Free Music Technology lessons now available!

Free Music Technology lessons now available!

Free Music Technology lessons now available!

CMST is pleased to announce that free whole-class music technology lessons are now available for schools in Cornwall. Many schools have sets of iPads, which can be transformed into class bands, or become a school iPad Orchestra.

A term of free lessons (using iPads or PC music software) is a great way to spark the musical interest of youngsters, through performing live, recording compositions, and song-writing. For some, this can spark an interest in going on to learn an instrument. Others can continue with music technology lessons if they wish, just as they can with instrumental lessons. And for young people with special educational needs or disabilities, music technology gives ways to create an instrument suited to their individual needs and tastes.

CMST recently hosted Cornwall's "First Access" training, with lots of sharing of expertise (and plenty of musical games) to make whole-class instrumental learning a fun and fulfilling experience. And for the first time, the sounds of synths (and occasional dubstep) joined the throng!

First Access is the government-funded scheme giving every child the opportunity to learn a musical instrument in school. This is available free to all schools from Year 3 to Year 9, with funding from Cornwall Music Education Hub. CMST provides teachers across the county in all the instrument families (percussion, brass, strings, woodwind, keyboards, and music technology).

If your school is interested, do ask them to email office@cornwallmusicservicetrust.org for more information.

Cornwall Music Service Trust Pupil Of The Month - July Winner

Cornwall Music Service Trust Pupil Of The Month - July Winner

July 2017 PoTM.jpg

Congratulations go to Finn Ripley who has been awarded the CMST Pupil of The Month award for July, 2017.

Finn has been learning the drums for around 2.5 years, and has recently passed his Grade One Drum Kit with a high Merit. Andy Bilham (CMST Keyboard & Jazz Team Manager and percussion teacher) said “Finn got the practice bug about 9 months ago and, after the 100 Minute Practice Challenge was trialled at his school, really got the bit between his teeth.”

Andy continued to comment “Finn was completing a level (100 minutes of practice) every week, and successfully achieved the highest level 10, equating to 16.5 hours of practice, just before the end of his Year 6 at school.  10 Levels in 8 weeks!”

“Finn has been a great role model to the other 14 drum students at school, and has consolidated and moved on with his playing tremendously, performing excellently at the recent Music Gala evening at Porthleven School.  As he starts his studies at Helston School in September, he will be superbly equipped to take his drumming on and up with his new teacher.

Finn would be an excellent recipient of the PoTM for July, and as the first ever pupil in Cornwall to achieve Level 10 in the 100 Minute Challenge, richly deserves recognition for his hard work.”

Gareth Churcher, Head of Service for CMST, said “This is a well deserved award with Finn demonstrating real commitment and passion for his music making. Furthermore it’s great to see the teachers of CMST constantly looking at ways to inspire their young learners to practice and play more. Well done to Finn for being a worthy recipient and thanks to Andy for his innovation and new initiative, the 100 Minute Practice Challenge. ”

 

 

Cornwall Youth Brass Band welcomes new Musicians

Cornwall Youth Brass Band welcomes new Musicians

The 2017/2018 Season of the Band starts in September. Auditions for new musicians to join the Band will be held by arrangement in late August - early September.  

With up to eight monthly rehearsals and two 4 day Residential Courses from September until April each year, there are plenty of opportunities to make new friends and enjoy the benefit of working with local Tutors as well as National Guest Conductors and Soloists. As Guest Conductor at Christmas this year the CYBB welcomes back Dr Stephen Cobb, Bandmaster of The International Staff Band of The Salvation Army, along with his son Philip, Principal Trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra as Guest Soloist. Then at Easter we welcome Glynn Williams as Guest Conductor, with his wife Helen as Flugelhorn Guest Soloist, both of whom are members of the Number 1 Band in the world, The Cory Band.  

The chance to work closely with the best known and talented musicians from the brass band world can only improve the all round musicianship of the members, to the benefit of their Parent Bands, as well as their own development. 

