THE MAKING MUSIC MEMBERSHIP MAGAZINE | AUTUMN ISSUE 2019

The magic ingredient Making your music group more inclusive • PAGES 8 & 9

MEETING DEBBIE A conversation with our new President Debbie Wisemen OBE • PAGE 13

A HOME FOR CHURCH MUSIC Church music is thriving with the help of the Royal School of Church Music • PAGE 20

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Making Music Platform Musical fusion in Sheffield Your news CONTENTS & EDITORIAL

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NEWS 5 The bigger picture Welcome 6 Around the UK

FEATURES 8 Musical ‘medicine’ Some changes are easier than others: this is the third Highnotes 13 Meet our President Welcome note referencing an imminent Brexit. But closer to 19 Making Music Together home, making changes to your group can divide opinions and 20 A home for church music take quite some time, too. FROM OUR TEAM Our 2015 research on why younger people are not joining 14 Membership and services 17 Projects music groups showed some barriers specific to them. But we 26 Making Music people soon realised that a group providing wide-ranging information

MEMBERS and fully considering all kinds of needs creates a welcoming 11 Blow your trumpet atmosphere not just for younger potential joiners, but for any 21 Exploring music newcomers, while also improving the chances of existing 23 Drop the mic members staying. 24 Corporate members 25 Readers’ page So we now have resources, and an event on recruitment and retention (‘Growing your membership’ p14), and offer an ‘online If you have suggestions or would like New Chorum Instruments to contribute to Highnotes, please contact health check’ on groups’ digital presence (now supported by the Commissioning Editor, Natalie Joanes, on 020 7939 6041 our new Making Music Platform (also p14)). This Highnotes also or [email protected] highlights inclusivity through dementia choirs in Scotland and The copy deadline for Highnotes Spring 2020 arts on prescription (p8-9). (published 1 January) is 25 October Our new range of sampled sound Any views or opinions expressed by We all agree anyone should be able to take part in a music group, external contributors may not necessarily and groups are always keen to welcome new members. Where instruments offer: represent those of Making Music Highnotes is the official journal of change is needed to make that happen, at Making Music we can n More internal speakers Making Music, The National Federation help with that. And however hard it may be, it could be quicker of Music Societies, 8 Holyrood Street, n More detailed sampling with a greater number London SE1 2EL and less painful than Brexit … of sample points 020 7939 6030 See and play the new range in Bicester [email protected] n www.makingmusic.org.uk Internal solid state recording facility or at regional dealers n Extra voicing facilities for individual stops A company limited by guarantee, registered in Irvine ...... Soundtec Organs England and Wales no. 308632 n 4 fixed organ styles Registered charity in England and Wales Edinburgh ...... Key Player no. 249219 and in Scotland no. SC038849 n Orchestral voices on all models Morecambe ...... Promenade Music If you need us to make any of this information more accessible, please get in touch Barbara Eifler Porthmadog ...... Pianos Cymru £6 where sold, annual subscription £15 (3 issues) CHIEF EXECUTIVE, MAKING MUSIC A full range of models starts from £6000 Designed by Cog Design Email: [email protected] Leigh ...... A Bogdan Organs Printed by Gemini Press Twitter: @BarbaraEifler To learn more or book an appointment to play, Swansea ...... Music Station Advertising: Contact Sharon Maslen at Space Marketing: 01892 677742 contact us on Norwich ...... Cookes Pianos Cover photo: [email protected] Bandon ...... Jeffers Music Launch of the Dementia Inclusive Exeter ...... Music Unlimited Choirs Network in Scotland Ballymena ...... Nicholl Brothers Credit: Richard Frew Tel: 01869 247 333 Londonderry ...... Henderson Music www.viscountorgans.net Belfast ...... Keynote Organs

2521_HN Chorum Advert.indd 1 03/04/2017 08:58 NEWS Backwaters_Magazine Ad_HighNotes_Mar19.qxp_Layout 1 14/03/2019 08:29 Page 1 THE BIGGER PICTURE Musical Cruises @makingmusicuk

in Burgundy ADULT MUSIC LEARNING Explore the attractive lesser Whether you continue, return to waterways of Burgundy as we cruise or take up music-making as an the River Yonne and Canal du Nivernais at gentle adult, you will be a learner: taking pace, visit the great cities, chateaux and lessons, attending summer schools, vineyards, and enjoy fine dining with local wines as practising, receiving input from your we stay in the same welcoming hotel throughout. We conductor, starting a new instrument typically cruise 70km in a week, with lots of pauses for locks, or newly launching into singing. Or wildlife sightings and plenty of chance to stroll the towpath. maybe you’re determined to finally crack reading those notes, and Sat 25 May 7 days Rivers of Wine £995 passing some grades? Most of us Sun 30 June 6 days The Classic Nivernais £795 adult hobby musicians will do some or all of these things – but are music Sun 11 Aug 7 days Cruising to Music with the Radnor Trio £1,195 educators and suppliers helping us Sat 7 Sep 8 days The Classic Nivernais £1,075 and providing learning and tools in Winner BGTW Sat 14 Sep 5 days Nivernais Taster £595 Awards an appropriate way? Best New To explore some of the issues Sat 5 Oct 7 days A Swing Band Cruise £1,195 Tourism Project Europe 2018 surrounding this topic, Making Sat 12 Oct 8 days Cruising to Music with the Radnor Trio £1,275 Music will be hosting a half day All tour cruises are full board and include coach transfers from Ashford and Folkestone. There is a complimentary bar throughout cruising. symposium on The Shape and Please see www.backwaters.tours/itineraries for our full programme from May 2019 Future of Adult Music Learning Music on the NHS on Wednesday 25 September, bringing together researchers, music Social prescribing is on the horizon educators and relevant suppliers. We will be reporting on the Social prescribing, where your GP either way. outcomes later in the autumn. For all your sends you off to do gardening, We are also looking at how singing or netball instead of we may feed into the training CHILD LICENSING putting you on medication, is set that link workers will receive, so Thank you to all of you who music education to be rolled out systematically by we can be sure they understand contributed to the survey on this the NHS from 2020. our members, and whether issue which closed on 15 June. The & performance equipment The GP passes you to a local there might be relevant training Did you results are being evaluated and the available for members with an link worker who, based on an know? most effective next step is being assessment of your needs and interest in this area. considered by the consortium of their knowledge of the local Since starting to work on your The theme for organisations acting on this issue community, refers you on to a behalf to understand the barriers this year’s BBC under the umbrella of the Music Sound-isolating suitable group or activity. to people joining and remaining Music Practice Rooms Music Day on Education Council (including Making Music Folders Making Music is working to in music groups, we have realised Music, Music Mark, Brass Bands Music Stands, understand whether these plans many of them are not specific to 26 September Lights & Accessories England, British and International present an interesting opportunity a person’s age or the extent of celebrates the Festivals Federation, Association of Music Folders for Choir & Orchestra for members to welcome new their musical background or their power of music British Orchestras, Music for Youth Music Chairs & Accessories -elegant, lightweight, high-quality people to their group and particular (eg physical or health- and Choir Schools Association). connect with their community related) needs. to change Instrument & Sheet music folders to help you organise We hope to bring you more news Music Storage in a new way. Or will this result We believe working in a the lives of and suggestions on how you can your sheet music. in bureaucratic processes that variety of ways to help you be Conductor’s Equipment people living help us mitigate the harmful effect Personalised gold-blocking are too much for a volunteer-run more inclusive and put up fewer with dementia. of the 2014 regulations on the Staging & Risers music group to cope with? And of (usually inadvertent!) obstacles to service available. Register opportunities for community music Acoustic Products course, we want to see if we can newcomers will ultimately mean groups to actively engage with give you appropriate guidance you will be able to retain more of your event at young people. and toolkits, so that you can make your current members and find it BBCMusicDay makingmusic.org.uk/campaigns- www.blackcatmusic.co.uk Just call us on Freephone 0800 072 7799 the right decision for your group easier to welcome new ones. @bbc.co.uk and-advocacy/child-licensing

