February 2010
Hello and welcome back into the New Year. The first newsletter of this year begins by looking at endings!
In this newsletter we want to thank Jenny who asked the question, "What is a coda"
As ever we wish everyone well who is sitting an exam. Why do they call it sitting when you stand to play many instruments?
Instrument of the Month
The Flute
Smile now!!
The flute is a term for instruments where a sound is made by setting up a standing wave in a hollow tube. There are two ways of doing this: either blowing across a hole, such as in the concert flute and piccolo. (Sometimes across several holes such as in the panpipes) Or blowing into a channel or duct with a sharp edge such as in the recorder and flageolet: these are known as duct flutes.
For the physicists among you go to
www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/fluteacoustics.html#airjet
The earliest surviving example of a duct flute is from a cave in France which was used over 12,000 years ago.
The ocarina is also a type of flute but different to the others because it is not the length which determines how high or low the note sounds. But it is the ratio of total surface area to opened holes. Ocarina means ‘little goose’ but they are also sometimes called sweet potato because they often have that shape. They can be made of pottery and decorated ornately. You can even get nose ocarinas to play from your nose.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocarina
People made their own flutes from all sorts of things, including the bones of their enemies in ancient times. Animal horns were also used and an instrument made from a horn was called a gemshorn
The Chinese used bamboo to make instruments and these looked like early recorders.
The flageolet was a type of duct flute and was a folk instrument which is often seen now as a forerunner of the modern concert flute. Big improvements were made to the design by a German called Boehm who wanted to make a powerful flute that was still able to be played in tune. To learn more have a look at
www.standingstones.com/irflute2.html
The whistle is still played a lot by the Irish in folk music. Go to this site to hear some dances.
www.fingertrip.net/whistle/index.html
Word search
different types of flute
In this wordsearch different types of flute are hidden. Can you find them? All are mentioned in this newsletter.
To print the word search follow these instructions.
Right click on the word seach, save it to where you want it on your computer. You will then be able to resize it and print it off. Enjoy!!
Composer of the Month:
Joachim Quantz (1697 - 1773)
Joachim Quantz, a Baroque composer, was a professional 18th Century musician who started his career playing anything and everything. He became an oboist in the court orchestra in Dresden, Germany, but decided that he wanted to concentrate on the flute.
After travelling about Europe, he took a job in the court of Frederick the Great of Prussia. He had to teach Frederick to play the flute. He made flutes for him too, but unfortunately, Fred had a habit of giving them away to people he liked! That was fortunate for us because people looked after them, and some of them have ended up in museums.
Joachim Quantz wasn't only famous for his playing, and for his flute-making, though. He wrote a massive essay about playing the flute which made people regard him as the expert.
www.flutehistory.com/Players/Johann_Joachim_Quantz/index.php3
He wrote lots of music for the flute, though most of it hasn't been published. His sonatas and concertos would have been performed in the court of Frederick the Great.
You can read a bit more at
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantz
http://www.hoasm.org/XIB/Quantz.html
www.hoasm.org/XIB/Quantz.html
Hofnote at Music for Youth Conference
and a special offer for Hofnote students
one of the mini-metronomes for sale
Hofnote were at the Music for Youth Conference in Birmingham, UK during July where we heard some great music from bands and orchestras from around the UK.
There was a fantastic atmosphere in the auditorium, especially when the judges were reviewing the performances. The support from within the audience was great as each band was cheered and encouraged. It was easy to see why all the players got so much pleasure from playing.
The range of music and standard of playing was inspiring. You could always tell us about a band or orchestra you play in, for another newsletter. Send us a photo and tell us which musical pieces you like playing the best.
While Hofnote was there we were selling these fabulous mini-metronomes at a special price of only £10. We want to offer you the same great deal; and so if you would like one, email and let us know.
What is different and special about this metronome besides its nifty size is that as well as giving the beat,it also can be set to different rhytnm patterns which is great for building up a feel for rhythms such as dotted rhythms or triplets.
Extra activitites
Taking part in a musical.
Nick as a rapper
Hi,
I'm Nick and want to tell you about the time when I acted in a musical during the school holidays.
I played the part of a rap artist and had a great time. It was very hard to learn all the words so quickly as we only had 2 weeks from meeting each other to the final show which we perfomed on stage in front of a live audience.
The show was great with a lot of very lively and upbeat music in it. My favourite words were
"I'm Leon C
With a capiltal L,
Don't you give me no trouble,
Don't you ring my bell
My rap is bad
So bad is good
I'm the baddest rap around here,
Understood!!"
I had to get a real attitude for the part (not really like me at all) but at the end I had made lots of new friends and I know the show was great with all the lights and costumes. We even got onto the front cover of the magazine that goes out in our city.
This is a link to the article about us
http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/hullinprint/archive/octnov2003/bumper_summer_for.php
CHAMBER MUSIC COURSES- in the North of Scotland
A CELEBRATION of MOZART
Please contact the course organiser, Marjorie Downward, of BILLERBECK for full details of the course
CHAMBER MUSIC COURSES- A CELEBRATION of MOZART
22nd October - 27th October 2006 in Hopeman, Moray, Scotland.
http://www.billerbeckoboereeds.co.uk
Ensemble Coaches -
Stephen West - studied at the Royal College of Music in London. He has given masterclasses, solo recitals and played with most of the major orchestras in the UK. From 1986-2005, he was principal cor anglais & oboe player with the RSNO from 1986-2005. Stephen teaches at the RSAMD in both the Junior & Senior departments where his reponsiblilties include coaching chamber and symphonic music, performances classes and lecturing on the techniques of woodwind teaching.
During the holidays, Stephen often coaches the National Children's Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. He is also an experienced examiner, adjudicator and competition jury member.
Stephen is married to Fiona, a violist in the RSNO and they have four children.
Lesley Wilson - spent twenty-seven years as principal bassoonist of the Scottish National Orchestra (now the RSNO). She appears in recitals, chamber music and orchestral concerts, and teaches in schools, the University of Aberdeen, the Aberdeen City Music School, the North-East of Scotland Music School, and the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland. She also plays the baroque oboe in both Belgium and Scotland, and is invited to give
occasional seminars at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Guest lecturer - Alan Senior
A playing opportunity for adults of grade 7+ wind players/grade 8+ pianists.
Limited places are available for the following instruments:
4 oboists 4 clarinettists (Bb & A) 4 Fr. Horns (F/Eb) 4 Bassoonists 2 Pianists.
I know a lot of you took music exams in June or July. It is really good to hear from you and to hear how you got on. Matthew wrote this to us about his exam. Where else do you sit exams? How do you prepare and avoid getting too nervous? If you have any stories or tips for others then please let us know. Send them to info@hofnote.co.uk and we will try to include them in other newsletters.
On 12th July 2006, I went to Bury St Edmunds and took my Grade 1 singing exam. My mum played the piano for me. The exam was in a church, and the examiner was very nice. I don’t know how I did yet, but taking the exam was fun
Matthew aged 7
Violinists go to String Workshop.
Thanks go to one of our registered teachers for this report on a string workshop
On Saturday, 17th June, five violinists from Form 2 went to a String Workshop. This was for children up to Grade 1 standard who rehearsed for a couple of hours and then gave a short concert. About 40 children took part. This is what the children told me about it:
""There were thousands of people there … people with ‘cellos and people with violins."
""The music wasn’t too hard and if you were stuck, you put your hand up. There were older boys who helped. We played “East Coast Express”, “Hoedown” and “Pease Pudding Hot”. “Let’s chase the Squirrel” wasn’t my favourite. I think the “Hoedown” was because it was easy. All you had to play was “GGG, DDD, AAA, EEE” .. that was the first line."
Once, we got to the end of a piece, but someone went on playing because he didn’t quite know where he was. It was a good thing it was in the practice and not the concert."
"We had a break and there were Kit-Kats and squash. There was a nice little playground to play in outside. I made some new friends there."
"We did a concert at the end. It was great. I loved it! Did you put my name down for it? Thank you!"
