Tuesday 30 September 2008

NEW MEMBERS AND OLD FRIENDS

Two new members, Catriona and Lorna were on a steep learning curve this morning with the beaters and the instruments, while old friends Moira Perritt and Sheila Gardner revived after a long absence, what they learned last year.
At any rate, the scales went with a swing and the beaters were bouncing.
After that, a group took the xylophones next door to practise their parts for Angus McTavish, while the rest of us concentrated on the drum part -- tricky but satisfying when mastered and also fun.
Great to see the cafe opened again after the summer break. It does us good to go upstairs for a coffee & chat halfway through the session.

Tuesday 23 September 2008

OUR FIRST 'PERFORMANCE'

After loosening up the joints to Fats Waller's stride piano and warming up the hands to the whistling of the German group 'Haindling', we warmed up the voices with some scales, by which time we ready to attack with gusto 'I need a waiter, with some water' _ a round which really gets up the energy rate.
On a totally different tack, we then learned and sang Banuwa _ a short African round with rich harmonies. Adding a clap in a cross rhythm took a bit of getting used to, but was effective when everyone picked it up.
After coffee, we continued with Orff's arrangement "Old Angus McTavish" _the song in 2 parts, bells and 2 drums + whistle. Next week we'll add xylophones.
We received surprise visits this morning from 2 groups of new starts from Milngavie Primary on a tour of the Community Centre. It seemed they got a bigger surprise than us, seeing and hearing all our instruments.
It was a joy to have them along and hear their thoughts about playing instruments and enjoying music.

Tuesday 16 September 2008

A CONCENTRATED SESSION

It mattered not a jot that the rain poured down past the window this morning, since all eighteen of us were firmly focused on the musical activities, the opening one of which was moving to the wonderful long 7 beat metre of Bobby McFerrin's Circle-song Seven and the plentiful laughter generated during this started the process of warming up our voices.

Building on our practice last week with White Swans and Senjua, we sang and played them on our instruments, the hand movements becoming ever more confident and secure. Our voices sounded good too in the 3 part round.

After the coffee, we made a start on Old Angus McTavish a delightful and exciting arrangement by Carl Orff of this Scots rhyme, singing the four verses and learning the 2 part harmony.

Carol and Joan gave us a steady drive on the drums, Sheila added texture with the sleigh bells, while Kate on the bass xylophone kept the pitch secure. Jim's short phrases on the whistle completed the score for today.

Next week we'll add more xylophones!!!!

Tuesday 9 September 2008

THE NEW SEASON STARTS.

We were sixteen making an energetic start to this new session.
After warming up, loosening the joints and finding that good posture, to instrumental music, flute, harp and pipes by the Whistlebinkies, in 8 beat metre, we moved on to listening and moving to beautiful voice music in 7 beat metre by Bobby McFerrin & Co._ quite a different "feel" and very unusual to our ears. Interesting to discover how a rhythm that seems unnatural at the outset can begin to feel settled and comfortable as the music progresses.
White Swans sung as a round, sounded good and composed as it is from downward scales, is a good instrumental exercise. Transferring the tune on to instruments and playing them in a 3- part round allowed us to make a complete piece in the form, instrumental - song - instrumental.
SENJUA, the African song of welcome, we sang in 3 -part harmony and similarly transferred our voice parts to the instruments.
After many repeats, it began to sound good.
The break was noisy and congenial _ there was much catching up to do after the long summer holiday.
We look forward to more happy music making and socialising next week.