tune in' magazine autumn 2011

Autumn 2011 TUNE in 1

TUNE inVolume 15 Issue 1 November 2011

LANCASHIRE YOUTH GALA CONCERTS

ATL FOCUS

ON THE ROAD IN PENDLE

ABRSM MUSIC MEDAL SUCCESS

2 TUNE in Autumn 2011

Jean’s RetirementJean says goodbye after vover 20 years with our admin support team.

Arts Award SuccessArts Award pupils at Moor Park High work with their primary friends to gain their Arts Award.

GOG’s RetirementMike and Peter say goodbye after over 50 years collectively with the Music Service.

County Youth Gala ConcertsWe look back at the Gala Concerts given by the County Youth Ensembles and give you a flavour of the evenings.

ICreaTe Festival 2011Last term our ICreaTe Programme 2011 came to an end with a lovely concert of initiative original music performed by the students who composed them.

ATL FocusAfter talking to Keith Sagar last term we travel over to Chorley to have a chat with Josette Coupe ATL for the Chorley Area.

TUNE in: contents

Contents...

Cover StoryIn this edition

we look back at the Gala Concerts given

by the County Youth Ensembles and give you a

flavour of the evenings.

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Concert For TerryMusical Futures students perform in the second charity concert in aid of our colleague and friend Terry Kennah.

Pendle Schools’ FestivalStudents of Pendle Music Centre play a major role in the annual Pendle Music Festival.

Barnoldswick CE RoadshowKaren Hoyle takes her Wider Opportunities group on the road to perform to local schools.

New Online LearningBig changes are taking place with our interactive website, the pupils access is just the start.

Having Fun With Music Medals Catherine Goss gives her thoughts on the ABRSM ‘Music Medal’ exams

Big Guitar Day At HighamOver twenty young guitarists from the Pendle area came together to spend the day playing and rehearsing before finishing with a concert for their parents.

Next IssueA look at what’s coming in next term’s issue.

Just for FunWe have just included these comical little snippets for your entertainment, we hope they give you a little chuckle.

TUNE in: contents

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TUNE in: news in brief

TUN

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Another term and another academic year has dawned, they seem to come around so quickly these

days or is it because I’m getting older? The Music Service continues to grow, develop new initiatives and strives to meet the needs of all our schools in Lancashire. After all let’s not forget, that’s what we are, a service. Lancashire Music Service is here to provide a service schools, pupils and parents all over the county.

This is probably going to be one of the most important years for the service for quite some time. The Government’s announcement on its new National Plan for Music Education is imminent. This will usher in major changes in the way music education is delivered not only locally but in schools and music services throughout the country. As ever there will be more information included in this venerable publication in due course.

Talking about major changes within the service two venerable and elderly (but greatly revered) colleagues finally hung up their respective tutor books, Peter Read and

Mike Thomason took early retirement last term and by all accounts are having the time of their lives not venturing down stairs until 1.00pm at least! They are both

greatly missed but if you would like to have a look at a few final

images of the dynamic

duo

turn to page 8. And by the way, have a look at Peter in the Caption Competition

We continue with our series on featuring the Music Service’s Area Team Leaders (ATL). This term we focus on Josette Coupe who has recently taken up the post from Brendan Cleverley. Josette is finding her feet and settling in nicely, you can read about Josette’s story on page 17.

Our interactive site (www.lancashiremusicserviceinteractive.co.uk) continues to grow and develop. Just when you think it can’t get any better another raft of improvements come on stream. Over the coming months there will be hundreds of exciting new resources available for download; the pupil area has been completely revamped and our staff will be issuing information to all their pupils on how to get online. We will regularly update you on the progress but for now turn to page 24 to get a flavour on what is to come.

One thing you will also notice when you logon to our interactive site is that the Associated Board of the Royal Schools’ of Music have now placed their ‘Music Medals’ exams as interactive resources on the site. This is a fantastic linkup with the ABRSM and is quite a coup for our site; to mark this partnership the Music Service has purchased two hundred ‘Copper Music Medal’ codes enabling pupils taught by LMS staff to be entered totally free of charge. Some of you might be wondering exactly what are ‘Music Medals’? Turn to page 26 to get the lowdown from LMS teacher Catherine Goss and also what her pupils thought.

Once again there is so much going on and I’ve only touched the surface here. So get yourself a cuppa and have a look at what else we have for you in this edition. Our service to you continues there will be more to talk about next term but for now I hope your term is going well and continues to do so. Oh one final thing…. Have a great Christmas!

welcometo the autumn issue of TUNE in

Ti


TUNE in: jean’s retirement

After more than twenty years with the Music Service as part of our admin support team, Jean Taylor has decided to shut her computer down for the last time and head off for some lovely Cumbrian breaks.

Earlier this year saw the retirement of Jean Taylor from Lancashire Music

Service. Jean decided to take voluntary redundancy after over twenty years service. As a valued member of the Admin Support Team, Jean has been a vital member of staff, helping to develop systems and process which have enabled the service to develop and grow considerably since she joined the team.

At a small leaving party Jean commented that although in many ways she was sad to be leaving the service, as she had many fond memories of working with colleagues over the years, she was also looking forward to the future and having the opportunity to spend more time at her holiday retreat in the North Lakes.

Jean’s Retirementwe say goodbye to jean taylorby Tim Rogers

As a thank you gift Jean was presented with a digital camera in order for her to capture some of those special moments. I’m sure you will all have your own memories of Jean and we wish her every happiness in the future.

