YOUTH MUSIC

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 February 2023

20th February 2023 Music for Everyone

Tickets are still available for the Nottingham Chamber Singers’ Multitude of Voices concert at St Martin’s in Sherwood on 11 March. Join them as they dive into the rich, exquisite and relatively under-represented canon of choral works by female composers.

The concert, in the same week as International Women’s Day, will take the opportunity to celebrate 900 years of Passiontide themed motets, both reflective and uplifting from the 11th Century Abbess and Polymath Hildegard von Bingen through to the emerging and talented Kerensa Briggs (b.1991). Throughout the concert, acclaimed Saxophonist John Barker will be weaving transcendent melodies into and around our program, culminating in a second half performance of the beautiful Son of God Mass by James Whitbourn to ease you into Eastertide.

Click here for more information and here to book.

The youth groups are gearing up for a busy month of March, working towards their Mother’s Day concert on Sunday 19^th March at The Grange in Radcliffe on Trent, an instrumental treat for all! Click here for more information

We are really looking forward to welcoming 161 young instrumentalists to our Bandwise and Stringwise courses this weekend! After a weekend of being put through their paces by our crack team of experts they will then come together for a showcase concert at the Albert Hall on Sunday 05 March. We can’t wait to hear their joint performance of ‘Feelin’ Good’ arranged by our very own Josh Goodman. Perhaps most famously recorded by Nina Simone, it was first performed by Guyanese-British singer Cy Grant on the opening night of The Roar of the Greasepaint at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham on 3 August 1964!

Click here to find out what song was number one on the day you were born. The current range in the office is Fernando by Abba to I Owe You Nothing by Bros – but we’re not going to reveal who came out dancing to Abba!

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

20/02/2023

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

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

#MfEMonday – 30th January 2023

30th January 2023 Music for Everyone

Hello! If you thought January and February were cold and dormant months, then you’ve obviously never been in the office at MfE!

We’ve already had a busy and exciting Blow the Dust day and the youth groups fantastic New Year Concert, whilst our daytime groups have been up and running in full swing for two weeks. This week in particular is a special one for us, as it sees the culmination of the massive hard-work and effort that goes into the Nottingham Festival Chorus weekend. Part of the unique selling point of MfE is that we are able to give people the chance to be part of a large-scale musical event, accompanied by our fabulous full orchestra, without asking for vast time commitment in the run-up. Singers have been busily learning their notes from our carefully curated ‘CD practise tracks’, whilst some came along in person to our friendly sectional rehearsals in deepest darkest January. This past weekend saw the massed chorus meeting at NTU Clifton to look at their notes in detail with Angela Kay and Rachel Parkes, and we can tell you that the results were stunning. Much fun was had, and many different muscles – singing, brain and body (!) were stimulated. There were also many biscuits consumed!

We thought they sounded magnificent, and if you’d like to hear the results for yourself, make sure you book your ticket for Saturday 4^th Feb 7.30pm at the Albert Hall this week. **10% discount available for MfE members and all singers on the course.**

We hope to see you there!

As part of our varied programme of musical delights on Saturday, the choir and orchestra will be performing some of the spirituals from Michael Tippett’s Child of Our Time. These immensely moving works take their origins from African-American songs dating from the slave-trade. As we near Oscar season, we thought we’d leave you with some incredible examples of how these tunes have been used over the decades in movies on the big screen… perhaps you have some more examples for us, we always love hearing them!

O Brother Where Art Thou (2000) — “Down to the River to Pray”
The Apostle (1998) — “I’m a Soldier in the Army of the Lord,” “Nearer My God to Thee,” “There Is a River,” “In the Garden,” “I Love to Tell the Story,” “Victory Is Mine,” “There Is Power in the Blood”, “I’ll Fly Away”
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) — “Oh Happy Day,” “His Eye Is on the Sparrow”.
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Selma (2014) ‘Take my hand precious lord’
Harriet (2019)

Our next VOCALS workshop and concert for young singers is now open for booking! We’ll be celebrating songs from ‘around the world’ – take a look on our website for all the details: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/vocals-apr-2023/

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

30/01/2023

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.

