brian Kay event. We wish you the very best for your future endeavours.

What a fabulous way to spend a Saturday. Singers enjoyed a stimulating day of choral music with former King Singer, Brian Kay including works by Chilcott, Dyson and Vaughan Williams.

Instruments looking for a new home – do you know anyone who might like this clarinet or cello? For further details please contact su@music-for-everyone.org

Today is ‘World Mental Health Day’ so we thought it would be a good opportunity to shine a spotlight on the many ways that music can benefit our mental health and wellbeing. It has been found to reduce stress, manage pain, help us to sleep better, improve our motivation, enhance our mood and help reduce symptoms of depression.

According to the charity Mind, researchers found that music releases dopamine, the feel-good chemical in your brain. It also found that this feel-good chemical goes up 9% when listening to music you enjoy. Powerful stuff.

Music-making exercises the brain as well as the body, but singing is particularly beneficial. Here are some of the reasons that singing in a group is particularly good for our wellbeing:

Increases confidence and promotes creativity
Builds community and a sense of belonging
Combats anxiety and is a natural antidepressant
Strengthens immunity and cuts down on illness
Produces endorphins and makes you feel energised
Reduces stress and helps you sleep better
Teaches posture, improves breathing and gives your body a workout
Boosts circulation an can help you live longer
Improves morale and fosters a sense of achievement

No wonder then that social singing is now being prescribed by doctors! We totally approve so let’s get everyone singing!!

The insanely talented singer/songwriter Jacob Collier got his audience singing in 3 part harmony at a recent gig and the effect is spine-tingling: https://youtu.be/3KsF309XpJo

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

10/10/2022

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/classical-music-for-exercise-workout/

#MfEMonday – 3rd October 2022

3rd October 2022 Music for Everyone

We are really looking forward to welcoming Brian Kay back to conduct our Nottingham Festival Chorus workshop this Saturday. There are only a few spaces left for this marvellous opportunity to explore Bob Chilcott’s Dances of Time, George Dyson’s Three Songs of Praise and Vaughan Williams’ Linden Lea.

For more details click here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/autumn-singing-workshop-day/

Has this weekend’s marathon coverage inspired you to get active? If, like me, you’re a lifelong gym-avoider, perhaps these tunes chosen by ClassicFM will be the motivation you need to get moving!

And if high-octane cardio is not your thing, how about a bit of Erik Satie while you practice your downward dog, or some gentle stretches to one of Chopin’s Nocturnes?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NDyhOCetQg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p29JUpsOSTE

Research has shown that ‘Gonna Fly Now’ – the theme from Rocky – has proven to be a popular choice when exercising and helps motivate runners! Our young Bandwise and Stringwise players will be performing a special arrangement of this tune in the next Big Youth Music Experience concert in November! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioE_O7Lm0I4

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

03/10/2022

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 12th September 2022

12th September 2022 Music for Everyone

A message from John Hess, Chair of MfE Trustees:

MfE Founder, Angela Kay, the trustees and staff of “Music for Everyone” would like to extend our sincere condolences to the King and Queen Consort and the entire Royal Family, for their personal loss. We are deeply saddened at the news of The Queen’s death, and we join the nation in mourning Her Majesty’s passing and also in celebrating her remarkable life of service and duty.

After wide consultation and in line with official guidance, we intend to go ahead with our singing and music group activities next week and throughout the national mourning period.

However, there will be a minute’s silence of reflection at the start of each session, and MfE groups and activities on the day of The Queen’s funeral will be cancelled. The MfE office will also be closed.

On behalf of the MfE family, we offer the Royal Family our heartfelt condolences and share with them our grief at their loss.

As John has already mentioned, all regular groups will be starting rehearsals again this week, except for Loughborough Daytime Orchestra as All Saints Church is open to the public for quiet reflection this week.

The youth members met yesterday for an Activity Day to welcome everyone back to the new term, here are some pictures of our day, with rehearsals followed by a tram journey and Adventure Golf at Highfields Park!

