Lev Krev Kernow Vocal Force Cor nwall: ‘A strong voice for Cornwall’ Lyther-nowodhow-Newsletter Dynergh - Welcome! 22nd March 2010 Issue 14 Where we keep you updated on the news, latest sessions and future dates The ‘Fab 4’ & The Perraners at St Agnes Perraners & St Agnes school Tom Bawcock & his cat! THIS IS OUR LAST NEW SLETTER FOR THE FIRS T YEAR AND A PACKED ONE TOO! ‘Lev Krev Kernow’ is Cornish for ‘Vocal Force Cornwall’ - a project managed by Cumpas (Cornish Music Projects) as part of a nationwide ‘Sing-Up’ programme. The aims of the project include developing a network of vocal leaders for primary aged children, providing both training and support to enable the network to share their skills and repetoire in both leading singing and working with primary aged children. There is a strong emphasis on using Cornish repetoire including the use of the language. Focus Day Saturday March 20th This was led by Helen Porter, a singing leader and voice coach from Dorset who is both a teacher and a performer. The well attended day began with a technical voice session. Warm -ups included attention to posture in order to avoid fa tigue, breathing and a pilates excercise for the abdominal muscles. Physical exercises then focused on the mouth, lips and tongue such as moving the tongue around the teeth in order to relieve tension. We rolled rrrs to keep the jaw loose and we laughed loudly and silently to retract and widen the larynx. Throughout the session, Helen explained the reasons for the exercises and the beneficial effects upon the quality of singing. Slowly but surely, everything seemed to make sense as she descibed the physiol ogy of the throat and mouth. Our first warmup was "Maria mia bella amore" a lovely simple round which facilitated breath control to make the notes flow, again focusing also on the abdominal muscles. Helen explained how the muscles at the side of the jaw co ntrol the range of sound and that simple exercises such as the siren and silent laughing will strengthen muscles. To avoid voice strain, Helen recommended drinking water about four hours before singing or having a steam inhalation which works immediatly. N egotiatiating breaks in the voice was discussed and the effect of the control of the folds of the larynx upon the quality of sound. We sang another round called "Umwegitane" and were encouraged to add our own harmonies. A superb shared lunch was followed b y a session where Helen used individuals as ‘guinea-pigs’ working on issues such as breath crontrol and finding one's own range. Pitch and intonation were discussed and practised. The session was informative fun and inspirational and we departed with an increased knowledge of how our voices work and therefore how we can improve our singing. Twilight Session, St Winnow Thursday 11th March Averil at Blackwater school Yet again quality if not quantity. Kath took us through has been working with key stage two over 3 sessions. some of her warm-ups, including the Chicken song & ‘I started off with about 10 childen and now have about 20. Its been going well, I use warm up s that Rufus, Ra stas, Johnson, Brown. We had feedback from her have been learnt on Lev Krev days and from the Sing and Gary about the Male Singing conference which they found informative and Gary led a warm-up from the day up website. I use my keyboard & backing tracks to accompany the warm ups and songs. They love based on vocalising/ creating sound effects for a story of the different rhythms. We are learning Sunshine in my a man (represented by our fingers!) walkin g into a lift, Heart, recommended by Lynne Keast, What Shall we going up and down (therefore using sirening with your do with The Drunken Sailor recommended by Angela voice) and having many other adventures - easier to see Renshaw and Hey Mr Miller recommended by my than describe! Hilary then introduced another Cornish daughter Fiona who did it with Threemilestone School song, Harvey Darvey, a playground song which involved last year ! We are planning a performance at the end actions. We then create d further (very silly!) verses based of term and later I am hoping to include any children on colours. who play instruments. Lynne’s Perranporth choir may also coming to Blackwater School to sing’. Contact: [email protected] / 01209 313233 / 07837 226048 / Facebook (Lev Krev Kernow) Sing Up - the Music Manifesto National Singing Programme, prduced by Youth M usic, The Sage Gateshead, AMV-BBDO, and Faber Music supported by the Government Lev Krev Kernow Vocal Force Cornwall ‘A strong voice for Cornwall’ Kescana at Treverbyn On 17th March, Kescana visited Treverbyn C.P. School, in the Clay dis trict, to deliver a dose of the joy of singing Cornish songs! Treverbyn is a hamlet tucked into a green oasis just below Bugle, and the new school is light and