Many rhythms in music notation can be played correctly with a certain food pronounced in your head.
For example:
Crotchet = Tea
A pair of quavers = Coff-ee or Bis-cuit
X3 Triplets = Sat-ur-day (okay this one isn’t food but you get the idea)
X4 Semi-quavers = Wa-ter-me-lon
Quaver followed by X2 semi-quavers = Blue-be-rry
etc…..
There are loads more – but make your own up or use these and get that hard rhythm correct!
Neil.
Too many students play on reeds that are broken or just worn out. A reed only has a certain shelf life once used for the first time – think of them as yogurts in the fridge.
Also, you may occasionally come across a new reed that just doesn’t perform. It doesn’t happen too much these days – yet if you get a new reed out of the box and it plays horrible – please throw it out. Don’t stay on a bad reed just because you bought it.
Neil.
In response to me saying about donating new unused reeds of a strength you won’t use anymore – Big thanks to Ian Stubbs for donating about 20 reeds to the pool of reeds I use for students wishing to experiment with a new sound.
Again all of these reeds are new (in case anyone is wondering), but all saxophonists and clarinetists go up in hardness/thickness and strength of reed and donating the reeds that are new and you won’t use is very kind – so thanks in particular to Ian.
Keep them coming in.
Neil.
Jazz band members:
Gigs so far for this year are as follows:
June 3rd (TBC) – Glossop Flower Festival – Ian’s Church as venue. Monies from tickets to go to charity of our choice. 1 hour of jazz music needed.
July (TBC) Buxton Music Festival – Farouk is helping with this one. We will be a supporting act if we are accepted in and will play for around 20 minutes.
December – Saturday 22nd – Charity Christmas Fundraiser Gig. Supermarket venue.
A lot of to be confirmed gigs but all looking very likely and good fun.
Please pop dates in diary.
Thanks, Neil.
Hi all,
Jazz band practices for the next few months are as follows:
Last Sunday of each month: 3-4:30PM.
January 29th
February 26th
March 25th
April 29th
Hope to see you all there.
Neil.
A quick well done to all who played in jazz band this last Sunday!
We raised £123.32 – Thanks everyone & Merry Christmas!
Neil.
Hi,
To all clarinet and saxophone students, please do let me have any reeds that you haven’t used and aren’t planning too. I have a little bank of reeds (all new), that I give out to any student if they need a reed – such as in a first lesson or for when they fancy trying a different reed alongside my recommendation.
Basically if you go up a strength/thickness in reeds and have a couple left – please do pass them on to me, as another student will certainly make use of them.
Thanks,
Neil.
Congratulations must go to the following for passing exams taken this winter 2011 with ABRSM:
Donna Thompson – Saxophone Grade I – Distinction
Sarah Brighton – Theory Grade V – Merit
Anna Bett – Saxophone Grade IV – Merit
Simon Waterson – Clarinet Grade III – Pass
Neil.