Has your mum been wanting to learn the piano or thinking of looking for a teacher?
How about a course of piano lessons as a gift for Mother’s Day?
I can offer lessons at my home studio in Deeside on a Wednesday morning with the first four lessons for £40 so that she can try them out. Contact me for availability. (Offer running throughout April 2011)
Next Saturday 2nd April at All Saint’s Church, Hoole starting at 7:30, Chester Music Society Youth Choir will be presenting their Eastertide Concert.
They are pleased to welcome special guest choir, ‘Cantabile’ from Overleigh St. Mary’s Primary School. The programme will include popular anthems by John Rutter along with excerpts from Chilcott’s ‘Little Jazz Mass’ and Pergolesi ‘Stabat Mater’.
By way of a preview of an item in the concert, see the video below which was recorded while the choir were rehearsing on residential back in October 2010. This is an excerpt of one of the piece which will be performed on the night.
The last “Playing Together” concert at King’s School, Chester was very well attended. Thirty students performed duets, trios and ensembles which included a variety of other instruments including guitars, saxophones, flutes and a recorder.
Some hi-resolution photographs of the concert are available in a password-protected gallery. (Access details for this gallery will be emailed to parents directly) All proceeds from any sales of these photographs will go to the Kampala Music School Fund. Video clips are also available, (produced to order) of your child’s performance on DVD, memory stick or by digital download, price £5. Contact me if you are interested in one of these.
Excerpts from the “Playing Together” Concert
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Plans are already afoot for the next concert which is likely to take place on a Saturday morning in late June, 2011.
It has been really encouraging to see a lot of work going into piano duets this term in preparation for the next concert. There will be a mix of piano-based ensembles in the programme besides piano duets as I have tried to set up a group to perform from each of the schools in which I teach. Those students involved should have received an email and the music for your ensemble will soon be available on your noteflight studio account if you have not already got a sheet copy.
Some of the duets I have been using have been taken from Piano Time Jazz Duets Bk1. 
This book features duets in various styles from an energetic boogie to a moody blues and lively samba.
Others are from Easy Jazzin’ About by Pam Wedgewood which also take inspiration from blues, rock and jazz styles with “cool syncopation and funky riffs”.
I was so pleased with Alice and Emily’s work on their duet that I felt it had to be shared below as a preview for the “Playing Together” recital.
I can now confirm that the next Charity Piano Recital will be taking place on Saturday 19th March, 2011 starting at 11am in the Music School at The King’s School, Chester.
Following the usual presentations, the concert this term, themed “Playing Together” will feature only ensemble items, piano duets and accompaniments following requests and suggestions from previous concerts. Performers will be receiving invitation letters starting this week and it would be really helpful if the reply slips could be returned by half term at the latest.
Tickets cost £3 for adults, £1.50 for children and £1 for performers and proceeds will continue to provide lessons for Betina, a student at Kampala Music School. Tickets may be purchased using the paypal cart below or by request from Will Hay and will be printed at the start of next week.