Wednesday 31 October 2012

WE PICK UP THE BEATERS AGAIN.

After a period of concentrating on singing, we spent some time a few weeks ago finding out how members feel about using our instruments.
While the majority enjoy singing best, we have a core group who are keen to continue and improve their ensemble playing on the xylophones and the other instruments and they now meet at 9.30am giving 45 minutes to learning new pieces.
This makes a big difference and we are now up and running on an exciting Orff piece, improving fast week by week.

Thursday 25 October 2012

SIX WEEKS ON


Our group started back on the 11th of September in good heart and good voice. We've polished up some harmonies, Alison Burns's arrangement of TEN THOUSAND MILES and THIS ROOM with the short text, May we fill this room with joy and harmony.

We displayed some singing stamina on Tuesday the 2nd October when AMY LORD, Traditional Song graduate of RSAMD, (now The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) who leads workshops around Scotland as well as various choral groups, spent the day with our group. We learned wonderful songs, AND SAE WILL WE YET, SALLY GARDENS and some traditional rounds. Anne Hunter's team in the Community Centre cafe pushed the boat out for us, providing an excellent lunch which was also an opportunity for informal musical chat.

Tuesday. 23rd October.

HEY UNGUA is an African song, good to sing as call and response but also fun with each person singing a phrase in turn, round the circle. It depends on everyone being alert as well as anticipating their particular part of the song. Following on from each other when there's such a variety of voice qualities and registers is a challenge often resulting in hilarity but everyone has a go so that  the song becomes a confidence builder and after that we were ready to concentrate on the harmony parts for our songs.
The small number of keen instrument players are meeting earlier in the morning and they are enjoying the chance of a longer time to practise separately from the singing group.