HUMS Aloud on GigaDial Public: Recent Episodes
None
Intermittent and electic views of life/students at the Huntingdonshire Music School in Cambridgeshire, UK. Home to some 400 amateur musicians learning their craft. Ranging in age from 4 years old to 84 years old we're a diverse bunch. We all have some things in common, though - we like making music and having fun. Most of the activity happens during term times on saturday mornings but we do get out - to play at concerts and outdoors and also on tour - this year Austria.Not sure how we're going to use this techn ology or even how often. If you want to find out you'll just have to go with us as we make this new journey into the unknown!
The Huntingdonshire Music School is 40 years old this year. To celebrate this we arranged a complete weekend's worth of concerts and music-making activities - running through from Friday 23rd March through to Sunday lunchtime on the 25th March. Obviously part of this involved some poor fools having to play during the night or unsociably early hours of the morning. These slots were referred to as the 'Twilight Zones'. Mostly they involved solo or duet performances (have you tried getting an orchestra to play at 4 o'clock in the morning? ) We did, however, manage to persuade the Intermediate Concert Band to arrive for 8 o'clock on the Sunday morning and to stage a rehearsal for an hour. In this short clip we see them perform a selection of Sousa marches under the banner of 'The March King'. You'll notice a wide range of ages of players - we have no age barriers. Anyone who wants to have musical fun is more than welcome to come and join in.
Short clip from Anglia News (covering the eastern part of the UK) featuring short items from the 40th birthday celebrations.This was originally broadcast at 07:00am on Monday 26th March 2007 and not repeated. Very easy to miss therefore. Since it is so short we advise you not to blink otherwise you'll miss the good stuff!
As part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Huntingdonshire Music School we had an event, the 'Leader's Excuse-Me' on the Saturday evening. This concert provided an opprtunity to be entertained by the teachers/staff - makes a change for the boot to be on the other foot. Luckily there was an audio-recorder in the neighbourhood so it was possible to record the evidence. It was some concert and full of variety and surprises. One of these was provided by Robin Norman, who directs the Senior Concert Band, who showed that rather than hiding his talents behind a bushel he had clearly been hiding his behind a large double E-flat tuba! One of the pieces Robin played was Monte's Czardas (a gypsy dance - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Csárdás) - accompanied by Gwynn Jones on piano. Just listen to the pitch and length of notes ( speed!). Wow! We've a talented bunch at the music school. The teachers aren't bad, either! They teach anyone from the age of 4 to 84+ - it's never too late to learn.
Introduction Podcast 4th HUMS Aloud podcasthumsaloud.btpodshow.comassociated with the Huntingdonshire Music School in what is now Cambridgeshirelarge independent school (400) aimed at musical fun education for both children and adultswww.humsa.org.ukBBC Play It Again www.bbc.co.uk/playitagainTV series 25th march to 7th May BBC 1Jo Brand - pianoFrank Skinner - banjoAled Jones - rock drummerRobert Winston - saxophoneDiane Abbott - pianoBill Oddie - rock guitarist Took part at exhibitor for HUMS at Comberton event on 13th May 300 participants in each of 2 sessions Everyone having fun - have a go. Next nearest event at Watford, 50 miles south of home. Self - tuba (9 months), daughter (Jess) on flute First of 4 sessions over the weekend Formatfirst of 3 episodessplit into reasonable lengthsthis one deals with the arrival and settling insecond one looks at the orchestral rehearsal as a separate groupthird episode - talk to other participants during the break and rehearsal as a complete assembly. At the Watford Colosseum - Nic's intro Initial event introduction/welcoming speechBBC Concert OrchestraBBC singersPeter Hayward - Learning Manager, BBC Concert OrchestraWatford Colosseum - home of BBC Concert OrchestraTim Steiner - Creative Director of Play It AgainBernstein's West Side Story Overture - played by orchestra (the professionals)Relaxed stylemuch like a camp-fire warm-up humour Mambovocal part - all join in, not just singers Tunes to Listen for- explanation/demonstration of musical phrases to keep ears peeled for- built upMusical phrasestrombones bassoons basses 2 notes - professional upper strings (3 notes!) drums flutes oboes complex whole built from simpler parts - important'Tonight' - for the singers Not Tonightslightly different version. Specially written. Not 'America' either!Not many attending actually live in Hertfordshire. Outronext part covers initial practice by participants - orchestral (instrument) group
Introduction Podcast 5th HUMS Aloud podcast humsaloud.btpodshow.com associated with the Huntingdonshire Music School in what is now Cambridgeshire large independent school (400) aimed at musical fun education for both children and adults www.humsa.org.uk BBC Play It Again www.bbc.co.uk/playitagain TV series on BBC 1 where famous people learn an instrument in short order BBC running series of events around the UK where the public can sign up to play with a BBC orchestra and singers. This is an audio diary taken when myself and daughter took part in an event at Watford Colosseum - just outside London - together with over 200 other members of the public. Self - tuba (9 months), daughter on flute Format - second of 3 episodes first one dealt with the arrival and settling in this one looks at the orchestral rehearsal as a separate group third episode - talk to other participants during the break and rehearsal as a complete c. 300-strong ensemble. Setting the background - initial introduction to the session complete - when signing up participants specified themselves as singing, percussion, instrument, saxophone (clearly not an instrument!) or others - others included banjos, classical and electric guitars and anything unclassifiable - each of the groups taken to separate parts of the building to rehearse leaving main orchestra and the 'instrument' participants - just walked over to the bass section of the BBC Concert Orchestra to meet my 'BBC Friend' - Kevin Morgan together with one other tuba player. Reasons for taking up the tuba - is that a tuner? No it's a recorder - originally a euphonium player - retirement present Getting started - my 'BBC Friend' - very inclusive - 4 lines of increasing difficulty - orchestra tuning up - it's in bass clef - normally read treble (add 3 sharps - now 4...) - trying to find a part Learning the Signals - pick a note, any note - responding to different hand signals from conductor - louder, softer - accented attack note hold - ease into it - short note, different (young child in pushchair adds own interpretation!) 4 lines of increasing difficulty - need to provide a way of allowing everyone to take part - range from complete beginners to experienced - musical score for each instrument divided into 4 lines of increasing difficulty from 1 (easiest) to 4 (the full orchestral part) - lots of trouble to ensure inclusivity and break down the fear factor Line 1 - bass section - tubas, trombones, rhythm - strings wind - brass Line 2 - brass bass Line 3 - BBC only - play what you can Line 4 - My Lips won't Take any More - brass - my lips can't take any more - BBC Outro This is the end of episode 2 Each of the groups has rehearsed separately Next and final episode get to talk to some participants in the break to find out how they got on Rehearse the 'super orchestra' (almost 300 strong) to the concluding performance The Huntingdonshire Music School is glad to provide instrument, theory tuition together with playing with ensembles to any child or adult who can get to us!
Introduction PodcastI'm Nic Plum and this is ...6th HUMS Aloud podcasthumsaloud.btpodshow.comassociated with the Huntingdonshire Music School in what is now Cambridgeshirelarge independent school (400) aimed at musical fun education for both children and adultswww.humsa.org.uk BBC Play It Again TV Serieswww.bbc.co.uk/playitagainTV series on BBC 1 where famous people learn an instrument in short orderBBC running series of events around the UK where the public can sign up to play with a BBC orchestra and singers.This is an audio diary taken when myself and daughter took part in an event at Watford Colosseum - just outside London.Self - tuba (9 months), daughter (Jess) on flute Format - last of 3 episodesfirst one dealt with the arrival and settling insecond one looked at the orchestral rehearsal as a separate groupin this episode - we talk to other participants during the break and rehearsal as a complete assembly. Setting the background- some 200 + members of public taking part playing with BBC Concert Orchestra- varying amounts of experience from complete beginners, never having played to experienced- set the task of playing part of Bernsteins' West Side Story including an arrangement of Tonight appopriately titled Not Tonight- everyone has been split up into instrument or voice groups and rehearsed separately- each musical part split into 4 lines of increasing difficulty so that everyone can still take part Orchestral Section - All Together- each has been rehearsed and the following is the orchestral section minus saxophones, percussion, singers, others- can hear each of the 4 lines being played. Quite a lot going on - not everyone is playing same line and therefore have to keep keen eye for the direction from Tim Steiner BreaktimeEveryone from the separate groups gathers together for refreshments and biscuits. Good opportunity to share experiencess. Sharps?- break time- everyone from all the individual groups gets together for tea biscuits- opportunity to chat to find out how it's going Meeting People- provided opportunity to meet other people- hear how two previously strangers meet with a view to joining an ensemble Duelling Banjos- hear how the 'Others' group got on- playing 'duelling banjos'?- how one person took up the banjo All TogetherIntroduction in the Hall Everyone gathering in the main hall - all 200+ members of public +70-strong BBC Concert Orchestra + BBC singers. Getting ready for rehearsal as a complete ensemble. Tim Steiners' Welcome The 'Others'guitars- classical, electric, acoustic and at least 2 banjos. We get to here what they've been rehearsing. Plus Singerssingers show what they've done in combination with 'The Others' Sounding Better - All Togethereveryone plays together Mambo - Reprisepractising shouting Mambo at the opportune time Total Confusion - Hah!Each group has been practising their version of random note playing at the direction of Tim Steiner. Here we see what random really means. For the violas it appears that it's not so random at all... Singers ...Singing 'Tonight'Singers sing the song 'Tonight' from Bernstein's West Side Story Tonight - The PerformanceThe final performance of 'Not Tonight' with all 200+ public plus the BBC Concert Orchestra singers OutroFinal episode in audio diary of Play It again event.If you are within striking range of Huntingdon - we can provide musical tuition fun whether adult or child. Feedback welcomed - particularly on this episode and if you've attended a BBC Play It Again event. Send e-mail/audio feedback to humsaloud@googlemail.com My Odeo Channel (odeo/f98aab23b798a369)