bright. We arrived at 1pm, and gave a 20 minute concert of traditional Cornish songs -- in Engl ish; dialect, and the Cornish language, and mostly in our usual 3-part harmony. The whole school (182 children, plus teachers) listened, clapped in time, and joined in the singing (in Sweet Nightingale). Then we taught the song 'Tregajorran Whartha' to 2 separate groups - Key stage One and Key Stage Two, for 1/2 hour each. They learned quickly, and sang with energy; focus, and enthusiasm! The staff were also pleased, and asked us to return another time, with more songs! Ke scana at St Winnow School rd On Monday afternoon March 23 six members of locally-based singing group Kescana (Cornish for Singing Together) visited St Winnow CP School in Lostwithiel at the invitation of teacher and Lev Krev member Gary Marshall Stevens. The group, which included both a mother and a grandmother of pupils at the school, presented a selection of Cornish songs to the children from years 3 to 6, including traditional ones like Cadgwith Anthem (which the children enjoyed as it is about highwaymen!), How Pleasant and Delightful and Sweet Nightingale . The group also heard about Helston May Day traditions in the Hal an Tow song and enjoyed the Bridges Song , specially requested by their teacher, which mentions all the bridges across the Tamar. There was enthusiastic audience participation in the rousing sing-along chorus. The song Tregajorran Wartha was introduced and then taught to the group in 2 batches. Class 3 (years 5 and 6) acted out the story of the song, which tells of a girl with two suitors, and sang heartily, particularly when they joined years 3 and 4 of Class 2 to sing for their parents and teachers at the end of the afternoon. The children already sing the St Piran round “Penbloth Lowen” and are now planning to add Tregajorran Wartha and the Bridges Song to their repert oire. Comment from a Class 2 pupil: “Wicked!” th ‘Sing Up’ Male Singing Leaders Conference Wednesday, February 24 at St. Mary’s Methodist Church, Truro. ‘Inspiring Boys to Sing!’ notes from workshop led by Caroline Gale (Director of Music at Guildford County School). When doing warm ups with boys it was important to ‘get physical,’ make up words with plenty of repetition in, use tongue twisters, humming in combination with silly words, become a human drum kit and use anything ’boy related’ to get composing! She impressed on us that human skills are as important as musical skills. Always have an occasion to perform at in mind.Caroline made it clear that there should be a ‘team feel,’ with a sense of community and friends to develop confidence and opportunity. As leaders, it is important for us to be a positive role model –enthusiasm is infectious! The challenges we set should be small and achievable, creating responsibilities for the choir and common goals (team work.)Some of her suggestions included: Be positive and confident. ~ Get to know the boys as people. ~ Careful choice of repertoire- keep it relevant, respecting musical tastes.~ Keep expectations and standards high. ~ Avoid rehearsals that clash with sport. ~ Ensure that you have clear boundaries of self discipline both musical and in behaviour.~ Do not be afraid to show emotions. ~ Avoid placing yourself in a position where you fail. The second session was a presentation by Professor Martin Ashley where he examined the impact of male teachers in the classroom with two films from the ‘Boys Keep Singing’ project and his most recent book ‘How High Should Boys Sing?’ He emphasised that boys want teachers with good subject knowledge, firm but fair and enthusiastic teachers, showing respect for colleagues. It is important to have a good sense of humour. After lunch, Cleveland Watkiss, a famous jazz musician performed with his band and led workshops with some primary and comprehensive pupils. He did various warm ups, followed by ‘scat singing.’ The pupils were then taught how to sing ’My favourite Things’ from ‘The Sound of Music’ which was accompanied by his jazz band. Following this, the children, in groups, composed their own lyrics and then performed their own renderings of the song. To complete the day there was a panel discussion with Martin Ashley, Cleveland Watkiss, Miles Wallis-Clarke, Martin Baker, Garry Jones and chaired by Peter Davies. Report by Kath Matthews. Contact: [email protected]/ 01209 313233 / 07837 226048 / Facebook (Lev Krev Kernow) Sing Up - the Music Manifesto National Singing Programme, prduced by Youth Music, The Sage Gateshead, AMV-BBDO, and Faber Music supported by the Government Lev Krev Kernow Vocal Force Cornwall ‘A strong voice for Cornwall’ WWhhaattt ppeeoopplllee ssaaiiidd St Piran activities aabboouutt tthhee HHeellleenn Our patron saint’s day was on March 5th and many people celebrated across Cornwall.