Below: Jean with her retirement gifts.

Middle: Jean with the rest of the admin support team.

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Ti

Now don’t drop her lads!

Arts Award Successfor Moor Parkby Neil Aspinall


TUNE in: moor park

Since the success of the Arts Award back in 2010, pupils of Moor Park Business and Enterprise School have been working hard on their Bronze Award. The final part involves the pupils “becoming the teacher” so youngsters from one of Moor Park’s feeder primary schools namely Deepdale Junior popped in to have a go with all the Musical Futures kit.

Following the Musical Future’s Arts Award success of 2010, Moor

Park Business and Enterprise School Preston has again topped this with even more success in 2011.

Fifteen pupils who attend the Musical Futures sessions every Tuesday have been working their way through the Bronze Award assisted and advised by trained Arts Award Advisor and Music Service teacher Neil Aspinall and Moor Park’s Head of Music and Drama Claire Holden.

The final part of the Bronze Award involves the pupils “becoming the teacher” so the pupils decided to invite pupils from Deepdale Junior School, in particular those who were in their final year and due to start at Moor Park in the new School year.

Neil commented “It was a great idea to invite the youngsters from Deepdale as it not only gave them a flavour of High School life but introduced them to the Musical Futures programme”.

Claire said “The pupils chose to teach the youngsters how to play and sing the Kings Of Leon song “Use Somebody” and planned the whole session from start to finish, they ran a carousel style lesson on each instrument including vocals and ended the session with a fully live version of the song”.

All the pupils from Deepdale said they had had a fantastic time and would definitely be coming to the Tuesday sessions from September.

Neil has been part of an Arts Award National pilot which will see The Young Peoples Arts Award being made available to seven

to eleven year olds in April 2012 and which Neil believes will add value to Wider Opportunities and be an aid to transition from Junior to High School. Neil will provide more details once the pilot has finished and the results collated however he says it promises to be an exciting development and one that Lancashire Music Service has been “instrumental” (excuse the pun) in piloting and shaping.

‘Tune In’ will continue to feature regular updates on the new award and if you have any Arts Award success you would like to share and see featured then simply get in touch.

If you are interested in delivering the Arts Award or would like more information Neil will be more than happy to discuss it with you, just give him a ring on 07931 161722. Ti


TUNE in: moor park

Above: Moor Park singers with pupils of Deepdale Primary School.

Above right: Performing one of thier many

songs.

Right: Having a drum lesson, “this is a little more difficult than I thought”!


TUNE in: GOG’s retirement

GOG’s Retirementfor mike & peterby Mike Thomason

Two of the Music Service’s most senior Managers and colleagues retired last term. Mike Thomason and Peter Read have collectively over fifty years of experience with the Music Service. Mike and Peter have seen many changes over the years from the early instrumental peripatectic days to where we are today as a modern forward thinking Music Service. We wish Mike and Peter all the best and a long and happy retirement.

Above: The Old Gits band playing some funky tunes! Above right: Mike and Peter show off thier stylish new jackets.


TUNE in: GOG’s retirement

Last term saw the departure of a number of staff from Lancashire Music Service, including two of the

Senior Management Team Peter Read and Mike Thomason. I know that both colleagues were highly respected by the staff and schools they have worked with. Totalling over 50 years combined service both Peter and Mike have been at the forefront of developing and shaping Lancashire Music Service undoubtedly making the outstanding organisation that it is today. As the final days of their service drew close a plan was hatched to ensure their departure was suitably marked. These are their comments from the event.

We should have known that our cunning plan to disappear quietly into the sunset when we retired from LMS would be thwarted. Being typical GOG’s (grumpy old gits) we had told ‘those who needed to know’ that when we left we didn’t want any fuss but we should have saved our breath because we were treated

to a wonderful leaving ‘do’. Friends and colleagues from over the years seemed to appear from nowhere to enjoy the food, drink and camaraderie. Proceedings became a little more serious as the obligatory speeches were made providing a brief interlude for reflection and a short history of the music service. A buoyant mood was soon established as the Brass Riveters brass ensemble made a guest appearance including an elderly gentleman dressed as a 1950’s pensioner bearing a remarkable resemblance to Peter!

We would like to thank everyone for organising and attending our last official event with LMS. We greatly appreciated the many cards, gifts and best wishes we received which sent us on our way with a smile on our faces, a spring in our step and many happy memories.

Best wishes for the future to you all and don’t forget – the GOG’s are watching!

Above: Tim Rogers (Head of Service) extols the virtues of Mike and Peter’s time with the service.

Right: Mike and Peter treat us to one of their world famous monologues.

Ti


Over the academic year our County Ensembles tend to have quite a busy schedule of

rehearsals, courses, concerts throughout the County and possible summer tours abroad not to mention entry to the Music for Youth Festival. This obviously varies from year to year but this pattern has developed over the years and is now more or less set, not in stone I might add as special events do come along during the year.

For instance twelve months ago the Lancashire Youth Symphony Orchestra took part in a huge concert at Preston’s Guild Hall inspired by the ship ‘Titanic’. ‘The Wreck of the Titanic’

composed by David Bedford was specially commissioned for the centenary celebrations to commemorate the sinking of this iconic ocean going liner.