#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

#MfEMonday – 16th January 2023

16th January 2023 Music for Everyone

It’s concert week for the MfE youth groups! The Strictly Strings, East Midlands Youth String Orchestra, Nottingham and East Midlands Youth Bands have been working hard over the Autumn term towards their New Year concert at Kingswood Methodist Church, Wollaton on Sunday 22 January, 3.30pm. Tickets are available in advance and on the door: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/new-year-concert/

The next MfE concert will be the Nottingham Festival Chorus performing Vaughan Williams ‘Toward the Unknown Region’ and featuring soloist Richard Cox on piano on Saturday 4 February at the Albert Hall, Nottingham. Definitely not to be missed! Book tickets and select your seats here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/nfc-concert/

The Lullaby Banks (in partnership with Inspire Music Hub) are back this term and looking forward to welcoming new mums and babies. If you, or someone you know, has a little one aged 0 – 9 months, the sessions are completely free and take place in Beeston and West Bridgford libraries. Booking is essential to guarantee a place as space is limited. https://www.inspireculture.org.uk/whats-on/the-lullaby-bank/

The two most popular New Year’s resolutions in the UK are to exercise more and improve fitness or improve their diet with more healthy eating.

Although we’re already halfway through January (who knows how long these resolutions last!) here’s a twist on a January diet for you… a musical diet especially for the first month of the year. Take 5 – 10 minutes each day to be an ‘active listener’ and enjoy this specially crafted playlist by The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jan/01/feed-your-soul-the-31-day-classical-music-diet-for-january-fiona-maddocks

Quick joke: Why couldn’t the string quartet find their composer?
Answer: He was Haydn…

Have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

16/01/2023

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/occasions/christmas/best-festive-classical-music/

#MfEMonday – 12th December 2022

12th December 2022 Music for Everyone

What an amazing concert yesterday to end such a Christmassy week for MfE! A great big WELL DONE to all the singers in Vocals and Nottingham Community Voices for a great performance and a special thank you to Santa for taking the time to drop by.

We have been getting into the festive spirit with this great playlist of classical Christmas favourites – perfect for tree decorating, present wrapping and anything else that requires an alternative to Chris Rea!

There are still a few places left for Blow The Dust Off Your Instrument! If you are looking at that cello in the attic, clarinet in the garage or trumpet in shed (don’t keep trumpets in sheds please) you have just a few days left to sign up for our 7th January BTD! All the info and how to book online is here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/blow-the-dust-off-your-instrument-3/

Stay warm and have a great week!

Your friends at MfE.

12/12/2022

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 7th November 2022

7th November 2022 Music for Everyone

Music for Everyone’s twice-annual mega youth event – The Big Youth Music Experience – kicked off its Autumn course with a bang this weekend. Over 150 young people, dozens of volunteers, five conductors, six instrumental tutors and many, many custard creams all assembled at South Notts Academy for a weekend of amazing music-making!

Bandwise 1 and 2 and Stringwise 1, 2 and 3 spent Saturday and Sunday preparing for next Sunday’s concert spectacular at the Albert Hall.

Tomorrow, November 7th, marks the 139^th Birthday of legendary British composer Arnold Bax. Why not celebrate with this gorgeous recording of his masterpiece ‘Tintagel’? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FX95ET4qSI

Incidentally, if you were interested in hearing this live, why not check out the Charnwood Orchestra’s concert on 26^th November! Details on the flyer.

Did you know that some new works by Vivaldi have been found? Musicologist Olivier Fourés has painstakingly reconstructed fragments of manuscripts found in libraries in Venice of works by composers including Antonio Vivaldi. The reconstructed works will be heard for the first time on an album coming out this month, featuring Ukrainian violinist Vadym Makarenko. Read the full story here.

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

07/11/2022

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/blow-the-dust-off-your-instrument-3/

#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 – 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

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9jqdVJI8zEG0hWyfYmdxp2Hs2Jep8tlBtMQZJDgdM15UQ0NIU083OEdWWkVIQURYT1ZHVTZNVlFPRS4u

#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