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Sea Idylls Composition Project 2012

Will Hay — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:27:18 +0000

The composition project this term has a nautical theme. Students must compose a backing track to the associated video which is 1 minute and 21 seconds in length. A template score has been provided in Noteflight which already has the correct number of empty bars laid out for each section. Providing the tempo remains unchanged and the number and position of bars are left as they are then notes input onto this score should fit in with the video.

The piece must be in rondo form, taking as the three themes, the poetic ideas of “Waves”, “Pebbles & Shells” and “Lighhouses”. The closing date for completion of the project is 24th March, 2012 which is a week before the next concert.

(Please note that at this stage it is not possible to hear the notes composed AND playback the video within noteflight, it has to be one or the other. If you open the video in a seperate browser window to the one in which you are running noteflight then it is almost possible to synchronise the two!)

Students taking piano and keyboard lessons in school will have been organised into groups to work on this project in their own time with tutorial guidance during lessons.

More information about the project along with links to some more sample scores have been posted on my noteflight forum

Grade 1 – Piano Exam

Will Hay — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:00:38 +0000

(Updated Jan 2012)
ABRSM Grade 1 Exam – The vital statistics: The current entry fee (2012) is £33.50. The next exam period is 27th February – 31st March and the closing date for entries to these exams is Friday 20th January

The next in my vodcast series on piano exams. In this video, watch Amelia sit her Grade 1 piano exam. This time, not one of my videos, ABRSM have staged an example of a Grade 1 piano exam which is a great way to give candidates an idea of what it is like to sit the exam. If only Stanley Palace, the venue used for the Chester exams was able to offer a wonderful grand piano as in this video! At least you can expect the same professional, supportive attitude from any of the ABRSM examiners, though the papers on their desk might not always be quite so beautifully aligned.

ABRSM: Grade 1 Piano Exam Video

Concert raises funds as Autumn Leaves fall

Will Hay — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:50:57 +0000

The Autumn Leaves project has now concluded and a number of students have taken part. The completed videos can be found on the playlist below and have also been shared on the Noteflight Studio. A particularly interesting contribution came from Justus, who is our new bursary student at Kampala Music School.

Justus’ and Maya’s videos were played back at the recent “Playing Together” concert along with some great performances from my students. Certificates presented at the concert included a Distinction in Grade 1 Theory for Ruth along with a number of merits for piano exams. For quite a number of my students, it was the first time they had performed in a concert and one trio even played a piece they had put together themselves.

The concert raised another £130 towards the bursary fund which this year has already provided a Zoom Q3HD Handy Video/Audio Recorder for use at Kampala Music School. This fund will also continue to provide piano lessons for Justus at the school. I have put together a “Concert Moments” video below featuring a few of the performances. Credit must go to David Woods for the excellent still images used.

AUTUMN LEAVES PLAYLIST

“CONCERT MOMENTS” VIDEO

Christmas Charity Concert – 3rd December 2011

Will Hay — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:01:19 +0000

Preparations have been underway in earnest for the Christmas Concert this term which will take place at All Saint’s Church, Hoole on Saturday 3rd December, 2011 starting at 11am. The programme will feature seasonal solos and duets and I hope to conclude with a bit of audience participation!

Tickets are £3/adult and £1/child and can be purchased either directly from Will Hay or via paypal below.

Funds raised from the concert tickets will continue to support a lesson bursary for a student at Kampala Music School, Uganda

The student in question is no longer Betina as she has been too busy with the pressure of school work to continue her studies on the violin, however the bursary fund has been transferred to a new student called Justus. I hope to be able to furnish you with more details in the programme at the forthcoming concert.

Piano Exam Times – November 2011

Will Hay — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:00:37 +0000

Exam times for the forthcoming sessions are below. All the times have now been posted. The venue is Stanley Palace, Watergate Street, Chester. Times are as follows:

(Saturday 10th December, 2011)

DANIEL 11:30am
SHEA 11:42am
RUTH 11:54am
MATTEA 12:06pm
AMELIA 12:26pm
BETH 12:46pm

(Thursday 15th December, 2011)

DOMINIC 9:30am

Please try to arrive at least 10 minutes before your allotted time.

Best of luck in your exams!

I can confirm that the next concert will take place at All Saint’s Church, Hoole starting at 11am on Saturday 3rd December 2011 and will last no more than an hour. Tickets will be on sale £3/adult. £1/child in aid of Kampala Music School. Contact me for more details

The concert will include a ‘multimedia spectacular’ with audience participation featuring this song so make sure that you can sing the chorus!