Another major event happened last March when the Lancashire Youth Jazz Orchestra gave a stellar performance again at Preston’s Guild Hall to an invited audience when the Jazz Orchestra was joined on stage by special guest internationally renowned saxophonist Ian Kirkham. For those of you who might not immediately recognise the name, Ian is Preston born, is an ex-member of the

Continuing our look at Lancashire Music Service’s County Ensembles, in this edition we give you a little insight into the commitment schedule that culminates in the end of year Gala concerts. We have a number of lovely photographs from the different concerts that took place last July and last September.For more information on any of our County Ensembles please contact Ann Connal on 01257 517108.

continued on p12

County Ensembles: gala focus

These Gala concerts are a great way to finish the year

off, as at them it has become a tradition for us to say goodbye

to the students leaving the band to continue their studies at their respective universities

or music colleges.

Gala Focus County Ensembles end of year concertsby Stuart Grills


TUNE in: titanic concert

Gala Focus County Ensembles end of year concertsby Stuart Grills


continued from p10

County Ensembles: lsso focus

LYJO and was the sax player with Simply Red from their formation until they retired as a band earlier this year. So you see our County Bands do have quite a variety of events and concerts.

One of the concerts that has become a regular event however and is always looked forward to by band members is the end of year Gala concerts that take place either late July or early September. These Gala concerts are a great way to end the year, as it has become a tradition for us to say goodbye to the students leaving the band to continue their studies at their respective universities or music colleges. These concerts also herald the movement of musicians from the Schools’ Bands to take their places in the Youth groups.

Last July the LYSO and LSSO gave their Gala concert at the Guild Hall in Preston. Both groups performed superbly making the evening a great success. The LYCB and LSCB gave their concert at the


County Ensembles: lsso focus

All photographs taken during the recent Gala concerts that were performed last July and September.

Marine Hall in Fleetwood again back in July; Mr Peter Mileham the High Sheriff of Lancashire was in attendance and judging by the smile on his face he thoroughly enjoyed himself. Early September saw the Lancashire Youth Jazz Orchestra perform in Lancaster to a capacity audience that were enthralled by the band’s high energy performance. The LYJO is the only one of our County Ensembles that performs its final concert in September and it always amazes me that the six or seven week break doesn’t seem to make any difference to their performance.

Have a look at the accompanying photographs of the concerts, all of us here at the Music Service wish all the best to the students who have retired from their respective bands. If you fancy have one of our County Ensembles perform at your school or in a fund raising concert contact Ann Connal on 01257 517108. Ti


ICreaTe Festival 2011final concert of the ICreaTe programmeby David Ashworth

ICT: ICreaTe festival 2011

On the 6 July the ICreaTe 2010-11 projects came to a magnificent climax in a showcase

performance at Walton le Dale High School.The concert featured two strands. First

there was a presentation to the winners of the ICreaTe composition competition. This was the brainchild of Lancashire Music Service’s Francis Ajiteru. Young people across the county were set the challenge of composing an original piece of music using computers. This competition attracted a large entry of around 50 submissions and the range and quality of the work produced was gratifyingly high. Extracts from some of the winning entries were played during the presentation, including live performances from winning entries by students from Wennington School.

The winners were as follows:

Key Stage 31st Award Jake Russell (Wennington) 2nd Award James Manley (Carnforth) 3rd Award Aisha Sulemain (Moor Park) Special Award Liam Burgon, Danny Nuttall (Wennington) Avtar Singh, Usamah Ingar (Moor Park)

Key Stage 41st Award Liam Heys (Hutton) 2nd Award Sam Horrock (Upholland) 3rd Award Rebecca Brown (Hutton) Special Award Jake Berry, Curtis Bolton, Jacob Furnell (Upholland)

The second half of the concert featured a performance given by students who had attended the ‘Build a Rocket’ project. This comprised of intensive weekend rehearsals exploring some of the songs from Elbow’s latest album ‘Build a Rocket Boys!’ The ensemble performed scarily accurate versions of these songs with great panache – and even found time to perform a song



they had written themselves, inspired by this great album. The performance brought

together a range of classical and rock instruments, ably supported by innovative use of music technology. Considerable emphasis was put on the singing element and the band was fortunate enough to have several gifted singers who sang beautifully in solo and ensemble.

Where Next?Building on the success of last year,

we are now taking things up a level. Many schools are now involved in preparing entries for the Next Brit Thing competition. In this national event the organisers are

continued on p16

exploring some of the songs from Elbow’s latest album ‘Build a Rocket Boys!’ The

ensemble performed scarily accurate versions of these songs with great panache – and even found time to perform a song they had

written themselves,



looking for the best young musicians from across the UK in all styles of music. There are 3 main awards: General - e.g. Pop/Rock/Urban/Jazz/Folk Classical Song Writing & Composition

Prizes on offer are:A Next BRIT thing award VIP tickets to the BRITs/Classic BRITs An industry showcase gig organised by the BRITs

Voting opens in October and will run until December, so make sure you place your votes for your favourite tracks from Lancashire. Go to www.nextbritthing.com to find out more.

Other ICT related projects in the planning stages are:A heritage project for Preston Guild 2012Multimedia cross arts performance at Holy Cross School

If you would like to find out more about any of this work and/or get involved, please get in touch.

continued from p15

Below: All the performers pose together after the concert.

Ti

ATL Focus Josette Coupeby Josette Coupe


TUNE in: atl focus

The third interview in this series focusing on Lancashire Music Service’s Area Team Leaders (ATL), we talk to one of the newest ATL’s Josette Coupe who has just been appointed as ATL for the Chorley Area. Josette took over from Brendan Cleverley.

