Woodwind

Breathe through your mouth not your nose.

Neil — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:07:57 +0000

A really small tip, but breathe through your mouth. It is far quicker and can be quieter. You have more control of the air volume that is coming in your body with your mouth.

Neil.

Saxophones – check sticky pads

Neil — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:23:51 +0000

Hi all,

Always check for pads that are sticking.Doing this before playing will save that embarrassing moment when a note comes out incorrect!

The suspect ones to check are G#, low C# and the Bis keywork.

Neil.

Jazz Band – New Venue Monthly.

Neil — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:47:50 +0000

Hi all,

Jazz band is changing venue from my home to Old Glossop (Derbyshire) church. This is all good news as the band is growing in size plus the addition of drums means we now require a more acoustic venue.

This starts from this month. I’ll send address of the church round this weekend to all current jazz band members. New members all welcome on any jazz instrument – please ask me for details.

Thanks.

Food Rhythms – ok here goes…

Neil — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:45:25 +0000

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.

Reeds – Don’t attach yourself to them…

Neil — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:39:08 +0000

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.

A Thank you

Neil — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:32:10 +0000

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 2012 Gigs line-up

Neil — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:18:01 +0000

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.

Jazz Band Practice Dates Spring 2012

Neil — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:07:20 +0000

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.

Happy New Year!

Neil — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:58:19 +0000

A happy new year to all students!!

Charity Gig – Jazz Band Christmas 2011

Neil — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:36:21 +0000

A quick well done to all who played in jazz band this last Sunday!

We raised £123.32 – Thanks everyone & Merry Christmas!

Neil.