Autumn 2019 HIGHNOTES 5 NEWS NEWS AROUND THE UK If you have any news you would like to share, email [email protected]

HERTFORDSHIRE In March, the Abbey Gateway Member announcements Orchestra, St Albans, was New appointments, anniversaries, awards and projects Obituary: privileged to perform and record New Egham Singers is a Peterborough Opera, founded Grayshott Concerts has Marian Davidson a variety of compositions by non-auditioned choir of about by music teacher Clive Fairbairn been invited to stage the world Making Music was very A-level students at a Hertfordshire 130 members who sing a mix in 1969, is celebrating its 50th premiere of Sir Karl Jenkins’ major sorry to hear of the passing school, where music ranged of popular music styles, and is anniversary in October with a work Miserere – Songs of Mercy of Marian Davidson, a from a string quartet and wind celebrating its 10th anniversary. In production of WA Mozart’s The and Redemption on 29 November, former Making Music quintet to well-crafted orchestral 2008, Making Music asked Egham Magic Flute. The performance on which will be recorded for volunteer and winner scores. The orchestra was and District Choral Society (EDCS) Saturday 26 October at Oundle broadcast by Classic FM. Miserere of the President’s Award sometimes challenged but very 2012 for her outstanding to run a singing course, the will be a Gala event with some is based on Psalm 51 and the much rewarded by the genuine contribution to Making success of which led to 30 of its of the former members present. concert will feature world-class appreciation of their efforts by Music. Marian made a graduates joining Egham Choral. Over the years the company musicians including the Britten the young composers and their significant impact on the Many of these singers, however, has produced most of the major Sinfonia Orchestra, the Polyphony organisation for more than teachers. felt that they wanted a different operas including Benjamin Choir and counter-tenor 20 years, including setting The orchestra was joined by outlet for their newly discovered Britten’s Peter Grimes and Richard Iestyn Davies. The line-up also up a musical collaboration young players from the school talents other than choral Wagner’s Flying Dutchman, the includes soloists Zands Duggan with the National Trust and who performed two repertoire repertoire. So EDCS decided to latter recognised by Peterborough (percussion), Abel Selaocoe playing a central role in pieces, giving their music teacher create sister choir, New Egham City Council as the most (cello) and Catrin Finch (harp). the introduction of Making his first experience of conducting Singers, which thrives today. outstanding amateur production. grayshottconcerts.co.uk Music’s current branding a chamber orchestra in public. WALES neweghamsingers.org peterboroughopera.co.uk and house style. Above: The Abbey Gateway Orchestra Bringing Beethoven to Wales Violinist Mary also nurtures its own composers Hofman, pianist and conductors from within its Richard Ormrod 60 A fresh perspective from female composers and composer ranks, making them a valued 60-second interview second Hilary Tann feature at their events. interview In rural Wales, music clubs play Tann’s First Light, a meditation abbeygateway.org Alan Castle, Trustee and Director, talks about the a huge part in maintaining live on Beethoven’s contemplative immersive experience of the Tenterden Folk Festival music locally. In 2018/19, Rhyl LEICESTER side. Internationally-renowned Leicester Philharmonic Choir Music Club launched an ambitious duo Mary Hofman, violinist, and What is the Tenterden Folk Festival? and highly successful Beethoven in recently proved that opening up Richard Ormrod, pianist, who live your group can be a great way Tenterden Folk Festival is four days of folk song, music, dance, crafts Wales concert series - featuring all in Snowdonia are performing the and traditions and takes place in various venues in and around ten of Beethoven’s violin sonatas. to engage current and potential pieces. The concert series also choir members. Members of Tenterden town centre. The three-concert series is includes workshops and talks by being staged by music clubs the public joined the choir for What’s the aim of the festival? the composers. an intensive day of rehearsing The main objective is to preserve and advance public education around Wales, with nine venues Each commission was premiered taking part from Welshpool to and performing John Stainer’s and appreciation of traditional and contemporary folk music, song, at Rhyl Town Hall and the music Crucifixion. The choir also dance and other related traditions, crafts and folk arts as a part of Folk band Morrigan are regular concert, barn dance and workshop guests at the Aberystwyth and beyond. Each of club, which came up with the idea Festival the concerts includes a new piece “Making managed to raise money for the living heritage. We also aim to make it a good fun weekend for of the project along with Mary Rainbows Hospice, their chosen the town, visitors and tourists. commissioned from Welsh, female Hofman, and was generously music come where there is a particular connection. composers to offer a counter charity, with donations from Who set it up and how long has it been going? supported by the Colwinston those who attended. Do you run any other events or activities at the festival? voice to, and new perspective on, Trust, Tŷ Cerdd, PRS/Women Make alive is so I ran a small event in 1993 with the support of Ashford Borough And throughout the year? Beethoven. The new works are: Dr Stephen Bullamore, MD Council and a group of friends. We then formed a committee, Music and Mrs Gwyneth Peters. fulfilling. I of the Phil said that the event The Festival includes around 50 events over the four days. The Rhian Samuel’s new Violin Sonata, The ongoing concert series is registered the charity in 1994 and then it slowly grew to a four Festival includes concerts, barn dances, workshops, meet the which takes ideas from Beethoven think of it as demonstrated that there is a day event. intended to raise the profile of, and wealth of talent in Leicestershire. guests, song and music sessions, special shows, dance displays, and explores the dramatic increase support for, the wonderful exercise for What’s the reach of the festival? Morris dancers, a procession, craft fair and street stalls. We also potential of themes to merge ‘…We had a good mix of work music clubs are doing across experienced singers and those Lots of people who attend the festival come from the local area but run a free monthly song and music session in the William Caxton with, overcome or reject one Wales, and the other venues will the soul.” many come from across the whole of the country. We also have pub. We promote other occasional events and we act as a local folk another; Until the Thread Breaks who were dipping a toe in the be scheduling performances Member quote water. I think that anyone who visitors from Europe and even the USA and Australia. development agency. We have just been awarded a grant from the by Sarah Lianne Lewis reflecting from Making throughout the next two seasons. was singing that day would be an What styles of music do you promote? Overstone Trust through Kent Community Foundation to run a on the effect that Beethoven’s Music Together series of workshops in local schools. deafness had on his art; and Hilary rhylmusic.com/beethoven-in- Barbican asset to the Phil.” Our emphasis is mainly on traditional and contemporary English wales exhibition thephil.org.uk/join folk music but we also include music from other countries especially tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk

6 HIGHNOTES Autumn 2019 Autumn 2019 HIGHNOTES 7 FEATURE FEATURE Safeguarding measures

Whether you’re thinking of working with vulnerable groups or not, it’s good practice to have key arrangements in place in case the make-up of your membership changes. Develop a simple policy for your group that sets out your approach to working with children and adults at risk. It should include: • a written statement of your group’s commitment to safeguarding them • specified lead people in your group responsible for safeguarding • detailed procedures for raising and dealing with complaints.

choirs so that skills and experience can be shared. Pilot Plan regular reviews of the policy to give you the networking and training events will be rolled out this opportunity to amend or update it in line with any autumn in different locations across Scotland. change in the protections that your members may Musical ‘medicine’ Kirsty Walker, the Dementia Inclusive Choirs need. Network Manager says, “We hope that through Making Music member groups can use our template Making your music group more inclusive could be just what the “...[the encouraging and supporting dementia inclusiveness safeguarding policy in the resources on our website: doctor ordered for new and current members alike care home within community singing, the choirs network will makingmusic.org.uk/resource/safeguarding- enable people living with dementia, their families policy-template Making music is now so widely acknowledged as including those living with dementia, learning disabilities residents] and carers, to more easily access high quality singing being tremendously beneficial, especially for mental or additional needs due to illness such as Parkinson’s, or were activities in their communities and to enjoy all the DBS checks health and wellbeing, that it is set to be systematically acquired disability, for example following a stroke. energised by benefits that we know this can bring in relation to In specific circumstances, if people in your group prescribed by the NHS from 2020 along with other arts, Chiltern Music Therapy approached Making Music being enabled wellbeing and inclusion.” are working directly with children or at risk sports and community-based activities. This is referred to see whether some of their clients might enjoy joining A website will provide information on resources, adults, you need to make sure that they are DBS to as social prescribing. one of our groups following on from, or in addition to, to rekindle news, events, training and more. In the meantime, checked. Making Music can help you with this: We already know about the profound effect music their music therapy sessions. What would be involved in their rhythmic anyone can register to receive email news updates makingmusic.org.uk/resource/disclosure-and- has on dementia sufferers, as highlighted in this year’s making that happen? And would it be beneficial for the and singing from Luminate at www.luminatescotland.org and barring-service-dbs highly emotive BBC documentary, Vicky McClure’s individual and the group? To explore these issues, we skills... Using Making Music will publicise all opportunities through Our Dementia Choir. There is an increasing body are now trialling this with some of their clients, and we’ll the usual channels. Online safeguarding course of evidence which suggests music reduces many report on this later in the year. our varied It’s not only important to think about the new We have worked with the Child Protection Company distressing symptoms of dementia, improves emotional The Dementia Inclusive Choirs Network, launched in musical skills members you might welcome into your group – to develop Safeguarding for Music Groups, a wellbeing, and opens up channels of communication May 2019 and funded by the Life Changes Trust and the to think on there’s also the members already there to consider. bespoke online safeguarding training course for and connection with families and carers. As Vicky sums Baring Foundation, is a new project in Scotland that aims our feet and Have you ever thought about what conditions or leisure-time music groups. The course covers up in the programme, even if music isn’t the cure for to ensure people living with dementia can benefit from illnesses they might have, and how you might make safeguarding for children and adults at risk, and dementia, scientific data proves that it can be the ‘magic all the positive health impacts of regularly singing in a interact with your group more accessible to them? A more inclusive will give music leaders, committee members, ingredient’ in improving quality of life. group. Making Music has teamed up with Age Scotland the residents group fosters a more enriching experience for your safeguarding officers or anyone else who wants to Projects in the community can play a vital role in and Scottish Care to support Luminate (Scotland’s was very members, new and old. take the course an excellent understanding of their bringing music to everyone living with dementia. So creative ageing organisation) to deliver the project over intense Individuals from Making Music member group the responsibilities, helping to make the group a safe Many Beauties is an Arts Council England-funded project two years. St George Singers recently embarked on Music for environment for all. Find out more: which gives people living with dementia the opportunity Making Music is aiming to develop and provide but very Dementia 2020 training: “As well as being pleased to to create new music. In the current phase of So Many bespoke support for choirs whose work focuses on rewarding...” makingmusic.org.uk/resource/safeguarding- see us they [the care home residents] were energised Photo: training-course Beauties, volunteer leisure-time singers and musicians are people living with dementia and their carers, as well Launch of the Members of the by being enabled to rekindle their rhythmic and receiving training and support in order to bring music to as supporting community choirs who would like to Dementia Inclusive The course contains specific scenarios that music St George Singers, singing skills. We also were energised by the sessions. care homes in their own communities. become dementia inclusive. The network will offer Choirs Network in groups might find themselves in, for example, participants in So Using our varied musical skills to think on our feet Scotland Chiltern Music Therapy, a not-for-profit social advice and support, resources and training for choir Many Beauties and interact with the residents was very intense but Credit: performing concerts in a local care home, or Richard Frew enterprise, provides music therapy to people of all ages, leaders and organisers and enable connections between very rewarding.” situations that might arise with children or at risk adults during rehearsals.

8 HIGHNOTES Autumn 2019 Autumn 2019 HIGHNOTES 9 MEMBERS BLOW YOUR TRUMPET

Sharing across borders What’s a great way to form connections across boundaries? We learn about the European Queer Choir from its founder, Martin Brophy European Queer Choir. Although it’s known as an LGBT+ choir, these Choir members range in age from 25 terms aren’t used prescriptively, as some people to 80 and are scattered across Europe, find them restricting. Martin says, “We aim to from Germany and Sweden to Ireland be a safe space. People who call themselves and the UK. The members connect using by a range of labels, from feminists to socialists Skype, Google Hangouts, and Integra as well as allies, are members simply because Planner. Members don’t need to be able they feel more comfortable and accepted in to read music necessarily, but it helps to this environment.” Gender can be fluid rather have some musical awareness and singing than binary, so voices aren’t identified as male experience. Martin says, “You need to or female but rather by part SATB, mixed, or After over 20 years of singing with the be motivated and self-sufficient, because higher or lower. The choir logo itself is inclusive London Gay Men’s Chorus, in 2016 Martin there’s learning to be done on your – it uses the European Union flag but the stars gathered together 20 singers from around own in between meeting online and at are in different colours to represent a variety of Europe. With some committed fundraising, performances.” The choir sing in four-part identities. But the choir isn’t political, preferring JOIN LSO CHORAL DIRECTOR they made enough to pay for a musical harmony, using voice learning tracks, and to describe themselves as Europhiles. director and accompanist to take them all meet two or three times a year in person Despite continuing Brexit uncertainties, the SIMON HALSEY AND DISCOVER the way to the GALA Choruses Festival in to rehearse, performing pop, classical, choir itself is positive about its future. Their next INCREDIBLE MUSIC FOR VOICES Denver, Colorado. The choir sang in their folk, and songs in two or three European sing is at the Hand in Hand Festival in Cardiff. AT OUR SINGING DAYS own concert and at the festival’s opening languages other than English. Next year they aim to go to GALA Festival once and closing ceremonies, and were such a The choir fosters a warm and again – this time with 100 singers. success that they set up permanently as the welcoming atmosphere of equality. eqchoir.eu or facebook.com/groups/ EuropeQueerChoir Beethoven’s Christ on the Mount of Olives Sunday 22 September 2019 Fusion fireworks Mahler’s Symphony No 2, ‘Resurrection’ Jo Towler explains how promoter, Music in the Round, is bringing musical and cultural fusion Sunday 15 March 2020 to Sheffield Immortal Bach: Magnificat & More Music in the Round recently led a cross- quartet written especially for the Sunday 10 May 2020 cultural collaboration between our Bridge occasion, alongside other works for Quartet, tabla virtuoso Kuljit Bhamra orchestra and tabla. Music in the Round MBE, and 50 players from Sheffield Music undertook a project in Sheffield schools Hub’s Senior Orchestra. with Kuljit a few years previously, but LSO ST LUKE’S, 161 OLD STREET, EC1V 9NG As a promoter, Music in the Round this was a wonderful opportunity brings people closer to music, whether to maximise what he could offer, that’s in the concert environment or at working with young people as well as lso.co.uk/sing our learning and participation events. We showcasing the tabla. Performing at Kelham Island Museum Photo: Lizzie Lees Learn more about the LSO’s choirs, are embedded within the musical life of It was a unique chance for the Music choral concerts and how to get involved Sheffield and South Yorkshire, regularly Hub orchestra to play in a genre-busting The hour-long concert was performed twice collaborating with the region’s four Music event with a virtuoso instrumentalist to capacity audiences at Kelham Island Museum, Hubs and with Sheffield Music Academy. from a non-Western music background. 18% of whom self-reported never having been We also work with other local ensembles This event was also the perfect occasion to a classical concert before. Professional and and choirs through Classical Sheffield, a to feature the four string players in young musicians alike praised the amazing network of 70 classical groups in the area. Music in the Round’s Bridge Quartet experience of playing together, and audiences Part of Sheffield’s city-wide Classical scheme for nurturing emerging ethnic enjoyed the presentation in an unusual Weekend festival, our cross-cultural minority musicians. Working on a performance space. We look forward to working collaboration featured the world brand new commission especially for again with Kuljit in the future. premiere of Dervish, Kuljit Bhamra’s the concert with Kuljit was a fabulous musicintheround.co.uk piece commissioned for tabla and string experience for everyone involved. Autumn 2019 HIGHNOTES 11 FEATURE

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JOIN US FOR A new orchestral experience for advanced amateur musicians SYMPHONIC HOLIDAYS from around the world Mediterranean life combined with dynamic and instructive rehearsals Meeting Debbie culminating in a concert performance at the end of your vacation We chat to award-winning composer and Making Music President Debbie Symphonic Holidays 2020 Wiseman OBE about her musical journey from Torquay to Wolf Hall France 15/5 - 24/5 and 11/7 - 21/7 Italy 24/7 - 2/8 and 2/10 - 11/10 What is your earliest experience of music? also performed live – how does that work? www.dacapo-travel.eu I saw a bashed-up old piano in the corner of a dining I really enjoy performing live and having the room when we were on a family holiday in Torquay. opportunity of performing in front of an audience. I was absolutely mesmerised and every day, I would It certainly gets the adrenalin going as there’s only go over and try and bash away at the keys. When we one performance, whereas in the recording studio got home from the holiday my mum found a way of there’s always the possibility of doing another take! getting us a piano at home and I started to have piano I will usually pick the main themes to perform live lessons at school. as they’re generally the most instantly recognisable Which kinds of music influenced you the most and if there are special arrangements required then when you were growing up? I would do them with the concert setting in mind. We’ve done quite a lot of performances of my score I had a classical training but a friend of my mum’s for Wolf Hall live recently which has been great fun, bought me a book of Beatles songs as a present one with Anton Lesser (who played Thomas More in the day, arranged for small hands, and I absolutely loved TV series) narrating excerpts alongside the music. It’s that book! It encouraged me to listen to all types of been lovely adding narration to the concert as it adds “Making music...pop, jazz, classical, rock, world music. I found another dimension. something interesting in every genre. Music Which three people would you invite to a When and how did you first realise that you dinner party? believes that wanted to write music rather than perform it? Mozart for the sheer genius, John Barry for his effortless it’s important The idea of coming up with my own tunes was exciting and memorable melodies, and Olivier Messiaen for and from a very young age I would improvise and enjoy being my inspiration at music college when I was to put music jotting ideas down. I think it started to really take hold encouraged to compose in a more avant-garde style. at the heart when I started Trinity College of Music in their Junior Department, as the teachers were so inspiring. What drew you to being President of Making of our Music? How do you write music – on a computer, a communities, piano or otherwise? Making Music believes that it’s important to put music at the heart of our communities, and I share that belief. and I share I write at the piano as I feel most comfortable there, but It’s a great honour to spread the word and encourage that belief.” ideas can come at any time. I always try things out at music-making across all communities. the piano first before developing the idea though – it’s definitely my musical office! Read the full interview: makingmusic.org.uk/our- president. Follow Debbie on Twitter @wisemandebbie Your music is written for film or TV, but is often

Autumn 2019 HIGHNOTES 13 FROM OUR TEAM FROM OUR TEAM

CONTACT US [email protected] / 020 7939 6030 We are here Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICES CONTACT US New members Helping you get the most from your membership [email protected] / 020 7939 6030 A warm welcome to the 94 new members who joined between 1 April and 31 July! Abbeydale Singers Kansley & Lidert Limited Simply Lyrical EVENTS Còisir Ghàidhlig Mhealbhaich / Aberystwyth Silver Band Melvich Gaelic Choir La Ronde Concert Band of Jersey Sing Out Loud Community Our events help you with running Interest Company Alcester Victoria Silver Band Cranbrook Town Band Langtree Sinfonia your group – book your free place Sleaford Ukulele Orchestra Alnwick Playhouse Concert Band Danetre Ukulele Orchestra Liberty Drum Corps at: makingmusic.org.uk/events Smithy Belles Audentior Symphony Orchestra Delph Youth Band London Shostakovich Orchestra Steel City Voices Getting to grips with PRS and Balderstone Brass Band De-Rebirth Lymm and District Chorus Sutton Coldfield Wind Orchestra copyright Benton Community Choir Dumfries and Galloway Youth Lytham St Annes Shanty Crew Wed 11 Sept, Norwich Syston Band Big Noise Chorus Orchestra Matchbox Opera Ltd Sat 14 Sept, Stratford-upon-Avon Taff Vale Brass Birchington Silver Band East London Metropolitan Opera Musarc Sat 21 Sept, Edinburgh The Castlegate Singers Birmingham Metro Choir Edinburgh Incidental Orchestra Musica Viva London Making the most of your online Eildon Singers The International Guild of Bournville Clarinet Choir Musical Friends Town Pipers presence Endeavour Chorus Sat 7 Sept, Yeovil British Kodály Academy NewSPAL: New Surrey The Nene Consort Falmouth Community Gospel Performing Arts Library Sun 13 Oct, Leicester Campsie Crooners Choir The Skipton Choir Norwich City Concert Band Sun 20 Oct, Sunderland Carfield Community Choir Faversham Mission Brass The Traditional Youth Oakham Festival Marching Bands Association Making Music Platform Every penny counts - tips for Carleton Community Chorus FitzFest Off The Scale Tribo Band improving your income Chanteuse Chamber Choir Footloose Dance Orchestra Access all the tools you need to run your group in Orchestra Nouveau Trinity Singers Sun 22 Sept, Doncaster Cheadle Community Band Foxwood Steel one place Sat 2 Nov, Shrewsbury Chichester Voices Peterborough Community Triple Harmony Choir Giarole Singers 2019 Orchestra Growing your membership CHORA Venturi Wind Quintet/ Beach Hand Of Peterborough Flute Choir We are delighted to introduce our Key facts Wed 2 Oct, Redhill Wind Ensemble Chorley Silver Band HARMONIX latest service, which we think can Ponteland Community Wind Via Nova Ensemble Chorlton Ukulele Group make a huge difference to many • The cost is £78/year, plus an Council meeting Haworth Ukulele Group Band Sat 5 Oct, Swansea VSA Sing groups. initial set-up fee in the first year City Youth Music Hexham Abbey Festival Prudhoe Community Band of £130. Walsall Choral Society Making Music Platform is a new Member meetup Closeshave Chorus Horsham Garden Music Festival Richmond Opera online tool to help you run your • You don’t have to use the public- Thu 10 Oct, Gateshead Clun Valley Music Wivenhoe St Mary's Music Jam Sessions Scissett Youth Band Society group. You might currently use facing website – you can link the Did you Cockermouth Mechanics Jubilate Community Choir Scottish Clarinet Choir Yorkshire Wolds Versatile Brass several systems to do this, such admin tools and login area to know? Brass Band Eastbourne Shaftesbury Community Choir as Excel, Google Drive, Eventbrite your current site. or MailChimp. Making Music • You can keep your current We have domain name. Platform can replace all of these delivered over Making Music staff so that you have everything you Visit makingmusic.org.uk/platform 100 online Barbara Eifler Sharon Moloney need in one place. It includes to: Exclusive Making Be proud! Chief Executive Member Engagement Manager Music member online admin tools to manage your health checks discounts • find full details of what Making Workineh Asres To be appointed group’s activities, a members’ login so far. If you’d Making Music represents over Music Platform offers and how Finance & IT Director Manager – Wales area and a public facing website – 3,600 leisure-time music groups – it works like one of our Ben Saffell Alison Reeves Working all integrated as one system. that’s 190,000 hobby musicians, • explore the demo site volunteers Membership & Operations Director Manager – Scotland It’s a really powerful tool and • sign up. and their supporters and to a tight to look at Sally Palmer Liz Clark we don’t have space to list all the audiences – across the UK. budget? features here, but the key ones are: As this is a new service we will be your online Membership Services & Projects Marketing & Communications Director processing requests in batches. If Download member badges Manager Natalie Joanes a member database, invoicing, presence and logos and use them on subs tracking, taking card the current batch is full we will let Joe Hooper Communications & Marketing Manager As a member of Making your website or your marketing Music, choose from dozens payments, attendance tracking, you know where you are on the and suggest Membership Services Administrator Michael Pearce materials, and show the world of discounts on sheet music list and when you can expect to Caitlin Goreing Marketing & Communications Officer email communications, ticket sales, improvements, that you’re part of a movement hire and hearing protection polls and document sharing. The be set up with your Making Music sign up at Membership Services & Projects Xenia Davis to online ticketing, music for leisure-time music! lessons and much more. public website has a simple, clean Platform. Assistant Youth Engagement Manager makingmusic. Visit makingmusic.org.uk/ and flexible structure. Contact us to find out more: Lily Funnell resource/member-badges makingmusic.org.uk/discounts [email protected] org.uk/online- Membership Services Administrator & health-check Office Manager 14 HIGHNOTES Autumn 2019 Autumn 2019 HIGHNOTES 15 FROM OUR TEAM

BLACK DRESS CODE PROJECTS Keeping you up to date with projects and programmes STYLISH PERFORMANCE CLOTHING DESIGNED FOR YOU Left: Fun Palaces DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2016. Photo by Everything for the string player Helen Murray

Right: Composer Chloe Knibbs at work

www.caswells-strings.co.uk Adopt a Composer [email protected] 2018/19 premieres Visit www.blackdresscode.com Telephone: 01280 707140 to see our full range! Upcoming performances • Clara (Chloe Knibbs/Ex Urbe) 7pm, 21 Sep 2019, St James’s 07983 281244 [email protected] Fun Palaces Church, Coventry This year’s Fun Palaces weekend is 5-6 October - • Clara (Chloe Knibbs/Ex Urbe) 4.30pm, 22 Sep 2019, Dorridge could your music group be part of it? Methodist Church, Solihull

• Three Carriages (Nicholas Olsen/Da Concert Tours for all Music Ensembles Fun Palaces helps communities • If you teach me a simple crochet Capo Alba) 3 Oct 2019, Glasgow across the UK co-create local Did you technique, we sit down with a Royal Concert Hall cultural events. chance to chat. know? • Concertino for Concert Band (James Stella Duffy, Fun Palaces Co- • sporty people might turn up for the 21 September Banner/Two Rivers Concert Band) Director, explains: The Netherlands kickboxing workshop and, for the is World Peace 4.30pm, 6 Oct 2019, Salt Mills, A ‘Fun Palace’ lasts anything from first time ever, be encouraged to Saltaire Get in touch for your 2020 tour Day, and also two hours to a full day and people play a note on the violin. • Concertino for Concert Band (James come together to offer taster sessions • someone watches their friend’s #onedayonechoir Banner/Two Rivers Concert Band) of their skills or hobbies. Fun Palaces orchestra playing and realises they - the global 7.30pm, 19 Oct 2019, are as different and distinctive as the too have a skill they could share at choir project. Christchurch, Ilkley places they happen and the people next year’s Fun Palace. • Postcard from Swansea (Nathan leading them. Sing a song You can make a Fun Palace James Dearden/Swansea It works like this. Someone offers on the theme Philharmonic Choir) 8 Dec 2019 ade con -m cer yourself or offer your own group or t il to to teach a few bars on the guitar, Brangwyn Hall, Swansea a u of peace and t r r Transport s to a local Fun Palace. At Making PRICES FROM* u i another person encourages you to n O c unity, dedicate Excursions l Music we think this is another u

pp d try some tap dancing steps, someone

Accommodation e Past performances £395 : fantastic way for music groups 4 day, 3 night tour else shares a passion for wildlife something that Concerts & Publicity to connect with new and more • Jumpcut/Longshot (Robert Laidlow/ *visit rayburntours.com photography, an astrophysicist helps you are already for further details Insurance Southampton Concert Wind others learn more about the universe, people. Tell us if you’ve taken part, performing, or Band), 7.30pm, 18 May 2019, and the karate club introduces plan to do so, or what may be perform a free Royal Victoria Country Park Unforgettable performance opportunities: Unmissable visits: newcomers to some simple skills. stopping you, so that we can feed • Oosterkerk, Amsterdam • Amsterdam Canal Cruise Highly successful event“ for our choir in terms of back to the Fun Palaces team by song: www. • Evensong (Laura Snowden/ At the same time: • Delft Market Square • Rijksmuseum performance experience and growing friendships. emailing: onedayonechoir. Chandos Chamber Choir) 7.30pm, • Grote Markt, Haarlem • Delft Pottery Factory Jam Theatre, The Netherlands, 2019 • neighbours talk to each other. [email protected] org/how-to-join- 4 Jul 2019, St Pancras Church, funpalaces.co.uk Euston, London 01332 347 828 | [email protected] | RAYBURNTOURS.COM in making-music-sept-19.indd 1 26/07/2019 08:34:02 Autumn 2019 HIGHNOTES 17 FEATURE

SING BARBERSHOP I wholeheartedly agree with all the sentiments IT’S THE HARMONY THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE The 2020 Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition expressed in this exhibition – the language of “Contributing to the future of classical music by music is truly universal. It crosses the boundaries supporting today’s outstanding young musicians” of age, gender, nationality, society, faith and 1ST ROUND: 29 APRIL - 1 MAY • SEMI-FINALS: 2 MAY • FINALS: 3 MAY politics – it lifts the soul!! Visitor comment 2018 Youth Quartet Champions Northern Quarter The British Association of Barbershop Singers Youth Quartet Contest Saturday 9th November 2019 The Octagon, Sheffield

The British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS) Youth Quartet Contest is open to all young men 25 years of age and under. If you know of a school, college or university quartet, or even just a youth quartet from your area, then this contest is for them. They just have to sing two barbershop harmony songs. Be part of this international music competition, recognised around the world Advice is available on song choice, and entry is free!

In addition to gaining the title of the National Barbershop Youth Quartet Champions, the winners will be presented with a trophy, medals and a grant from BABS.

Closing Date 30th September 2019

Open to BABS and non-BABS members. For further details contact: in association with Mayfield School Alan Hughes - Music Services Director Tel: 07841 819535 | [email protected] | www.singbarbershop.com

Contest sponsored by The British Association of Barbershop Singers Registered Office: 6 Corunna Court, Corunna Road, Warwick CV34 5HQ Registered Charity No: 1080930 TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS UNIQUE COMPETITION, VISIT WWW.TWIMC.ORG.UK

Making Music Together In 2019 the Barbican Music Library, London, offered Making Music exhibition space. How better to fill it than with a celebration of leisure-time music?

Getting involved in music is for everyone, whatever to London to see it in person, experience it in their background or previous experience, and we full technicolour and sound with a virtual reality “Lovely wanted to celebrate this in the exhibition. So we version of the exhibition. exhibition! asked all our member groups, from all parts of the Browse the posters, and listen to and watch UK, to send us their posters and recordings and audio and video recordings of a range of groups Might just tell us why they love making music in a group so in action, and read about the stories of some have given much. We gathered all of these visuals, sounds of these groups in more depth. We’ve taken and words together to create a vibrant collection quotes and stories from groups and woven them me the push that reflects the breadth and variety of the leisure- around colourful infographics on the leisure- I needed to time music scene. To accompany the exhibition, time music sector and photographic portraits we get back some of our members ran workshops on singing commissioned of individual leisure-time musicians Discounts available for Making Music members in harmony, and an introduction to the early music in their day-time role, juxtaposed with their into making instrument, the crumhorn. musical activity. on High Fidelity Ambient Hearing Protection music more With only a limited run of a couple of months, Visit makingmusic.org.uk/virtual-exhibition acscustom.com | [email protected] we thought it would be a shame to pack the actively ;)” exhibition away again afterwards, so we’re Visitor comment delighted to announce that we have captured it all online! So if you didn’t manage to make it

18 HIGHNOTES Summer 2019 Autumn 2019 HIGHNOTES 19 MEMBERS FEATURE EXPLORING MUSIC Readers tell us about the music they love. Email [email protected] Jukebox Readers share how a particular piece of music inspires them

were quite enthusiastic gig goers – when we lived in Moscow we spent a lot of time in odd bars listening to local bands, or seeing the opera and ballet companies in the city. When Alicia was born, I made a deliberate decision not to play children’s music in the car with her. This was a purely selfish choice – the wheels on that bus really do go round all day long, and she’d hear enough about that at various playgroups. Instead, Alicia got a diet of daddy’s CDs. One favourite was Ozymandias, an album by a German electro band called Qntal. It’s an odd mix of medieval poetry and electronica; the kind of thing a Rhenish A home for church music monk might have danced to if only he’d invented techno a few centuries early. And most of the texts are in Latin. But it’s catchy. And, after a while, odd little squeaks would

Director, Hugh Morris, explains how the Royal School of Church Music is helping Photo: Andy and his daughter Alicia emerge from the back seat. Barely two years old, Alicia was church music flourish gamely trying to sing along to ‘Flamma’. Derived from Carmina Flamma - Qntal Burana, and a not wholly age-appropriate text about how a new Many music groups, wherever they are in the country, programme is a part of that. Though young people are www.youtube.com/watch?v=l--JeJ9jVPk love burns like a flame, it just seemed to click with my toddler. make use of churches as concert and rehearsal venues. an important part of our work to build a sustainable I studied music at the University of York, and although I don’t have So now we get regular requests for ‘Totus ardeo’ and ‘Stetit The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) is a charity future by creating the next generation of skilled much chance to play anymore, I sometimes pull out my clarinet puella’, (from ‘Cupido’, another track from the same album) and which directly supports the provision of music in the musicians, our training is for all ages. There are to amuse my young daughter Alicia (mostly she likes pushing questions like, ‘is that lady going to sing?’ It’s far, far better than context of Christian worship within those churches. We workbooks and exams, and we are currently working buttons while I blow down it; in a similar vein she will ‘help’ her visiting ‘Old MacDonald’ for the millionth time! are not funded by the church, but are a membership to develop new apps and resources. If you are a choir mum play the violin). Before Alicia was born, my wife Laura and I Andy Potts organisation that works towards, ‘inspiring music trainer of any kind, our new manual for choir trainers is in worship’. In the UK we have some 4,000 affiliated well worth a read! We run a substantial publishing arm, churches and individual members, and some 8,000 which produces a range of high-quality resources. Much Choral music worldwide through our franchised international of it is choral, but there are other things, too – such as “...many of Leslie East, of the Association of British Choral Directors, gives an overview partners. We are proud of our choral heritage, and ready-to-go instrumental arrangements of well-known the people continue to support robed choirs, but our remit carols; and there is plenty of simpler material for small attending... Choral music – singing in groups – has been with us for encompasses a much broader range of styles and groups of singers as well as more advanced materials. centuries. But has it ever been more popular? The European forms of music. Most of our membership is from the Members get a discount in our online shop, and some are not Choral Association estimates that 37 million people in continental Church of England, but we work collaboratively with music is available to download free for members. The RSCM Europe are involved in ‘collective singing’. The Voices Now census all branches of the church. latest of our Festival Service Books includes a full range in 2017 suggested that there were 2.14 million in the UK singing We put on a range of activities, some centrally of online teaching support materials available at our members in over 40,000 choirs. organised (including courses for choirs, worship online shop: www.rscm.org.uk or in church In the UK we are blessed with an extraordinary choral tradition leaders and clergy) from small workshops We also offer advice and support to our members, – fostered by cathedrals and churches and long-established showing how to effectively use instruments and and help to bridge links between churches and their choirs, but choral societies. In the second half of the 20th century choirs unaccompanied voices in worship, to large choral local communities: RSCM Music Sunday is an example proliferated, encouraged by broadcasting, the recording industry want the Caritas Choir Photo: Member group festivals. Through our local area volunteers we also run of that. We are working hard to be the heart and home and a realisation on the part of the publishing business that hundreds more events across the country, from small of church music, and a voice for all those who give opportunity printed music provided a commercial opportunity if it could be new music from all eras. I’ve been fortunate to have been workshops to large choral festivals. All these are open their time and talents – often selflessly, and over a long ...to sing priced and marketed appropriately. This accessibility also led to a involved with commissioning some exceptional new works from to non-RSCM members. At a recent event in Cornwall, period of time – in dedicated service of church music. myriad of influences such as Gospel, Barbershop, popular music superb composers and have always welcomed the challenge of I was told that many of the people attending come and There is a huge need for our work, and resourcing it repertoire and the traditions of many who have made their home in our interpreting those pieces for the first time. In this respect, Anna sing events there are not RSCM members or in church all is a challenge. But challenge brings great fulfilment, et Nobis puer natus est like Gabriel country. And community choirs needing no scores and learning Meredith’s stands out as does Gabriel choirs, but want the opportunity to come and sing and I am genuinely proud to be at the helm of the by rote are appearing in abundance. Jackson’s Grace, written for the ABRSM staff choir. repertoire like Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem in the context of RSCM as we sail to a bright, hopeful future. Fauré’s Such choirs know the benefits of singing together, not Is there something the choral world needs? Well, the more an act of worship. accomplished our choir conductors become, the better. Training is Come and join us at an event, or as a member! Requiem” least for health and social interaction. As a regular singer and RSCM focuses particularly on lifelong skill conductor myself I also appreciate the opportunity to discover readily available, at all levels and for all types of interest. The better development, and our Voice for Life training rscm.org.uk the conductors, the better the choral experience. abcd.org.uk

20 Autumn 2019 HIGHNOTES Autumn 2019 HIGHNOTES 21 FROM OUR TEAM

DROP THE MIC If you have any software, hardware or performance tips you would like to share, email Where will your ensemble [email protected] be next summer? Monday 21 October 2019 at 7.30pm Finding the right music teacher Get away from it all…perform…have fun presented by The Tillett Trust What to think about to help you find the right fit

ABLETON: LEARNING MUSIC ROBERTO RUISI & Sten Heinoja TOBY WHITE & Marina Staneva RESOURCE violin & piano cello & piano Ableton is a music production Programme including works by Debussy, Delius, Enescu, Ireland, software company that develops Moeran and Strauss. software and hardware for music As part of its DEBUT scheme, the Tillett Trust offers promoters sponsorship creation and performance. Its towards the concert fees for these young musicians. For more details or to request complimentary tickets for the Wigmore concert on 21 October products are used by musicians, Freephone: 0800 496 4996 contact 0845 070 4969 | [email protected] sound designers, and artists. www.club-europe.co.uk/music-tours | [email protected] Ableton has created a free, interactive online music production www.thetilletttrust.org.uk For many of us, being a leisure-time performance opportunities, inspiration musician is not just about singing or for things to listen to, and music theory? learning course. No experience or playing, but also about finding ways • Where will lessons be held and how will equipment is necessary as the tool to improve our performance. Whether you get there? caters for all levels. Structured in you’re looking to restart lessons or try out eight chapters, and using a simple • How much would lessons cost, and something new, where do you start? grid system, it takes you through the what are the payment and cancellation Chrismas Finding the right instrumental or vocal basics of music production, giving terms? teacher is not simply a case of choosing you insight into beats, notes, scales, the person nearest to you with the most Above all, the most important thing is chords and basslines, through to concerts qualifications; you need to settle with to find someone who will be supportive melodies and song structure. It uses someone you get on with and trust to of what you want to achieve, whether that real examples along the way from help you achieve your potential. be Grade 1 next month, a diploma in 10 Bob Marley and Queen to Beyonce, made easy. It’s common for teachers to offer a free years, or simply to have fun while learning Daft Punk and Kraftwerk. something new. TryBooking is a flexible online consultation lesson, and it’s important to The course allows you to play Good places to look for instrumental booking solution that makes it talk through the practicalities of lessons around with and compare beats, as well as your goals before you commit teachers are (bearing in mind that some while experimenting with your own. quick and easy for you to sell ‘find a teacher/tutor’ websites charge you concert tickets online. to lessons in the long term. Think about Learn about the differences between these questions: a fee to access the contact information): dub, hip-hop, house, techno/trance, Highly customisable enabling you • Does the teacher have experience of • www.localmusicteacher.co.uk dubstep and drum and bass and create your own tracks. to set up seating plans for any shape teaching adult beginners? • www.musicteachers.co.uk If you’re feeling ambitious, you can or size of venue. Offer promotions, • Do they understand your goals and • www.firsttutors.com/uk graduate to the ‘Playground’ and seem willing to work towards them too? concessions, set early birds rates, • www.yourspacemusiclessons.com more advanced topics. take donations and cash payments. • How long and how often do you need • ISM: https://musicdirectory.ism.org Even if you have musical lessons to be in order for you to make • Your local music hub: www.artscouncil. knowledge, this is a simple learning One very low, all inclusive service progress? tool that’s fun to experiment with fee and a flat 15p booking fee. org.uk/music-education/music- • How much time can you dedicate to education-hubs and allows you to create your own FREE for Free Events. practicing and how long would the compositions. And don’t forget – you can always ask teacher expect you to practice for? Already tried Ableton’s resources around in your music group if anyone has Call us on 0333 344 3477 out? Let us know what you think: or visit www.trybooking.com • Can the teacher provide you with a any recommendations! rounded musical education, including [email protected]

Autumn 2019 HIGHNOTES 23 MEMBERS PREMIUM CORPORATE MEMBERS

Our corporate members play an important role in supporting leisure-time music. Member groups can use discounts and subsidies to save on everything from sheet music to booking artists and making recordings: makingmusic.org.uk/discounts READERS’ PAGE Got something to say? We’d love to hear from you: [email protected].

Creating tailor-made concert Making Music members are Audio and music technology BOOK REVIEW With a catalogue of over tours throughout the UK, eligible for a 15% discount products. Cubase is a popular So you want me to join the committee? Welcome to Choral Singing by 220,000 products, Hal Leonard Europe and further afield for on all services and help with sequencer (DAW) with schools represents many of the Every year it’s the same: at the AGM organisation, even if it’s a small one, so Derek Harrison all types of youth ensembles! every stage of your recording and professionals, while Dorico world’s best known and most the committee begs us to join them. you learn lots. Derek Harrison’s short guide, rayburntours.com project. 360music.org.uk is the future of scoring notation respected publishers, artists, But I can’t say they’re selling the idea – And could it be a fun thing to do? Welcome to Choral Singing: How software. steinberg.net songwriters, and arrangers. moaning about how much they do and I might be happy to help if I thought to survive and make progress in musicshopeurope.com how sick and tired they are of doing it! it would be social. How long are the choirs that use sheet music and Many of them have been doing it for meetings? Where are they? Do you get vocal scores, is invaluable to such decades, so even if they say they want to go to the pub afterwards and have a singers starting out on this journey. new people, would they actually accept laugh? It aims to break down some of the me or new suggestions? I don’t really know anything, not from jargon and help people navigate They never tell us what might be what they tell us at the AGM, anyway! sheet music in an engaging and non- Providing the world’s largest ACS offers a range of Provides a marketplace A clothing range that allows good about joining a committee, either! intimidating way. It opens by saying digital library of scores, parts attenuating earplugs that of high quality musical freedom of movement to play Anon that it is, “more about how to read and educational material in a reduce damaging frequencies at your best. Chic clothes in Recently I found out from a colleague arrangements of a wide a map and read road signs than it is rich, AI-driven, collaborative but still allow you to hear the range of titles and genres at a breathable, easy-care, crease who is the secretary of his local cricket about ‘reading music’”, reassuring environment. music. much lower individual price. resistant fabrics. club what that actually means, we were How long are the meetings? the reader that you don’t need to nkoda.com acscustom.com choircommunity.net blackdresscode.com just chatting over lunch, and I realised Where are they? Do you get something like that would be quite useful have a strong grasp on complex to put on my CV – might help me make to go to the pub afterwards music theory in order to be able to that step into management I’ve been and have a laugh? participate. thinking about. As a committee, I now The guide shares some useful understand, you’re basically running an “map reading tips” such as how voice parts are laid out on the Tutti connects musicians Events made easy - powerful A team of musicians who Charitable foundation page, what a bar looks like, where with all the space lying and easy to use software understand the musical providing courses for dormant in homes, studios, to sell tickets online with aspects of your tour and musicians of all abilities; rehearsal letters/numbers might be churches and more so that affordable pricing and will advise on repertoire, instrument loans; concerts Got a service to used, and what notes (“sound is required”) and rests (“where there you can rehearse in the local support that makes a acoustics and maximising and events venue; ‘stay and offer and want perfect space. difference. audiences. play’ B&B provision. are squiggles, keep quiet”) look tutti.space trybooking.com/uk club-europe.co.uk benslowmusic.org to reach over LEARNING like. There are useful suggestions 3,600 music for how you might mark your score, for example, with breath marks and groups and MADE EASY CORPORATE MEMBERS cue notes, and a simple explanation nearly 200,000 with of signs that might appear on the music makers Music Theory for all ages by Ying Ying Ng music, such as dynamics markings HAWES MUSIC PUBLISHING and repeat signs. across the UK? NEW Revised The language throughout Editions Become a corporate is refreshingly accessible and member of Making reassuring. This would be an Music and appear in excellent resource for choirs who Highnotes magazine, welcome new singers who perhaps get discounted don’t read music at all or haven’t for years, and who want to support advertising across all “…an integrated and remarkable series of theory workbooks…” Music Teacher Now Available! these singers to become more CORPORATE SUPPORTERS our channels, meet Poco Piano for Young Children by Ying Ying Ng confident in singing from sheet our members at our music, and to feel that they are truly free events and more: welcome in the choir. makingmusic.org. - Xenia Davies uk/corporate- Copies available from Tel: 01279 828960 | Fax: 01279 828961 membership Email: [email protected] | www.alfredUK.com [email protected] Alfred Publishing is distributed to the Music Trade throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland by FM Distribution Ltd

Autumn 2019 HIGHNOTES 25 FROM OUR TEAM Bad Ischl, Austria MAKING MUSIC PEOPLE April 29 – May 3, 2020 Interested in getting involved? Visit makingmusic.org.uk/volunteers

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT TH HOLLY MCELENY ANDREW RIXON 15 INTERNATIONAL ONLINE HEALTH CHECK VOLUNTEER TRUSTEE (NORTH WEST)

Why Making Music? CHOIR COMPETITION AND Congratulations on winning the Making Music President’s Award for I met Chief Executive of Making Music, your exceptional contribution to the life of the Barbara Eifler, about 18 months ago, and I decided organisation! How long have you been volunteering I would like to be involved. Having just retired from FESTIVAL BAD ISCHL with Making Music? the IT industry, I felt I could provide assistance on a Since January 2016 (I started as a Member Contact number of Making Music implementation projects, and Volunteer). it’s been great fun. It is a wonderful and passionate organisation, and I’m now delighted to have been What does your role involve? elected to its board. I complete Online Health Checks for Making Music member groups. This involves looking at their website What do you do when you’re not doing Making and social media channels to evaluate how inviting their Music Board-related activities? group is for new members. I then provide feedback to I have worked most recently for about 15 years as a groups via an online form. project and programme manager. I retired about three years ago. My wife Helen and I have just moved from What has been your most rewarding experience with Reading to Bethnal Green and we have acquired a Making Music so far and why? little dog. Our three children are all grown up but live When the Health Check role first started, I visited groups in London, so it’s very nice that they live close by. We to understand how a new member might feel when read, go to the theatre and the cinema, go to concerts, arriving for the first time. While visiting a local choir, I go for walks. had a chance to sing choral music that I hadn’t heard since I was at school - John Rutter’s For the beauty of Do you play an instrument or sing? How long have the earth. you been doing this? I have played the piano from six years old, and the What do you do when you’re not volunteering for guitar, viola and church organ since I was a teenager. I Making Music? took up playing the trumpet six years ago. I love musicals and in my free time I love performing and watching them. Up next – Come from Away and Which music groups are you a part of? Waitress the Musical – I can’t wait! By day, I work at Pangbourne Silver Band, 103rd Reading Wind Band, AQA as an Assessment Production Lead. Crystal Palace Brass Band, North London Sinfonia

Do you play an instrument or sing? Who is your favourite musician or composer (past I sing – mostly musical theatre – and have passed or present) and why? ABRSM Grade 5 in both Piano and Trombone. Leoš Janáček. My father took me to my first ever classical concert at the Royal Festival Hall. Magical. If you could invite three people, past or present, to dinner, who would they be and why? What’s your favourite piece of music or song? Janáček’s Sinfonietta. The orchestration calls for no Tim Minchin – I love his sharp witted comedy and he’s less than 14 trumpets! Early Bird deadline: Sep. 30, 2019 also written some of my favourite musicals. Lin Manuel- Miranda – Hamilton is also a favourite show of mine and Registration deadline: Dec. 9, 2019 I’d love to hear more about his life. Gloria Steinem – I’d love to talk with her about current events!

26 HIGHNOTES Autumn 2019 interkultur.com/badischl2020 MORE TIME FOR MUSIC

Dorico is the music notation software from Steinberg that saves you time. It is easy enough for anyone to learn, yet has hundreds of advanced notations, options and sounds to satisfy even the most demanding professionals. Dorico 3 is the brand-new version, packed with powerful new features designed to help you compose, arrange, or publish your music faster than ever. Segun Akinola – composer for Doctor Who – used Dorico to compose a new piece for studio orchestra, recorded live in London. He had never used Dorico before, but was able to produce a dazzling score in no time. Search YouTube for “Dorico Prelude” to hear the piece and Segun’s story. When you’re ready to make beautiful music faster than ever, visit our website to find out more and to download a fully-functional 30-day trial version of Dorico 3.

steinberg.net/dorico All specifications are subject to change without notice. Copyright © 2019 Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. All rights reserved. without notice. Copyright © 2019 Steinberg Media Technologies All specifications are subject to change