Q: When did you start with the Music Service?

I began working for the Lancashire Music Service in 1982 before having my children and then returned part time when Nicola and Simon started school so I have been with the service for about 28 years.

Q: What’s your instrumental specialism?My primary instrument is the trombone but

I teach all brass instruments.

Q: What made you want to play the Trombone?

Fate really, it was the only instrument left in the school store-cupboard but when I started to play I soon realised it was the instrument for me.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your early experiences in playing the Trombone?

I was taught by the late Tom Mitchell who was a true inspiration. Many of his pupils are still playing in local bands. I joined the Preston Youth Band at the age of thirteen and was introduced to the contesting circuit, winning my first contest at Fleetwood Marine Hall with the epic piece by Eric Ball ‘Resurgam’. I studied at Salford and gained my teaching qualification at City of Manchester Collage.

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One of the sax players in Josette’s wind band.


TUNE in: atl focuscontinued from p17My first ensemble experience was with brass bands and I have played with many, including Brindle, Trinity Girls, Goodshaw, Marsden, Blackpool Brass and Lostock Hall. I now prefer big band trombone and play regularly in two bands, this helps to keep my ‘lip in’!

Q: You are one of the Music Service’s senior members of staff; will you give us a breakdown on your experiences over your time with the service?

Times have changed a great deal since I began. Children were not pulled in as many directions as they are now. Like today schools were served by the Music Service but back then most children were offered lessons free so it truly was ‘Wider Opportunities’ back then.

Q: I think it’s safe to say that the trombone is an endangered instrument, by that we mean that there are not many youngsters taking it up. How would you encourage a young musician to choose the trombone over another instrument?

I think that the pupil has to be introduced to the trombone at an early age and this should be backed up by demonstration. Let them hear how great it sounds and of course give them the opportunity to listen to artists. Make playing the trombone ‘cool’ and you will win them over. Show them that you are having fun playing and it’s a great way to meet new friends and see the world.

Q: You have just taken over as the Area Team Leader (ATL) for the Chorley and District Region of Lancashire; can you briefly give us your thoughts on how you see your region developing?

More links with the community is vital to keep the life blood of music making in Chorley, which has a wealth of music in the form of singing groups and local bands and we must enhance this and work together,

not in competition with each other. We all know that the more a student plays, the better they will become. It’s a social activity and this is just as important as the skill in learning an instrument. The challenge for ALL staff who teach in this area is to instil in the pupil the joy of playing so that they will want to improve and more importantly, want to join the many activities at the Music Centre. Whilst maintaining traditional ensembles, it is important to also offer a more diverse, multicultural experience and embrace other cultures.

Q. What is the most satisfying part of your job?

Seeing a child blossom into a fine player, it’s always a joy to watch a child perform and think that you’ve played a part in the outcome. Also when a pupil embarks on a musical career and is awarded a place in one of the top music academies, this gives me a great sense of pride. Basically giving children opportunities that open doors for them.

Q: Finally you also work as a sectional tutor with the Lancashire Youth Brass Band; please can you give us your thoughts on our County Ensembles and especially the Youth Brass Band?

The Lancashire Music Service creates paths from that first blow in the primary school, to High School bands, Music Centre ensembles and then on to the County Ensembles that provide the experience needed to gain a place at Music College if they wish. It’s nice to see that many of our staff have gone through all these channels and are now giving back to the service with their expertise.

Seeing a child blossom into a fine player, it’s always a

joy to watch a child perform and think that you’ve played

a part in the outcome.

Area Team Leader: Josette Coupe

Ti


TUNE in: atl focus

There is a wide range of activities at the Chorley Music Centre including tuition and ensembles that cater

for all instrumentalists..


Musical Futures: concert for terry

Musical FuturesConcert For TerryWhat is now becoming an annual event, the second “Concert for Terry” was held at Albany High School in Chorley last term on the 7 July. Next year’s concert is already in the early planning stage, we will bring you details of that concert later in the year but for now here is a small number of photos from last term’s very enjoyable evening. A fantastic rocking time was had by all!

The performers pose for a group photo after the concert. Above: Various groups show off their talents.


Musical Futures: concert for terry

The story so far!this is the second year of this special event and next year is already being organisedby Ian Gray

As many young (and not so young) musicians in the county will remember

only too well, our great friend and valued colleague Terry Kennaugh was taken from us, well before his time.

Terry was a real character and many of us resolved to keep his name, and the spirit of his work, alive in the minds of all that knew him. Also we wanted those involved in Musical Futures to know how instrumental he was in the establishment of this popular initiative across the county’s schools.

Our ‘Concert for Terry’ this year was held at Albany High School, Chorley on the 7 July and saw young musicians from many schools involved in the Musical Futures initiative coming together for a thoroughly enjoyable band night – pupils performing for each other and sharing their newly acquired band skills was a concept very close to Terry’s heart; he organised many such nights and would have thoroughly enjoyed this one.

As usual, there was no admission charge, but a retiring collection yielded an appreciable amount to be given to Pancreatic Cancer charities.The legend lives on.

Schools taking part were – • Great Arley School, Thornton• Cardinal Allen, Fleetwood• Hodgson High, Poulton• Southlands High, Chorley• Hutton Grammar• Mount Carmel RC High,

Accrington• Parklands High, Chorley• Carnforth High

As this event is proving so popular we plan to hold the next ‘Concert for Terry’ in the summer term 2012, we will bring you more details in due course. If you would like further information about getting involved with this event or our Musical Futures Programme please contact me (Ian Gray) on 07792 410434. Ti

Terry Kennaugh during a recording session.


