Will Hay

Tag: newsletter

  • Piano Exam Times – November 2011

    Exam times for the forthcoming sessions are below. All the times have now been posted. The venue is Stanley Palace, Watergate Street, Chester. Times are as follows:

    (Saturday 10th December, 2011)

    DANIEL 11:30am
    SHEA 11:42am
    RUTH 11:54am
    MATTEA 12:06pm
    AMELIA 12:26pm
    BETH 12:46pm

    (Thursday 15th December, 2011)

    DOMINIC 9:30am

    Please try to arrive at least 10 minutes before your allotted time.

    Best of luck in your exams!

    I can confirm that the next concert will take place at All Saint’s Church, Hoole starting at 11am  on Saturday 3rd December 2011 and will last no more than an hour. Tickets will be on sale £3/adult. £1/child in aid of Kampala Music School. Contact me for more details

    The concert will include a ‘multimedia spectacular’ with audience participation featuring  this song so make sure that you can sing the chorus!

  • Events Newsletter – Autumn 2011

    I used to produce a paper newsletter featuring the dates for forthcoming piano exams and concerts along with other important information however this has now been superseded by the e-newsletter facility on the blog to which all of my students should be subscribed . It also gives me the opportunity to draw your attention to other professional activities in which I am currently engaged. I can heartily recommend the forthcoming Fauré Requiem performed in the Quire at Chester Cathedral by the cathedral choir. As a member of the choir, this is one of the highlights of the year, singing the requiem in the correct liturgical context and is a great chance to hear a delightful  performance of a well known choral treasure! (see the video clip below)
    I will post more precise details of exam times as soon as they are available. In your lessons this half term, I will be introducing some Christmas repertoire as I am planning that the recital this term might have a decidedly christmassy theme as well as audience participation and multimedia participation from the Chester Music Society Youth Choir! More information about the concert will be posted a little nearer the time…

    Below are some important dates for your diary:
    30th October – 1830: Fauré Requiem – Chester Cathedral Choir, Chester Cathedral
    2nd November – 1700: ABRSM Theory Exam – Bishop’s High School
    6th November – 1900: NES Songs of Praise, Parkgate URC
     1st December – Autumn Leaves Compositions Due
    2nd December – 1800: St. Oswald’s PTA Christmas Fair, Mollington
    3rd December – 1100: Christmas Charity Recital, All Saint’s Church, Hoole
    10th December – ABRSM Exams at Stanley Palace
    10th December – 1930: CMSYC and Preludes Christmas Concert
    13th December – Last lessons for the term at St. Oswald’s, Mollington
    14th December – Last lessons for the term at Chester Catholic High
    15th December – LCM exams at Stanley Palace
    16th December – 1930: NES Christmas Concert, St. Winifride’s, Neston
    17th December – 1930: NES Christmas Concert, Parkgate URC, Neston
    21st December – End of Piano Teaching Term
    24th December – 1500: Nine Lessons and Carols – Chester Cathedral Choir

    This video clip from a couple of years ago shows a movement of the Requiem being performed in the Cathedral Choir Christmas Concert. The Requiem in it’s entirety will be performed in a more intimate setting in the quire of Chester Cathedral on 30th October at 1830. Admission free!

  • 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.

    [powerpress feed=”vodcast”]

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

     

  • “Share one, Comment two” week

    Noteflight Studio

    Now that the pressure of exams is relaxing for many students I am encouraging everybody to explore composing more. The Noteflight Studio is such a powerful tool and I would ask all my students to share at least one of their compositions (enabling commenting) even if it is still a work in progress.

    Browsing the scores which other students have shared is a good way to get ideas of what might be possible in your own compositions. Try to add useful comments as this aids your own critical thinking as well as helping the person whose score you have just viewed, even if it’s only just “dropping by” and telling them that you enjoyed listening to it.

    The new features in version 2.5 including MIDI input and video/audio sync really add value to the resource. See the example below from the last concert.

    Tickertape