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 26th 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.

Johannes Brahms – Lullaby

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

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

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.

Congratulations to all who took part in yesterday’s Christmas is Coming concert at the Albert Hall! Everyone had a great time – even Father Christmas was impressed!

*BOOKWISE* Our bookshop in Nottingham (10 Goose Gate, Hockley) is open through December for all your book-buying-last-minute-present-shopping needs, including SUNDAYS! For December only, the shop will be open on Sundays from 11am – 3pm in addition to the usual opening hours (Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm)


Did you know that today is Saint Lucy’s Day?  Also called the Feast of Saint Lucy, it commemorates Lucia of Syracuse who according to legend brought food and aid to Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs, wearing a candle lit wreath on her head (do not try this at home) to light her way and leave her hands free to carry as much food as possible.

Her feast day, which coincided with the shortest day of the year prior to calendar reforms, is widely celebrated as a festival of light.  Falling within the Advent season, Saint Lucy’s Day is viewed as a precursor of Christmastide, pointing to the arrival of the Light of Christ in the calendar on Christmas Day.


  • Here are some truly awful Christmas jokes to get you in the mood for those Christmas crackers! Enjoy….

What is the Three Wise Men’s favourite Christmas Carol?
Oh Camel, ye Faithful.

What is a snowman’s favourite song?
Freeze a jolly good fellow.

Why did the choir have to cancel their carol concert?
They caught Tinselitis.

What’s the best present a musician could ever receive?
A broken drum.  You can’t beat it.

What do Baroque musicians do if they don’t like their Christmas presents?
Hand them Bach.

Why are sopranos so good at Christmas shopping?
They always manage to get descant prices.

What is a duck’s favourite Christmas Carol?
In the Beak Midwinter


Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

13/12/2021

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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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.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Hello everyone – Angela here again!

Well we have now moved to Step 3 of the easing of lockdown – hooray.

As you know, our first event is the Family Singing Afternoon this coming Sunday. Robin Reece Crawford, who many of you know, was recently interviewed on Radio Nottingham by Frances Finn.  She asked him about who was leading the workshop, how we were going to make the whole event Covid Secure, and most importantly, what were people going SING!

Click here to listen to the entertaining interview – it lasts about 5mins.  https://youtu.be/Tokn-S3tQIM

Wanted – a good home for a PIANO!

A lady has contacted MfE to ask if we know anyone who might like an upright piano – no charge, just needs to be collected.  If you are interested, then please reply to this email and we’ll put you in contact with the owner.

Short and sweet this week – have fun avoiding the showers!

Angela


  • MUSICAL FLASH MOB PART 3. This week’s video is from a group of Irish musicians entertaining Dublin visitors with an Irish jig, but it nearly gets ruined by a spoilsport security guard… or does it?! Watch the video here:

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

17/05/2021

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

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.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Hello everyone

I’m sure many of you would have heard the welcome news that, as from Monday 17th May, we will have all moved (if you live in England) from Step 2 to Step 3 in the lifting of Covid restrictions.

This is really good news for MfE and it means that our first planned event at the Albert Hall, our Family Sing Workshop has got the green light! 

This fun afternoon of singing is especially designed for children aged 5+ with their families – mums, dads, grandparents, carers, aunts and uncles – come and make a bubble!  And if you are an adult and would just like to come for a good sing then you would be made very welcome.

Let’s raise the roof of the Albert Hall with SINGING!!

Enrolling for the workshop is easy – just click here and follow the links. https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/family-sing-workshop/

Really looking forward to seeing many of you there.

Have a good week

Angela


  • MUSICAL FLASH MOBS PART 2. To celebrate Classic FMs 20th birthday in 2012, they surprised Morrisons shoppers with a performance of Zadok the Priest. Bet that would catch you off guard whilst picking up a loaf of bread! Watch the video here:

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

10/05/2021

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

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.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Hello everyone

Have you been enjoying your new ‘freedom’ and the lovely sunshine we have all been enjoying over the past few days? Are you ready for some live music making?

Well if the answer is ‘yes’ then we have lots on offer.

Our Family Singing Workshop Afternoon on Sunday 23 May is the ideal way to get everyone singing – click here for details. https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/family-sing-workshop

And the MfE Summer School 2021 (9 – 11 August 2021) is now open for enrolments!

Trent College, Long Eaton

The MfE Summer School is your opportunity to immerse yourself in three days of wonderful music making.  The outstanding facilities of Trent College, Long Eaton provide the perfect location for this inspiring musical experience. Workshop sessions will be led by MfE’s artistic team plus nationally recognised guest artists and conductors: Hilary Campbell, Richard Cox, Chris Swann, Sam Sweeney and Martin van der Brugge.  Click here for further details or download the attached PDF. 