The Pendle Schools’ Festival has been running for many years, and lasts for a whole week. Primary and

High Schools from all over Pendle take part in this non-competitive festival of music, drama and the arts and each evening of the week contains a huge variety of performances, from ocarinas to French plays, and from choirs to samba bands. Staff from the Music Service are regularly there on different nights of the week with different schools and the Pendle Music Centre Ensembles usually perform on the Friday evening, having had their rehearsals on Thursday.

On the night that the Music Centre performed, our large ensemble was the first on the stage to kick the evening off! We played a suite of pieces for strings (with keyboard and guitar parts arranged) by Katherine and Hugh College. The piece was a resounding success; one of the movements was specially arranged for a small group of the most advanced players so that they had the opportunity to demonstrate their skill.

Our beginner ensemble also played a variety of pieces, and to the parents of the children who had only started playing last September the progress was evident for all to hear! The beginner ensemble was started two years ago by Anna Morgan but because of illness has been taken over in her absence by Carol Palmer and Vanessa Humphryes. They have done a great job with the group this term, supported by Chris Waddington and Sue Wall, and really did themselves proud.

The rest of the evening was a perfect example of the fantastic variety that the Festival produces. There was some lovely singing by the infant choir from Barnoldswick CEP (the juniors having performed on Tuesday), music and singing from Blacko School, a play about how schools have changed since ’grandma’s day’ from Kelbrook Primary and two solo dance pieces performed by girls from Pendle Community High School, a special school in Nelson.

All in all Pendle Music Festival 2011 lived up to the superb festivals that have gone before, everyone had a wonderful evening, here’s to Pendle Festival 2012.

Music Centres: pendle schools’ festival

Pendle Schools’ Festivalpendle mc at the festivalby Karen Hoyle

Once again the Pendle Music Centre was part of the annual Pendle Schools’ Festival, a number of the centre’s ensembles performed on the Friday concert.

Ti


The idea for a performance event of some kind came when Chris Waddington

and I realised that between us we taught over forty children at Barnoldswick CEP (usually known as Church School Barnoldswick). Chris teaches three hours of guitar there, while I teach violin, keyboard and the Wider Opportunities Programme within the school.

The original idea was to run an evening concert at the Rainhall Centre in Barnoldswick which would include all our instrumentalists and the school choirs but a suitable date was never found so the ‘Roadshow’ idea was born!

Having secured funding for a coach from Tim Rogers (Head of Service), I contacted two other Primary Schools in Pendle – Kelbrook Primary and Primet Primary – to asked if they would like a free concert by the pupils from Church School; an offer that was welcomed with open arms. Primet was also able to offer our pupils space to eat their sandwiches and have a run around in the playground at lunchtime.

The 22 June dawned, and Chris and I descended on Church School at 8.30am ready for a rehearsal at 9.00am - the only rehearsal we would have to put together the items we had been practicing with our pupils. At 10.00am Chris and I, along with the Year 3 class teacher and two teaching assistants, walked thirty nine Juniors to meet the coach, carrying six music stands, three keyboards (with stands), two extension leads, twenty five recorders, twelve guitars and eight violins!

Kelbrook Primary was our first venue. They made us very welcome, and the whole school fitted into the hall to hear our forty minute performance of music from Shakespeare’s time through to the present day. Our pupils presented duets, solos, medleys and ensemble music; a real variety that was greatly appreciated by the audience. Our pupils really enjoyed playing to a different audience and were on quite a ‘high’ as we got back onto the coach to head to our next venue.

We arrived at Primet Primary School in Colne just before lunch

Wider Opportunities: barnoldswick ce roadshow

Barnoldswick CE Roadshowprimary school pupils hit the roadby Karen Hoyle

and they provided us with free run of their infant department for the whole lunchtime, including an enclosed playground and ensured that the staff had a cup of tea and coffee, we couldn’t have been looked after better. The pupils from Church School really enjoyed the different environment to play in and the opportunity to play with the infant dressing up clothes!

We played at 1.30pm, a repeat of the morning’s performance, and again the audience was very responsive and appreciative. We got back on the coach at about 2.30pm and headed back to school for a press photograph and home time. We had all found the day tiring, particularly having to carry all the equipment in and out of the schools, but the children had had a great day and were excited and happy as they were telling their friends about it. The children represented Church School very well in their behaviour and their playing and both the schools we visited were impressed by the standard of music we performed – a positive experience for all.

Pupils from Barnoldswick CE Primary School hit the road last term to show off their musical talents to other schools in the area.

Ti


ICT: eLearning website

Imagine you are a pupil coming home after your lesson. You log on to your

online learning space, type in the code your teacher has given you, and there, ready and waiting for you, are all the elements of your lesson. If you’re a complete beginner, you can watch a video

that reminds you how to assemble your instrument, or one that reminds you how to hold it, or how to form a good embouchure. If you learnt a piece in your lesson, there it is. After you’ve played it through once or twice, you can loop that difficult 3-bar passage to practise it repeatedly. If you’re like some people we know, you’ll click on the metronome and make the piece play faster, and faster and faster until you fall off, satisfied. You can use the mixer to take out the main instrument, the accompaniment or the rhythm section; or any combination. You can turn the fingering animation on or off; you can look at the note names – or turn them off. But every time you’re playing the piece, you’re also practising it, strengthening muscles, building up your embouchure or stamina, discovering what you and your instrument can do. You can give a performance to your parent/carer,

or give them a lesson in how to play what you’ve just performed. And when you’ve finished all that, you might like to do a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire music quiz, watch a video of an expert playing your instrument, or listen and watch an archive recording of something relevant (or irrelevant!) to your instrument.