Your friends at MfE.

12/09/2022

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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#MfEMonday – 5th September 2022

5th September 2022 Music for Everyone

Last Saturday over 30 recorder players took part in a wonderful playing day at Wollaton Hall. The day culminated in an informal outdoor performance in the courtyard – a real treat for visitors and players alike.

We are really looking forward to seeing you all back at the regular rehearsing groups that start back again next week. We are particularly excited to welcome new singers to our first Hucknall Daytime Voices rehearsal on Monday 12 September at the John Godber Centre. All dates, venues, timings and fees can all be found on our website here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/whats-on/adult-music/

Many people associate the recorder with memories of playing London’s Burning in a primary school classroom, but there is so much more to the humble recorder than meets the eye:

We are all familiar with the standard soprano, descant, treble, tenor and bass recorders, but did you know that the recorder family is even bigger: ranging from the Garklein recorder at only 16 cm long, to the Subcontrabass recorder at around 3 meters! The largest fully functioning recorder ever made was as tall as a giraffe! At 16 feet (5 metres), it has holes about 3.3 inches (8.5 centimetres) wide and is so large that despite being fully functional, it would be almost impossible to play correctly!
A recorder orchestra is a sight to behold due to the number of instruments needed. If you were going to put together a strict recorder orchestra, you would need at least 60 individual musicians and each of them would have to carry and play at least 9 different recorders, all different sizes, interchangeably. That’s at least 540 individual instruments!
Soldiers in the RAF who were held prisoner by the Germans during WW2 were given recorders to play to ease their time in prisoner of war camps.
Recorders ‘rock’! Paul McCartney integrated the recorder’s sound into a few of his solo works, but more notably, into the Beatles’ “Fool On The Hill”. Besides that, the recorder also features in the music of David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, and Lou Reed. Though plenty of rock stars used the instrument, not all of them were proud of it. Allegedly, Jimi Hendrix was so embarrassed to have played a recorder on “If 6 Was 9” that he asked for it to be listed as a flute on the album credits!

Free to a good home!
– 1 sheet music cabinet, 5 drawers. 75cm high 47cm wide.
– 1 piano stool. Adjustable, black padded seat.

Contact Liz Price at liz@air-receivers.co.uk or phone 07970789677

The CBSO Youth Orchestra is reopening auditions for our 22-3 Season in order to recruit more violins, violas, cellos, basses, horns, bassoons, percussion/timpani, and piano/celeste players. Register your interest to apply here:

The course dates are below and further information about the Youth Orchestra can be found on our website https://cbso.co.uk/take-part/young-people/youth-orchestra

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

05/09/2022

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 15th August 2022

15th August 2022 Music for Everyone

We had a great 3 days of music making at Summer School last week. You can find out what we got up and see pictures of the sessions and amazing guests we had on our blog page, there is a post for each day of Summer School: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/about-us/blog/

Announcing 2022/23 dates!

Details of courses, workshops and concerts are now available on our website for the 40^th Anniversary season. Information for regular groups (Daytime groups, etc) will follow soon including advance booking.

Website homepage with upcoming events in the Autumn: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/
Adult workshops & courses for 22/23: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/forms/
Youth workshops & courses for 22/23: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/workshops-and-courses/
Concerts in 22/23: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/whats-on/concerts/

The rain has finally arrived, bringing some much needed freshness to the air after the most recent heatwave. We decided to look at music inspired by rain, hoping a rain-dance would open the heavens sooner than expected!