Young brass and percussion players who are interested in joining this friendly Band can find all the details of membership and the simple audition on The Cornwall Youth Brass Band Web Site at www.cybb.co.uk

To arrange an Audition contact the Lead Conducting Tutor Darren Hawken, PGdip, BMus(hons), PGCE, dipABRSM, LRCM.
drhawken@hotmail.com  07817 504036

 

Open School Orchestras - Zakir's Journey

Open School Orchestras - Zakir's Journey

Each Open School Orchestra (OSO) expresses the unique personal journeys made by each of the players, and how they've developed as a group. Writing and performing music can be a powerful agent of change. The two OSOs at Pencalenick and Richard Lander have many individual stories of musical, social and emotional development over the year. This film gives an example - with some short clips showing Zakir's journey.

This project is run by Cornwall Music Service Trust, with funding from Cornwall Music Education Hub, and Youth Music. You can find out more about Open School Orchestras at:

http://openupmusic.org/oso/

Open School Orchestras - exploring new tonalities

Open School Orchestras - exploring new tonalities

As part of our evaluation of the Open School Orchestra (OSO) project, this film discusses how different scales and tonalities might increase the range of musical expression in music written by OSO students.

This project is run by Cornwall Music Service Trust, with funding from Cornwall Music Education Hub, and Youth Music. You can find out more about Open School Orchestras at:

http://openupmusic.org/oso/

Open School Orchestras - repertoire and creativity

Open School Orchestras - repertoire and creativity

As part of our evaluation of the Open School Orchestra (OSO) project, this film discusses how musical ideas might be shared between OSOs, whilst leaving room for creativity and ownership of the music-making.

This project is run by Cornwall Music Service Trust, with funding from Cornwall Music Education Hub, and Youth Music. You can find out more about Open School Orchestras at:

http://openupmusic.org/oso/

 

Learning from the Open School Orchestra pilot

Learning from the Open School Orchestra pilot

As part of the year-long Open School Orchestra (OSO) project for students with disabilities, CMST ran a pilot bringing GCSE music students to work alongside the OSO in some creative workshops. This film discusses what we've learned from the pilot, how this could feed into designing future projects, and what further benefits there could be from shared music-making between mainstream students and ARB units for students with special educational needs or disabilities.

This project is run by Cornwall Music Service Trust, with funding from Cornwall Music Education Hub, and Youth Music. You can find out more about Open School Orchestras at:

http://openupmusic.org/oso/

Creative Ensembles - an inclusive progression route

Creative Ensembles - an inclusive progression route

In our Open School Orchestra project for students with disabilities, it became apparent that some had a lot of ability and interest in music, and would enjoy developing their skills further outside of school. This film discusses how creative ensembles might address this need, provide inclusive progression routes, and bridge the gap between Open School Orchestras and the more advanced regional and national open youth orchestras.

This project is run by Cornwall Music Service Trust, with funding from Cornwall Music Education Hub, and Youth Music. You can find out more about Open School Orchestras at:

http://openupmusic.org/oso/

Gala Concert 2017 - extracts available!

Gala Concert 2017 - extracts available!

As we near the end of a successful academic year it is time to reflect on some of the achievements of the past 12 months. 

High on the list was our Annual Gala Concert which this year took place at Falmouth Methodist Church. 

Some audio recordings are available for you to hear on our SoundCloud page. 

Benefits of Open School Orchestra collaboration

Benefits of Open School Orchestra collaboration

A discussion around Open School Orchestras (OSOs) collaborating with mainstream students. As part of our OSO project for children with disabilities, we ran a small pilot bringing the OSO and a group of Year 10 GCSE students together at Richard Lander School, to create and perform music with Patrick Bailey. This film explores some of the benefits, musically and socially, of this way of approaching musical inclusion.

This project is run by Cornwall Music Service Trust, with funding from Cornwall Music Education Hub, and Youth Music. You can find out more about Open School Orchestras at:

http://openupmusic.org/oso/