Will Hay

Category: Podcasts

  • Concert raises funds as Autumn Leaves fall


    The Autumn Leaves project has now concluded and a number of students have taken part. The completed videos can be found on the playlist below and have also been shared on the Noteflight Studio. A particularly interesting contribution came from Justus, who is our new bursary student at Kampala Music School.

    Justus’ and Maya’s videos were played back at the recent “Playing Together” concert along with some great performances from my students. Certificates presented at the concert included a Distinction in Grade 1 Theory for Ruth along with a number of merits for piano exams. For quite a number of my students, it was the first time they had performed in a concert and one trio even played a piece they had put together themselves.

    The concert raised another £130 towards the bursary fund which this year has already provided a Zoom Q3HD Handy Video/Audio Recorder for use at Kampala Music School. This fund will also continue to provide piano lessons for Justus at the school. I have put together a “Concert Moments” video below featuring a few of the performances. Credit must go to David Woods for the excellent still images used.

     AUTUMN LEAVES PLAYLIST

    “CONCERT MOMENTS” VIDEO

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  • Three years later – Making Progress

    One of the joys of being a piano teacher is being able to appreciate the progress your students have made from the effort they have put in to their studies. I would like to share some of the progress that three students have made since they were last featured on my blog three years ago.

    In the early podcast episode, Louise, Sophie and Ruth played their favourite pieces from the ABRSM Prep Test syllabus. Three years down the line they have kindly agreed to share their favourite Grade 3 pieces in the video clip. As Ruth points out in the video, it is only by setting yourself challenges and striving towards your goals that you are able to achieve them.

  • Summer Newsletter 2011

    Now that the summer term has wound down, it’s a good chance to review some of the activities which have taken place. I was pleased to receive a great set of exam results last week which included six merits and a distinction. “Share one, comment two” week  has increased active participation on the Noteflight Studio. Why not take the opportunity to do some composing over the summer holidays? I am planning to have another composition competition in the Autumn Term, so watch this space for details!

    The TWO concerts this term were well attended and offered a wide variety of performances from piano solos and duets to ensembles and choirs. One of my piano students was even brave enough to sing a solo. We welcomed the Chester Music Society Youth Choir and Preludes at “Ludus Cantiones” with their conductors Helena Thomas and Katie Wilkes. Proceeds from ticket sales raised another £200 towards Betina’s Bursary fund. Unfortunately, Betina wasn’t able to take her Grade 1 exam this session but hopes to continue her violin studies in September and maybe take it next time. Feedback would still be welcome on the “Ludus Cantiones” concert held on 25th June.

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    Have a great summer and don’t forget to keep practising.

     

  • The importance of scales

    There’s little chance of escaping the fact that scales aren’t the most exciting thing to practice, especially when you have a piano exam coming up in the next few weeks.  However they are the building blocks of much music and being able to play them fluently is fundamental in the ability to play any instrument.

    My students have been incorporating “musical curve” into their scale technique. Playing duet scales helps focus on the rhythm with some lovely arrangements  in “Get Ready for Major Scale Duets”

    This collaborative performance of Twinkle Twinkle Little C from the book demonstrates some of the “musical curve” technique they have been exploring. With thanks to Amelia, Kathleen, Lauren, Beth, Mattea, Shea, Alice, Emily, Grace, Ruth, Felicity, Izzie, Emma, Kirsten, Jacob, Oliver and Sylvia for their contributions to the video.

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    Scales are also a useful tool to experiment with in composition. This 12 bar work by Beryl looks at the relationship between relative major and minor scale.
    “Major and Minor Creativity” by Beryl

    Why not have a go at making your own composition using scales? Log in to your noteflight account to get started.

  • Concert of duets raises £260 for Music School

    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.