Chopin’s Prelude Op.28 (‘Raindrop’) with it’s repetitive pulse through the texture is thought to sound like raindrops. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVau-JRGirg

An appropriately named piece The Welcome Arrival of Rain by Judith Weir, inspired by verse from the Hindu text ‘Bhagavata Purana’ – catching the sense of sudden rain and the renewal and growth that follows. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU4PBYjDtkw

And something a little different to finish, here is a choir making the sounds of a rain storm using their hands and feet, impressive! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29qaN0M0o0s

We’ve all heard music that has been described as ‘out of this world’… well here is something that was produced from out of this world! NASA have released a soundscape of the Butterfly Nebula, created from data taken from images – sounding strangely dreamlike! https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/videos/nasa-sound-butterfly-nebula/

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

15/08/2022

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 1st August 2022

1st August 202229th July 2022 Music for Everyone

Next week is MfE’s much anticipated Summer School. We are excited to be welcoming back from last year’s event, guest conductors Hilary Campbell for the singers, Robert Hodge for the orchestra and strings and Gill Henshaw for the wind band. We also have amazing guest artists Carmen Flores, Anthony Thompson and Simon Theobald to complete the line up!

We’ll be sharing the Summer School experience on our blog over the 3 days and look forward to seeing many of you there!

As all staff will be at Summer School (tea/coffee making calls!) the office will be shut from Monday – Friday next week. But we’ll be back in from Monday 15^th August to prepare for the new term.

Hearing your national anthem being played during a victory ceremony must be one of the most emotive moments of any sporting event. In preparation for the Commonwealth Games, 50 members of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra recorded new arrangements of all 72 anthems in an epic 3-day recording session at the CBSO centre in Birmingham. The anthems will be played during the gold medal victory ceremonies and must last between 60 to 90 seconds to ensure they fit into the flag-raising time. Arranger and conductor Philip Sheppard said, “The excitement and anticipation of the Games has most definitely been incorporated into these arrangements of the anthems and I cannot wait to hear them being played.”

If they are successful in winning gold, Team England will hear Jerusalem played as their flag is raised, but there are several nations who have chosen a much more familiar tune as their anthem. Bermuda, Montserrat, St Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands and Norfolk Island will all hear ‘God Save The Queen’ as their nation celebrates a gold medal.

Did you know the Commonwealth itself has its own anthem? Song for the Commonwealth – words and music by Simon Maw MBE – performed here by 53 members of the Commonwealth Children’s Choir and Musicians of The Household Division and dedicated to all the Children of the Commonwealth to celebrate the 90th Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9s6G3TWdho

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

01/08/2022

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/recorder-consort-day/

#MfEMonday – 25th July 2022

25th July 2022 Music for Everyone

We can’t quite believe that our final event of the season is almost upon us, but there is already much to look forward to from September, with our 40th Anniversary season!

For all you recorder players there is a special playing and performance day on Saturday 3rd September with the chance to perform in the beautiful surroundings of Wollaton Hall. For further details follow this link:

We are excited that Brian Kay (founding member of the King’s Singers) is leading a Choral Workshop on Saturday 8th October. Book early to avoid disappointment:

https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/autumn-singing-workshop-day/

And the ever popular Big Youth Music Experience is back in November!

Bandwise for all young wind, brass and percussion players: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-bandwise-2022/

Stringwise for all young string players: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/byme-stringwise-2022/

There will be lots more exciting events to come so keep your eyes peeled!

A short Monday Motivation today as I know many of us are winding down for the Summer!

On this day (25th July) in 1788, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart completed his Symphony No. 40. The precise date of completion of this symphony is known as Mozart kept a full catalogue of his completed works.

It’s incredible to believe that this was one of three symphonies that he rattled off within just a few weeks – the 39th Symphony completed 26th June and the 41st Symphony on 10th August.

Wow. So if that’s not motivation to be more productive over the Summer then I don’t know what is!!

Click here to have a listen to Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic with a short snippet from Symphony No. 40: https://youtu.be/0sGqkMU-mGQ

Or follow this link for the full four movements with the London Mozart Players: https://youtu.be/CJkUpFWAIm4

Calling young string players! If you’re aged 12-18 and are grade 4+ on violin, viola, cello or double bass, have a look at this event running in August… contact Ellie McLay for more details (email on flyer)

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

25/07/2022

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF