William Hay » Reviews

Raindrops develop from CDE beginnings

Will — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:48:10 +0000

Many of my students will recollect the “CDE song” as one of the first pieces I taught them on the piano. The song is actually published in “Music Lessons Have Begun, by Leila Fletcher” which was a tutor book I learned from myself as a child, yes it was published that long ago! I don’t use the whole publication as I feel that Pauline Hall’s “Oxford Piano Method” series is visually more user friendly and enticing, though much of Leila’s musical content is very catchy.

“CDE song” was the first piece Oliver learned nearly four years ago and the noteflight arrangement below is his latest piece of work which pays homage to this early experience. This is the second time his work has been featured on my website but the first time in his own notation. See African Elephant

I hope that seeing this will encourage my other students who are using noteflight to experiment with their ideas and share their creative work!

Music Reading Games

Will — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:37:58 +0000

This week I am taking a look at some of the free music learning resources available on the internet. I have recently been using Jayde Musica with my students. Whilst it would be nice to have midi integration in this game so that you can play the notes on an attached midi keyboard rather than just typing the letter on the keyboard, the game has already aroused interest amongst my students.

Because of the way it works, it is testing typing skills as well as note naming skills but it is still a valuable freely available resource. The addition of tenor and alto clefs mean that it is good practise for pianists studying for grade 5 theory who need to get a bit of experience at reading these clefs and otherwise wouldn’t get the chance.

Music Match (below) looks quite interesting though once you have worked out the note it is also testing ICT co-ordination besides piano skills.

Music Match

Click here to play this game

Snowflakes (SATB Christmas Carol with piano accompaniment) by Graeme Hopson

Will — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:29:40 +0000

Having worked with this carol for 12 weeks, I have grown to really like it as have members of my choir, the Neston Ecumenical Singers.

The words are by the American, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The composition came about late in 2008 as a result of an annual competition organised by The Longfellow Chorus promoting the poetry of their founder. Graeme Hopson, the composer of this setting was a finalist in the competition with this work.

The score is available direct from the composer or from SibeliusMusic.com

The snowfall motif in the piano accompaniment delicately flutters throughout the snowflakes’ journey described in the lyrics until the ‘troubled sky reveals the grief it feels’. The harmony takes an anguished turn at this point as the heart rate of the choir members increases whilst the parts get a little more challenging to pitch! Effervescent tranquillity returns along with the carefree snowflake motif as the third verse draws to a close with whispered revelations to wood and field.

The Ashgrove (SATB, piano accompaniment)

Will — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:00:42 +0000

Originally arranged for the Waverton Singers’ April concert in 2006, I have just produced an mp3 of this popular welsh folksong to accompany the score on Choralwiki., which is also available for free on Sibelius Music

The Ash Grove

Streetpianos – A municipal piano for your neighbourhood

Will — Sun, 31 May 2009 09:13:07 +0000

What a wonderful idea. Birmingham, Sao Paulo, Sydney and now Bury St. Edmunds have all been the lucky recipients of a number of pianos installed in various public places to encourage artistic expression and communication. I am sure they must have encouraged many reticent pianists to come out of the woodwork.

Following a recent visit to the streetpianos of Bury St. Edmunds I have uploaded photos and videos of them below. I was quite suprised how well some of the instruments had stood up to the elements and exposure to the public.

[[Show as slideshow]]

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