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

As always, our website gives full details of all MfE activities.  https://www.music-for-everyone.org

With all best wishes

Angela


  • Watch this unique performance of The Swan from Carnival of the Animals… with Bill Bailey on cow bells!

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

19/04/2021

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

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.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Hello everyone

I hope you have all been enjoying today’s very welcome sunshine and also the first step ‘little steps’ in the relaxation of Covid regulations. Spring is definitely in the air and perhaps things are slowly getting back to some sort of ‘normal’.

Last week you should have all received a link to a YouTube message from me – if it didn’t arrive then just click here to see what I said! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLW4TmAnwDQ

And today, Chair of MfE, John Hess, has surrounded himself in Easter eggs and posted a message to you all.  Here is the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncct7–67BY

Our plans for youth activities continue to develop.  Details about our Youth Wind Band afternoon on Saturday 19th June and our Youth String Orchestra afternoon on Sunday 20th June are now available from our website.  This should be a great way to get young people back into playing so if you know anyone who might be interested then please do encourage them to come along.

Here is the link (click on the title of each event for more details): https://www.music-for-everyone.org/workshops-and-courses/

Next Monday is Easter Monday so MfEMondays is taking the day off!

Have a good Easter break.

With all best wishes

Angela


  • Online concert alert! Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky, performed by members of Sinfonia Viva in the atmospheric surroundings of Derby Museum’s Joseph Wright Gallery, all led by MfE Summer School tutor and Sinfonia Viva principal clarinettist Chris Swann. The concert is available until 23 April, here’s the link: https://www.sinfoniaviva.co.uk/Event/wind-quintet-performs-pictures-at-an-exhibition
  • To celebrate Bach’s birthday (31st March… although some debate it’s the 21st!) here’s something interesting we found! Some very clever musicians designed this ‘musical signature’ using just a single note. Did you know that the Germans use the notation H for what we would call Bb, so if you rotate this very clever image starting at the bottom and name the notes from the corresponding clef (treble, tenor and alto) it spells B A C H!


Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

29/03/2021

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

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.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Hello everyone

We have had a terrific response to our Summer Singing Workshop on Sunday 27th June –  100+ so far and still rising!  And our Blow the Dust off your Instrument day on  Saturday 10th July is not far behind.  Further information about both events can be found on our website – please do take a look.

Singing workshop – https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/summer-singing-workshop-day

Blow the Dust off your Instrument day – https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/blow-the-dust-off-your-instrument-3

And we have not forgotten about families and associated bubbles!  We are holding a Family Singing afternoon on Sunday 23rd May at the Albert Hall.  This is going to be a fun event for all to enjoy.  Click on this link to find out more https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/family-sing-workshop/

Please be assured that these events will follow all Covid Protocols.

And next week – the MfE Summer School – so much to look forward to!

With all best wishes

Angela



Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

22/03/2021

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

Like us on Facebook

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*Support us with easyfundraiser*

#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.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Hello everyone

I hope you are all keeping well, and with the children going back to school today, we are now all on the route map to normality – perhaps!

Looking to the future.

Our plans for workshops at the Albert Hall are coming together well.

Singing Day on Sunday 27 June – information emailed to all singers this coming Wednesday (10th March)

Blow the Dust off your Instrument Playing Day on Saturday 10 July – information emailed to all players this coming Friday (12th March)

Family Singing Afternoon on Sunday 23rd May – information coming out in next week’s MfEMondays (15th March)

Signing up for all these course will be via our website and will be a very straightforward process. 

Something to look forward to!  Keep your fingers crossed nothing goes wrong.

With all best wishes

Angela



Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

08/03/2021

admin@music-for-everyone.org

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

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.

Last weekend Music for Everyone celebrated two wonderful musical events.

DSC02171 copyThe first was over 100 Vocals! children singing their hearts out throughout their space themed concert in Nottingham’s Albert Hall, to the delight of the audience. The second, later in the day, was Sheku Kanneh-Mason winning BBC Young Musician of the Year, 2016. Sheku, aged about 6, along with other members of his family, played his cello in Music for Everyone’s Stringwise! Many congratulations, Sheku!

Music for Everyone wishes to recruit an energetic and enthusiastic Principal Youth Music Animateur. Details here. Although part-time, there is another part-time vacancy in the city’s music scene, and the two jobs could be combined.