Lancashire Music Service is making this innovative online learning feature available to all its pupils as part of a commitment

to providing high quality learning opportunities for the children and young people of Lancashire.

For children and their parents/carers, accessing the new online pupil learning space its simple:1. Go to the home page, click on

Pupil Login and then click the Sign Up button.

2. Then enter your details in the spaces provided.

3. In the box marked Teacher Code enter the code which will be provided in a letter

New Online Learningmajor new feature for our interactive websiteby Mark Burke

Young people and the internet go hand-in-hand. Children work and play on the web, and now it can help them get the most from their music practice, too. This term sees the launch of a new online pupil learning space on the Music Service’s digital learning website www.LancashireMusicServiceInteractive.co.uk.

After you’ve played it through once or

twice, you can loop that difficult 3-bar

passage to practise it repeatedly.

The new ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ feature is a hit with everyone.


ICT: eLearning website

from your teacher. If you are a Lancashire Music Service teacher with professional access to Lancashire Music Service Interactive you will find a printable copy of this letter in the Community part of the website in the Documents section.

4. Next pick an instrument from the grid in order to access resources suitable for your instrument.

All done! You will now be logged in and can begin learning online. If any extra help is needed, click the Help option at the top of the screen. E-safety is a priority for the Music Service. While children watch, listen, learn and play, there is no online communication between users of the website making the pupil space 100% safe and secure.

Online Learning Space Features

The two main areas are the ‘Homepage’ and the ‘From my teacher’ pages. On the homepage, pupils can use a series of online workbooks containing SMILE pieces for their instrument. SMILE stands for Scored Music ILustration Environment. It is a unique multimedia format that presents practice pieces in a way that enables pupils to see and hear what they need to play and to slow down and loop sections of the piece to help practice. As well as the SMILE pieces the workbooks contain helpful videos, quizzes and cartoons to support wider learning. On the ‘From my teacher’ page children can load personalised lessons from their teacher. These will usually be lessons containing SMILE pieces, videos and other resources which are directly linked to what children are learning in particular lessons or for concert preparation.

Other features of the online learning space include new interactive ABRSM Music Medals assessments. These practice assessments are an excellent way to practise for real life assessments or simply to measure progress against an internationally

recognised benchmark. Elsewhere, a partnership with Millionaire

for Schools has enabled us to create lots of instrumental and curriculum music quizzes based on the popular TV quiz. These are

educational and lots of fun to play with friends and family.

Lancashire Music Service Interactive and the digital learning partnership between the Music Service and Charanga Music continue to grow in strength. We are constantly striving to support music teaching and learning in new and exciting ways and to use innovative technology as a tool in helping to achieve that goal.

If it’s a while since you logged in to www.LancashireMusicServiceInteractive.co.uk why not take a look now. You’ll see lots of new content plus a range of supporting DVDs that are available for free as part of your website licence. If you need help with anything feel free to email [email protected].

E-safety is a priority for the Music Service. While children watch, listen, learn and play,

there is no online communication

between users of the website making the

pupil space 100% safe and secure.

Below: Example of a SMILE excercise and the new Pupil Workbook page..

Ti


TUNE in: music medals

Having fun with music medals...lms teacher loves abrsm examby Catherine Goss

I was really pleased to be offered training to become a Music Medals Teacher-Assessor at the January Inset day 2011.

For me it was one of the most useful things we have achieved through Inset training: I had been watching the development of ABRSM Music Medals, but not yet found the time to do the training, so I was looking forward to using the format with pupils. The children at Over Kellet Wilson’s Endowed CE Primary School were ideal candidates: keen to work towards assessments, but not yet ready to take Grade exams. The timetable was also full, with a lot of players to fit into limited lesson times (quite normal, of course) so that taking individuals through Grade exams would have been challenging.

Music Medals are designed to cope with this situation perfectly, allowing for individual assessment within the class/group teaching format and I’m pleased to say that the children, and the school, embraced Music Medals with enthusiasm and energy and we had a great time doing them. This is our story.

Music Medals are assessments and teaching resources. They aim to provide motivation from the very beginning of learning an instrument providing a goal to work towards; a tangible reward (i.e. the medal, which is a nice colourful enamelled lapel pin suitable for wearing with school uniform, the certificate, which can be framed and hung on the wall at home, and a commentary giving an encouraging description, albeit computer generated, of the pupil’s performance); a sense of achievement (visible to the school, the parents, other pupils and heads of service!); and NOT LEAST, a framework and a wealth of resources to work with.

I always find it inspiring to work with new

material, especially when it proves to be really good quality, really useful and easily accessible for the children. For me, the Music Medals material is the best stuff I’ve worked with since Richard Duckett’s Team Woodwind/Brass/Strings series and maybe Heather Hammond’s Funky Flute books.

So starting in January, we (the pupils and I) had three tasks to accomplish: to learn a solo; to learn an ensemble piece and to choose an “option” from the musicianship tests.

I was new to the school so the first few weeks were very much about getting to know the children, their abilities and aspirations, and about them getting used to me. During this process I got a really good idea of which medal would be appropriate for which child, and as usual, the abilities within groups were quite varied. This is where Music Medals shine! The ensemble material is so flexible that you can have different combinations of ability level in the same group. The teacher assessor can also chip in with a line if

Lancashire Music Service woodwind teacher Catherine Goss gives us the lowdown on her experience with the ABRSM Music Medals exams. Initial after a little apprehension she now loves the exams.

I always find it inspiring to work with new material,

especially when it proves to be really good quality,


TUNE in: music medals

needed (or if someone is away on the crucial day!!). The choice is remarkable and even the easiest (copper) medal material sounds effective. The children quickly decided which pieces, and which lines in the ensembles they liked and got on with practising with enthusiasm!! All of them!!

I was very lucky that the school had decided to purchase a quantity of the ensemble books that the children could borrow while they did their chosen medal. However there are ensemble options from all the common tutor books, so purchase of special material is not always necessary. As for the solos, these children had already been working from the Abracadabra series, but, in any case, you’d be hard pressed to find a tutor book that did not contain one of the choices of solo pieces for each medal. The choice is truly enormous! So off they set, practising their solos with enthusiasm!

By the start of the next term I was convinced that we were getting close to

performance standard. This meant entries had to be made. Another nice thing about Music Medals is that parents can buy tokens online from the website. They are cheap: Copper is currently £10. This gives you a token code that you quote when making the online entry and, as the teacher, you don’t have to handle any money, or pay through your own bank account as is unfortunately necessary with Grade exams. You also have complete assurance that the parent is fully aware of the terms and conditions of the Music Medal purchase, and what is involved for their child. This was also a good time to check that we had parental consent for the video to be made of their child.

After entering the candidates I could then choose when to download their personal “option” tests, unique for each candidate. From the point when these are downloaded you have 8 weeks within which to take the test. We spent a very happy and productive

continued on p28

Pupils performing in assembly and recieving their ‘Music Medals’ certificates from Tim Rogers (Head of Service).


TUNE in: music medalsgiggles, or play up to the camera, because it looked silly!) They also quickly realised which bits needed some extra polish and a bit of concentrated practice.

I also found out that I needed to be careful where I stood so I didn’t accidentally walk in front of the camera when handing out option tests, but could also reach the play/record button without joggling things. (We were in quite a confined space.) I found it very useful to have an extra music stand for all my bits of paper (mark sheets, option tests, running order of candidates, reminder of choices for each candidate in case they had a blank moment)!

One thing that needed careful planning and negotiation was how to keep things fair when not all the children I taught at the school were doing medals. On recording day I might not have time to do more than the recordings, meaning some children would miss out on a lesson. We agreed that those doing medals would have a double lesson that week, and all the others would have a double lesson the week after and everyone seemed happy.

My last job before “the big day” was to write out a large banner reminding each candidate to introduce themselves, their pieces and their option choice as required. Not that it mattered if I prompted them, but the children seemed to like doing this themselves and it made their performance completely their own from start to finish.

Everything went well and we only had one small hiccup when one slightly upset flautist realised that, third time through, her group’s ensemble piece had gone much better than for her own medal performance, for which she’d bravely and enthusiastically volunteered to go first! (The ensemble piece is played again for each candidate’s video).

I will be really pleased when it is possible to email the videos rather than having to make them into DVDs before posting them back to the ABRSM. Hopefully this will be possible very soon.

As a first time Teacher-Assessor it was a nervous wait to find out the moderated results.

few weeks trying out lots of specimen tests from each option so that each pupil had a chance to choose which they preferred and I kept a note of which was chosen so that I was prepared when it came to ”the big day”!

There are four “options”, all of which cover useful and constructive aspects of musicianship. The children in my groups enjoyed doing all of them, sometimes finding it hard to choose their favourite, because they were all fun and easy. They can make up a tune to a given rhythm; copy back a rhythmic or melodic pattern; improvise an answering phrase or sight read a few bars of music. It was nice that they all chose different things to do depending on their style of playing and inventiveness. There was little consensus on which was “the best” or “the easiest”. These musicianship tests form hugely beneficial learning tasks, whether or not a Medals is being taken. I would recommend the exercises for any pupil or teacher or to increase their musical/teaching skills.

The week before “performance day” I got out the camera, tripod (essential) and made sure I had a quiet, undisturbed space for a trial run. The children found this great fun, enjoying watching back their performances and being critically aware of what they needed to do better (like not collapse in a fit of

I will be really pleased when it is possible to email the videos

rather than having to make them into DVDs before posting

them back to the ABRSM. Hopefully this will be possible

very soon.

continued from p27

Excerpt from Precious Metal by James RaeFrom Music Medals Bronze Flute Ensemble Pieces© 2004 by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of MusicReproduced by permission of ABRSM.


TUNE in: music medalsAlthough the marking system is quick and easy there is a lot to think about during the recordings, and although you have the videos to refer back to if necessary, it is suggested that you mark as you go along so as to have a fresh and immediate response to each performance. I’m sure this gets much easier with familiarity and confidence.

The one other thing I found hard was to avoid saying “well done” or some such emotive phrase after each child’s performance. One is supposed to keep to a bland “thank you”, so as not to give a false or unfair impression of success. I’m sure the odd “well done” slipped out before I could stop myself: It’s such a habit! But I hope I was forgiven that as a first-timer.

It seemed a long wait for the results, longer than for grade exams, but maybe that will improve as the systems are refined. I still can’t fathom how the Board manages to turn round results consistently within a fortnight for Grade exams, with thousands of candidates and hundreds of examiners each session and, apparently, very few computer glitches!

I’m sure I was as pleased as the children were to find that they had all passed, and I had passed the moderation process, too. When you get the moderated results you can look at where the moderator has changed your mark. This means that you can learn and

refine your marking. As you become more confident, and the Board is confident in your marking, they will only moderate a sample of your entries. In my case they had added a mark, to improve the description of the playing.

Finally, I thought you might like to hear what the children themselves thought of Music Medals: It gives us an insight as to how important it is for children to have goals and rewards for their efforts!

“It was a bit tense as I volunteered to go first – it was good fun once I got into it. I’m very glad I’ve done it”. Grace Meaden Y4

“It was good because it wasn’t just practising to play a piece but it was for something important and something to look forward to”. Jennifer Mawby Y5

What the pupils thought

Pupils pose with their new Music Medals along with Catherine Goss (their woodwind teacher) and

Tim Rogers (Head of Service).

Ti


TUNE in: big guitar day

The big guitar day at Higham...over 20 guitarists play togetherby Chris Waddington

When you bring a large number of musicians together of differing standards and who have never played together before, you always get a little nagging voice that says “this isn’t going to work”. But it is amazing how youngsters always step up to the plate and have a great time at as well!

It may have been gloomy and wet outside but the dulcet tones of the guitar could be

heard from within Higham Village Hall, when twenty children aged seven to fourteen turned out to take part in the first Lancashire Music Service Big Guitar Day.

The day, aimed at children in the Pendle area, was organised by Ensemble Development Leader (EDL) guitarist, Chris Waddington, and Area Team Leader, Nick Powlesland.

The children’s abilities were as wide ranging as their age with guitarists from complete beginners to grade five, with one child having never played formally before.

Chris said “One of the advantages of these workshops is that they are very fluid and parts are created according to ability.”

After the formalities were dealt with the day began with an ice breaker session that included rhythm games and too much delight a rendition of “The Mysterious Ticking Noise”. This was followed by a workshop led by Chris Waddington with the children working together on “What shall we do with the Grumpy Teacher” and the classic theme “James Bond”.

Following a well -earned break it was over to Nick to take the second session. More new tunes were learnt including the well-known Queen song “We Will Rock You.” This gave one child his first taste of

playing the bass guitar.Following the lunch break,

there was time for a quick pre-concert run through before thirty or so parents arrived to watch the final performance. This included audience participation in “We Will Rock You”.

These events cannot run without the support of others so we would like to thank EDL Abbey Blackledge and instrumental teacher Sue Wall for giving up a Saturday to provide the extra personnel needed - and some wet weather indoor play activities! The feedback from children and parents was extremely positive and we hope to repeat the Big Guitar Day again in the near future.

The feedback from children and parents

was extremely positive

All the youngsters had a great time during the day.

Ti


TUNE in: next issue

In the next issue...

All correspondence to:

Mr. S. Grills (Editor)Lancashire Music Service

The Woodlands CentreSouthport Road

ChorleyLancs.

PR7 1QR

Tel. (01257) 234450email: [email protected]/curriculum/music

TUNE inInteractive Website FocusAs indicated in this edition our Interactive

website is undergoing a major revamp with many exciting new resources coming on stream. Next term we look at these in far greater depth.

Musical Futures UpdateA great deal has been happening with

our Musical Futures Programme. More schools have come on stream and also a number of schools have included our Sound Stations in their package of equipment. Next edition we will report on how the whole programme is going and how the Sound Stations are shaping up.

ATL FocusWe’ve talked to three of our ATL’s now

namely Ted Hoyle, Keith Sagar and in this edition one of our newest ATL’s Josette Coupe. Next term we travel all the way to Nelson to have a chat to Karen Hoyle ATL for the Pendle Area. Karen is one of our senior string and Wider Opportunities teachers and has been ATL for Pendle for quite some time now.

*Please note that all stories are subject to variation, delays, bus strikes, the outbreak of a zombie plague, amnesia and our own fickle minds!

Available from April 2012

i


This TermSend me your suggestions for this term’s photo, Peter was getting very animated in his speech, do you think he has a look of Clive Dunn?! Anyway I’m sure you can come up with some great ideas!As ever send all you suggestions via email to me Stuart Grills (Editor) at [email protected]

And finally, I love these rib ticklers! The dafter they are the more I like them, see what you

think. Don’t forget if you have any silly jokes send them into me!

What’s the difference between God and a Conductor? God knows he’s not a conductor.

Ten things you will never hear a Musical Director say1. Okay saxophones, play that even louder!2. Wow drummers, you got that right first time!

3. Can we have the whole soprano section sing the high note?

4. Your tuning is great today basses.

5. Let’s just have fun today.6. It’s ok to talk during solos,

drummers!7. Take as long as you want in your drum solo.8. You can get drunk before the concert everyone,

I’m going to!9. That was really good violas!10. It’s all my fault!

What’s the difference between a violin and a viola? About £10.

JUST FOR FUN

and finally

Last TermHave a look at some of the suggestions that were sent in for last term’s photo.It’s the latest thing in Wider Opps, ‘Air Flute’ it’ll save thousands and you’ll sound like James Gallway in three weeks! What do you mean she’s not laughing? Listen! I’ll conduct the way I want OK!