Nottingham Strictly Strings

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#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

#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.

#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

#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 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

#MfEMonday – 6th December 2021

6th December 2021 Music for Everyone

Yesterday was the first of our Christmas 2021 concerts, performed by MfE’s youth groups – the Nottingham Strictly Strings, Nottingham Youth Band and East Midlands Youth String Orchestra.

The groups performed the pieces they have been working on this term to family and friends – ending with an ‘Instant Christmas Concert’ piece for wind band, which includes FOURTEEN tunes in just over TWO minutes! Well done to all our youth members for a fantastic event!

Vote for us!!

For 12 days between 6th and 21st December, the Movement for Good are donating £1,000 to ten different nominated charities.

To nominate Music for Everyone, please click here and complete the short questionnaire. It shouldn’t take more than a minute, and could make a real difference to our work.

Our charity number is 1153412. Please select ‘Community’ from the drop down menu of charity types.

Thank you!

Today, the 6^th December, celebrates the day of St Nicholas – the patron saint of sailors, children, wolves and pawnbrokers.

Saint Nicholas was a Christian bishop of Greek descent, who was known for his great generosity and help he gave to the needy. After his death, the legend of his gift-giving grew. Saint Nicholas transformed into the legendary character called Santa Claus, who brings Christmas presents to children around the world.

The legend is he would leave presents in children’s shoes overnight, if they remembered to leave them outside their doors of course!

He became a bishop at the very young age of 30, and his anonymous gift giving grew from fulfilling his parents legacy, who were both devoted to serving the sick in fourth century Myra, now known as Turkey.

To really help get you in the Christmas mood, here are 30 of the best Christmas carols, according to Classic FM – is yours in this list? https://api.classicfm.com/discover-music/occasions/christmas/nations-top-30-christmas-carols/
MfE are performing some of these carols (with audience participation!) at their Christmas is Coming concert this coming Sunday, 12^th December. Tickets are still available and social distancing measures will be in place – book here to choose your seats (click the link)

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

06/12/2021

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAhfnv-tlss

#MfEMondays

6th September 2021 Music for Everyone

With the Paralympics coming to a close, this month we have a look at music and musicians at the Paralympics.

Japanese violinist, Manami Ito, undoubtedly brought the 2020 motto ‘United by Emotion’ to life in her show-stealing performance at the opening ceremony in Tokyo, and this isn’t even her day job! After losing her right arm in motorbike accident at the age of 20, Manami went on to defy the odds by not only becoming the first amputee nurse in Japan and competing as a swimmer in the 2008 and 2012 Paralympics, but thirteen years after her accident, with a new lightweight prosthetic arm and a specially made prosthetic bow, returning to playing the violin!

Welcome to the new look MfEMondays! Every week, we will be sharing interesting finds and a quick MfE update with you – we hope you enjoy it!

Our regularly rehearsing youth groups meet again from this week! If you know of any young musicians who are looking for an opportunity to join a group, please tell them about our FREE Come & Try sessions which are happening next week, see the flyer for more details.

At Bookwise Nottingham, we have acquired from donations a lot of Sacred and Secular Sheet Music for various groups of singers from Unison to SSAATTBB Single Choir with some Double Choir pieces. We are unable to sell them in the shop due to lack of space to display them. Some individuals whom I have met at MfE courses have taken some in the past. However, due to lack of storage space in the shop to store the music, we would like to offer the music to any interested groups or individuals, free of charge, asking them to make a donation to Bookwise Nottingham in return.
This offer will be open to anyone interested, MfE members, friends or acquaintances, up to October 16th when it is planned that the remaining items will be brought along. After that time, the music will be recycled. MfE have had access to the music, but it is surplus to their requirements. If you would be interested in seeing a list of the music, please contact me: Jane McDermott, Voluntary Music Manager at Bookwise Nottingham, E mail: jachmcd@gmail.com.

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

06/09/2021

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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#MfEMondays – Keeping in Touch

5th July 2021 Music for Everyone

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Hello everyone,

We continue to be making LIVE music!

Yesterday our youth band, Nottingham Youth Band and two youth string orchestras, East Midlands Youth String Orchestra and Strictly Strings gave a concert to family and friends in the garden of Middle Street Resource Centre. Sitting on blankets, garden chairs, under gazebos and trees an enjoyable time was had by all, despite a short ‘rain stops play’ time out!

A really big ‘thank you’ from us all to everyone who braved the weather to come and listen, to the conductors of the groups and of course, to all the young talented players who entertained everyone so well.

Here are a few photos.

Adults – we haven’t forgotten about you!

This coming Saturday we are holding our Blow the Dust off your Instrument workshop. We are full in all sections BUT if you are a viola player, a trumpeter or a descant recorder player we still have room for YOU! Full details about the workshop can be found on our website. https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/blow-the-dust-off-your-instrument-3

I always very much enjoy conducting Blow the Dust so I am particularly looking forward to this weekend – our adult instrumentalists making music together once again – terrific!

And in August we are holding our Annual Summer School. I’m sure many of you will remember our Virtual Summer School last year – our ‘In Person’ Summer school is even better! Full details can be found here – do come along and have a good sing or play.

https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/summer-school-2021

And finally – Bookwise

Jane McDermott has asked me to let you know that we have 3 large bags of Church Music looking for a good home. Attached are details.

With all best wishes

Angela

Taking DIY to a whole new level, French band Zic Zazou play the Wedding March on homemade instruments! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlbfwIuR5uQ

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

05/07/2021

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMondays – Keeping in Touch

21st June 2021 Music for Everyone

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Hello everyone,

Something positive – at last!

We have just had a wonderful weekend of LIVE music making!

Over 120 of our youth instrumentalists came along to Nottingham’s Albert Hall (wind band players on Saturday and string players on Sunday) and played a kaleidoscopic array of entertaining music. From Bizet’s Toreador March to Queen Greatest Hits, a Rameau Overture to Summer Stomp!! From 4year olds to late teens – they all had a great time.

A big THANKYOU to the conductors, helpers and MfE staff for making it such a great Covid secure musical success.

Here are a few pictures to give you a flavour of the event.

With all best wishes

Angela

How to prank a conductor in an orchestra and get away with it with a blast of the Imperial March in the middle of Prokofiev! https://www.classicfm.com/composers/prokofiev/imperial-march-orchestra-prank/

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

21/06/2021

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMondays – Keeping in Touch

26th April 2021 Music for Everyone

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Hello everyone

Last week saw our regularly rehearsing youth instrumental groups coming together and once again, making music!

Lots of happy faces and joyous sounds – these pictures give you a bit of an idea as to what went on!

(Nottingham Youth Band, West Bridgford and Beeston, followed by East Midlands Youth String Orchestra and Nottingham Strictly Strings)

And many of our adult singers had an enjoyable on-line rehearsal with ‘yours truly’ last Saturday morning. We were looking at the music we will be ‘bringing to life’ in Nottingham’s Albert Hall on Sunday June 27^th (Vaughan Williams, Purcell, Rutter and Holst) and with over 150 singers already signed up for this workshop day, it should be really special. We can accommodate up to 200 singers so if you haven’t signed up yet and would like to come along then just click here for more details https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/summer-singing-workshop-day

Have a good week

With all best wishes

Angela

In honour of a MfE birthday over the weekend, we thought we’d share not one, but SIX different versions of the Happy Birthday tune, in the style of Beethoven, Mozart and more! Have a listen and see which is your favourite at the YouTube link here. https://youtu.be/OaZveHbxAYs

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

26/04/2021

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF