Brass Band, The brass band will provide the opportunity to study and perform concert works as well as those pieces traditionally referred to as 'test pieces'. Music will be supplied but students are also encouraged to bring pieces from their own band libraries for consideration including any solo items that they would like to try out through the week. We will work on a variety of music and we will spend some time preparing for a concert performance on the final day. We will look at, and try to build on, students sound production/technique, musical awareness etc. and we hope to be able to achieve a noticeable improvement in overall band sound and ability by the end of the week. If you wish to play percussion in the Brass Band please apply for this course.
Chamber Brass This course will focus on ensemble pieces for small groups of up to ten brass players, (including the standard brass band quartet repertoire as well as 'symphonic' brass ensemble) and the disciplines required that maybe differ from those pertinent to other brass playing. The course will give students the opportunity to benefit and gain from the experience of playing in small groups. There may also be the opportunity to combine with some of the other chamber music groups at the school.
Folk Robin Garside and Chris McShane will use their wide and varied experience of writing, performing and teaching music to deliver a course that will be instructive, informative and enjoyable.
We will be offering musical and performance development, songwriting, Internet resources for musicians and singers, musical theory and composition, accompaniment techniques, singing skills and ensemble playing. The course will help develop general musicianship and performance skills as well as broad and holistic understanding of the folk vernacular.
We will be offering technical development in performance, songwriting, singing and composition. We will look at British folk music, both traditional and contemporary, as it is performed in the Folk Scene today.
Ceilidh Band The Ceilidh Band has become an essential part of music making at M4P. We will be playing music from England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, the USA, Scandinavia and France. You will learn the technicalities of playing for dancing, gain experience of ensemble playing in a supportive environment and have an enjoyable time on the way. The Ceilidh Band plays for two Ceilidhs during the week, so it's not just theoretical, it's also very practical. There will be an opportunity to learn how to call dances for those who are interested in possibly becoming callers. Robin Garside and Chris McShane have 60 years of Ceilidh Band experience between them and believe in myth destruction and inclusivity, so come along and join the band!
Students who wish to enroll on the Jazz Improvisation courses should already be fairly proficient in playing their chosen instrument if they wish to benefit fully from the course. Students will be expected to attend both timetabled sessions.
Jazz Level 1 is aimed at those students who are totally new to Jazz or who only have limited experience. The first sessions will look at:-
How to get off the ground - first steps in improvising, using well-known scales and simple ideas that form the basis of many Jazz pieces.
Staying in the air! How to turn an idea into an improvisation - some easy and fun ways to help your improvisation make beautiful melodic sense.
How not to get lost - aural-based ideas and techniques to help improvisers, soloists and accompanists to listen together and hear each other.
Maps and map-reading - the basics of harmony used in Jazz: key centres and modes explained.
Happy landings - how to integrate improvisation within compositions, from playing a melody expressively to playing a whole solo.
The second sessions will put these into practice through tutor-supervised combo playing, improvisation exercises and experimentation; by the end of the week the group will be able to play a set of pieces with individual improvised contributions and some creative interplay.
Jazz Level 2 is aimed at those students with a little more experience of playing jazz.
In the first sessions students will look at:-
more complex jazz patterns
modes!
pentatonics and II-V-I's
generally becoming more relaxed in the groove
The second sessions will put these into practice through tutor-supervised combo playing, improvisation and experimentation; by the end of the week the group will be able to play a variety of tunes with further improvised contributions and creativity.
Jazz Level 3 is aimed at students who have considerable experience of playing Jazz. The first sessions will build on students existing knowledge and introduce advanced theory and techniques, such as:-
Time to get serious - an examination into phrasing, rhythm and time, unusual time signatures. How Funk and Latin music 'works'.
The moxolycrian mode - a closer look at some neglected harmonic corners, including scales both exotic and synthetic.
Play something with a flat in it - more sophisticated ways of getting round common progressions; harmonic substitutions and shortcuts.
Work, Rest and Play - functional and nonfunctional harmony: chord-tones and colour-tones: the pretty notes.
Fours and more - improvising with another person: trading ideas: collective improvisation.
The Final Frontier - following an idea to its (il)logical conclusion, thinking on a larger scale; how to always sound good!
The second sessions will put these into practice through tutor-supervised combo playing, improvisation and experimentation; by the end of the week the group will be able to play a set of tunes building on these ideas, be able to produce and support extended improvised contributions, and interact creatively.
Jazz SingingThese courses are designed for students with some experience of singing (in any genre) who would like to gain knowledge and experience of Jazz Singing through practical activities. You will have to commit to attending both sessions each day, and at times will be expected to sing solo in front of the rest of the group. There are a maximum of twenty student places available.
| Course Content |
Outcomes |
| Vocal technique |
Improved technique |
| Warm up routines |
|
| Microphone technique |
|
| Jazz styles and repertoire |
Increased understanding of jazz repertoire |
| Swing feel and phrasing |
|
| Interpretation and performance techniques |
Increased performance skills and confidence |
| Band management skills |
|
In addition to the set repertoire students should also prepare at least one song of their own choice to work in a masterclass format. You should be prepared to supply the tutor with a copy of this song before the end of June, if possible in your own correct key.
| Repertoire |
|
| Jazz Singing Foundation JS1 |
Jazz Singing Advanced JS2 |
| Nature Boy |
A child is born |
| Blue Monk |
I get a kick out of you |
| Afro Blue |
Dindi |
| You don't know what love is |
Naima |
| Lullaby of Birdland |
Let's do it (Let's fall in love) |
| Angel Eyes |
Footprints |
Big Band This course is aimed at the traditional Big Band line-up (normally 5 Saxes, 4-5 Trombones, 4-5 Trumpets, Bass, Guitar, Piano and Percussion) and may also include some guest vocalists. A wide range of pieces in a variety of traditional big band styles will be studied.
If certain instruments are oversubscribed (often the case with saxophones in particular), it may be necessary to either direct students to other courses (such as Open Jazz Orchestra or Saxophone Ensemble), or for students to take turns in playing.
The course is intended to develop and improve ensemble playing by students in a wide range of different big band styles.
Dance Band An ensemble playing strict-tempo arrangements, some by the great Jimmy Lally. Good sight readers are required for the band, which will appear as entertainment on at least one occasion during the week with minimum rehearsal! Saxes, Brass and Rhythm Section all required. Dress code for the performance will be black trousers, white shirt and bow tie for the men and appropriate evening attire for the ladies.
Open Jazz Orchestra Following on from last year, Richard Ormrod will continue to develop the OJO as an ensemble where players can explore the musical possibilities offered by combining improvisation with ideas drawn from other areas of the Summer School, including Jazz, Folk, World Music and Classical. Combining elements familiar to participants in composition and musicianship, the OJO is open to players of any ability and musical experience. Arrangements are developed during the week using written material and conducted improvisation, which everybody may contribute to; the OJO is a fun and relaxed group where all comers can discover their creative potential - however well hidden - and take part in crafting exciting and lyrical music in good company!
Dixieland Jazz If you have a hankering to play this sort of music but not known where to start, then this is the course for you. It is directed primarily at the standard Dixieland line-up of trumpet, trombone, clarinet, piano, guitar/banjo, bass and drums although tenor and alto saxes and other instruments will be considered subject to course spaces.You will be expected to be familiar with at least the chords of C, C7, F, F7, G, G7 in the equivalent on your instrument to C major concert and also the equivalents in the keys of Bb, Eb, F and Ab concert.
At a later date, students will be informed of the repertoire from which titles will be selected for further study. It is recommended that players should listen to recordings containing these.
Lead and harmony guide parts will be provided on the course.
Songs from the Stage A themed showcase of Musical Theatre and Opera favorites. This year we are focusing on the theme of "Forbidden Love" so please bring any favorite arias, duets ensembles from Opera or Musical Theatre you would like to perform!
Find Your Voice - For the beginner performer Discover how to bring character and musicality to your performance and cope with those debilitating nerves!
This class will be run as a group workshop and participants will take part in group warm ups, learn important vocal techniques and are encouraged to perform and give constructive criticism to others.
Solo Singing 1 - Find the performer within This class is for the singer who wishes to take the next step in performing and focuses on keeping vocal control whilst still interpreting the meaning of the song.
Working on repertoire from all genres and including techniques to aid memorisiation and control performance anxiety.
Solo Singing 2 - Through the magnifying glass Take the next step in performing with an in-depth analysis of song, operatic and oratorio repertoire and musical theatre. Discover ways to make your performance more accessible to the audience, work on interpretation of foreign text and of course, deal with performance anxiety.
Participants in this class are encouraged to work with repertoire preferably off-copy.
Choir Does exactly what it says on the tin! Suitable for anyone, including those of us who have always secretly wanted to sing in a choir and those of us who haven't sung since school (regardless of how long ago that was). This is best described as a fantastic bonding experience for all who attend. Fun warm-ups, little bits of useless information about how to make a decent noise and exciting repertoire all make for an uplifting end to each day.
Chamber Choir A choral course for competent choral singers, with well-developed sight reading skills and broader experience of singing complex pieces. Accompanied and a cappella works will be studied. Music covering a very broad range of styles and periods will be used, from baroque to modern day. A good sense of pitch and rhythm would be most useful.
Orchestral and Band Percussion The Orchestral and Band Percussion Course sees some major and exciting changes at M4P for 2012. Whether you are new to the percussion section or you want to improve your abilities, this course will give you the basic transferable skills enabling you to survive and thrive in an orchestra or brass/wind band percussion section.
Please note that it is a requirement that to play percussion within the Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Band or the Brass Band you must enrol on those individual courses as a Percussionist. Because of this, course numbers will be limited to the various ensembles. Also please note there will be no percussion ensemble within this course; please sign up for the separate Percussion Ensemble course where numbers will not be so limited.
Each session will include sectional instruction based on the instruments and music being prepared by the Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Band and Brass Band to be studied that day followed by full rehearsal with the course ensemble. There will also be the opportunity to look at percussion parts from the orchestral and brass band repertoires to gain experience in sight reading and look at the different ways percussion music is set out.
Whilst experience in playing any kind of percussion is not required, an ability to read music is a distinct advantage. The course will give both group and individual instruction on the following instruments: bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, timpani, xylophone and glockenspiel, tambourine, triangle and miscellaneous percussion. Instruments will be provided, however students are encouraged to bring any percussion instruments, sticks and beaters and any percussion music they may wish to study during the week.
The course tutor will be on hand within the percussion sections to guide students through the music and to give advice on techniques to improve students playing abilities and build confidence towards the final performances at the conclusion of the week, and will also be available at the end of the days sessions to give one-to-one instruction if required.
Percussion Ensemble So much more than just "CRASH, BANG, WALLOP!", percussion ensemble takes an accommodating and extremely musical approach to the diverse and exciting world of all things hittable. Improve your listening skills and build your confidence by playing from existing percussion scores as well as exploring your creative side with the opportunity for collaborative and group devised work. Music reading is advantageous, but by no means essential! Performances will take place at the end of the week. A great course for building on your rhythmic abilities, gaining confidence in your performance and/ or exploring a world outside of your regular musical endeavours!
String Orchestra Open to orchestral strings (violin, viola, cello, and double bass). This course aims to provide a good introduction to string orchestra playing for those new to large ensemble work, whilst allowing more experienced players to develop their ensemble skills, try out leading a section, or take a solo role. A range of repertoire will be studied during the week, including works by Mendelssohn and Lutoslawski.
Symphony Orchestra Aims to join together the various instrumental courses. For those who are less experienced orchestral players, it will give a certain amount of cover and support. For those already playing in orchestras, it will give an opportunity to build on technique and work with a different conductor for a week. Percussionists If you wish to play percussion in the symphony orchestra please apply for this course.
Symphonic Wind Orchestra A large ensemble for wind, brass and percussion, playing a mixture of original works and arrangements to stimulate and challenge. Percussionists If you wish to play percussion in the wind orchestra please apply for this course.
Dalcroze Eurhythmics Aims to develop a finely tuned ear and a physical feeling for rhythm through the use of voice and movement. The main concepts of the method will be introduced and will provide an opportunity to develop skills in pulse, rhythm and pitch away from the technical restraints of an instrument. NB. this is an early morning session.
Chamber Music The chamber music course is primarily for strings, winds and piano. Participants will be divided into ensembles as numbers and instruments allow, and groups will rehearse independently as well as being visited by one of the tutors each day for coaching. Input will be given on rehearsal technique and ensemble skills as well as more specific guidance on the music being studied.
It is hoped there will be opportunities for groups to perform in master class settings during the week and several groups will also have the opportunity to perform in the end of course concert.
The tutors will bring a selection of repertoire for smaller groups (trios, quartets and quintets) including some lighter works, and students are encouraged to bring their own repertoire for trial or performance. Larger chamber works will also be available, including Mozart Wind Serenades and the Brahms String Sextets.
Instrumentation permitting, we would like to offer the chance to play either Gordon Jacob's Old Wine in New Bottles, Kurt Weill's Little Threepenny Music (2fl/2cl/asx/tsx/2bsn/2tpt/trb/bnjo/gtr/accrdn/tmp/prc/pno) or Brahms Serenade no 2 (arranged for double wind quintet and double bass) should we have enough participants. Where possible, players will be one per part and will reflect the composer's instrumentation, however parts may be played by alternative instruments in order to realise the works. Please request your wishes for inclusion in the student information form.
Saxophonists are for the first time invited to join the chamber music course. Flexible repertoire will challenge the accomplished player as well as nurturing the beginner sax as you learn more about your playing and how to play with others. Come and play in sax quartets, trios and as part of other wind ensembles. Please request if you would like to be part of a smaller sax group (trios quartets and quintets) or if you would like to be included in mixed wind groups and state your current ability on the student information form.
Reasonable confidence in music reading is essential for this course as students will be required to work without tutor guidance at times. Students must attend both sessions.
Saxophone Choir Realise Bach's mighty Toccata and Fugue in D minor in an impressive sax choir arrangement for soprano, altos 1-3, tenor and baritone sax. Let the tranquil beauty of Renaissance masters Purcell and Dowland relax and challenge you in equal measure. Parts specially arranged to match your abilities on prior request: please state sax type preferences and experience on the student registration form.
Clarinet Choir The first year of clarinet choir will see many works played, a few performed and the chance for one masterclass/workshop session. Come and geek out with all things clarinetty: bring repertoire, reeds and questions! Music from Bach to Benny Goodman.
Composition The composition course is open to those wishing to know more about writing music. Each day will include three activities: the first will feature listening and discussion of different composers' styles and techniques of composing music, the second an open forum for sharing, reviewing and learning from each others work and the third a session of supervised time with the tutor on hand, as you wrestle with your next masterpiece. Students are encouraged to bring completed works and works in progress, for any instrumentation and style and in any format whether on CD, paper, or electronically (the tutor will provide a computer with Sibelius6, Finale2009 and Notion3 installed). A set text is available for those wishing to try word-setting - 'Love Story' by Jennie Vaughan is available on request.
Conducting New for this year is your chance to get to grips with the basics of conducting. Whether you're a novice or more experienced, this session covers topics such as beat patterns, showing the music, pauses, repertoire advice, rehearsal planning and score marking amongst many others and uses the latest in technology to provide a virtual orchestra at your disposal. The set repertoire can be found in the NOTION Conducting workbook or freely available online - please contact M4P for the full list.
Musicianship 1 is for beginners up to approximately grade 3 standard, and would also be useful for those who have done Grade 5 theory but forgotten it all. What is a perfect cadence? What are those annoying signs at the beginning of the line? And why do we have fractions at the beginning of a piece? This class will help answer those questions and many more.
Musicianship 2 is for those who wish to go beyond the basics. Delving deeper into cadences and harmonic relationships. All key and time signatures can be explored here. This class will also allow arrangements of more complex pieces to be considered.
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