Drumming up a beat

James Vanderhel, 2011 Scholarship concert

One of the most popular choices at Mitchell Conservatorium is percussion. Did you know that percussionists have over 600 instruments to hit, scrape or shake?

There's a lot more to being a percussionist than playing a drum kit, though that might be what we first think of when we use the word.

In this clip on ABC Central West's website, Mitchell Conservatorium teacher, Jamie Briton shows his wizardry on the tympani, which are drums played in a symphony orchestra.

Time for a windfall?

windfall, noun

1 an apple or other fruit blown down from a tree or bush by the wind.
2 a large amount of money that is won or received unexpectedly
3 dynamic ensemble of wind instruments, sometimes also including a piano

Mitchell Conservatorium has not gone into greengrocery and has not become a bank, with free samples for everyone, but next month, we do have a windfall for you.

The group members are
Jocelyn Edey-Fazzone (flute)
Teléna Routh (oboe)
Carol Coomber (clarinet)
John Cran (bassoon)
Graham Nichols (french horn)
and
Julia Brimo (piano)

You can expect to hear music from the Baroque and Classical eras, but also music that was written this century. These soundfiles demonstrate the kind of music that the group performs. I wonder if they will play any of those particular pieces for us?

Windfall is coming to Bathurst to perform at Mitchell Conservatorium at 7.30 PM, on Friday, 28th October. And at 10 AM on the following Saturday, they are providing a masterclass for wind players. This is an opportunity to get expert advice, whether you come to perform or listen to others get taken through their paces.

Please contact Mitchell Conservatorium on 6331 6622 or come into our office in the West Wing of the Court House, in Russell St to book tickets for the masterclass and concert.

Gil Sullivan

Gil Sullivan: Mozart K498a First Movement from David Banbury on Vimeo.

On Saturday 22 October 2011, distinguished Australian pianist, Gil Sullivan will play some delightful piano music at Mitchell Conservatorium in Russell St, Bathurst at 7.30 PM

The program will include works by Liszt, whose bicentenary we are celebrating this year, Mozart and Tristram Cary.

Mr Sullivan's previous concert in Bathurst a few years ago was warmly received. i particularly enjoyed the Polly Fillers by Tristram Cary.

You can order your tickets, during office hours, Monday to Friday, by ringing 6331 6622

Putting your toe in the water

Do you rush straight into the surf? Or do you walk in gingerly and only put a bit of you in at a time, until you have adjusted to the temperature of the water?

How would you like to be able to do it gradually with your Piano exams? The new AMEB P Plate Piano exams allow you to do just that.

There are three terrific full colour books of interesting pieces to choose from, but you only have to play three pieces in your exam. This can include a duet with your teacher, parent or friend, too.

You can take Mum along with you if you'd like.

There are no other requirements. No scales, no sight-reading, no general knowledge or aural requirements.

And every student receives a written report and an attractive colour certificate.

Will Schoenmaker

We think Will Schoenmaker is Mitchell Conservatorium's first P Plate Piano graduate, but please give us a shout if you got there before him!

Tara Chan is a talented pianist and violinist. She has already been awarded an Australian Music Examinations Board A Mus A diploma, and is currently working towards her licentiate L Mus A diploma, and is not yet 16 years of age.

Tara enjoys playing violin with fellow violinist Chloe McCormick, violist and pianist, Ailie McGarity and cellist,Nicola Ball in the delightful Bella Forte string quartet.

On Sunday, 28th August, 2011, Tara will perform her L Mus A program in a 12.30 PM concert in The Orchard Room at Mitchell Conservatorium. The concert is free of charge and includes J S Bach's Prelude and Fugue in G Minor, from his Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, Mozart's Sonata in A Minor, K.310, Chopin Prelude in C# Minor, op 10 no 4 and Prokofiev's one movement A Minor Sonata.

A splended time is guaranteed for all.

The one thing better than one guitar ...

Peter and Marion Constant

... is Two Guitars, according to Frederic Chopin.

And on Sunday, 14th August, 2011, at 3 PM you can prove this for yourself at a concert at Mitchell Conservatorium, in the west wing of Bathurst Court House, in Russell St.

Peter Constant learnt guitar through Mitchell Conservatorium in the 80s, as a student at St Stanislaus College (Stannies). He later joined Guitar Trek, Canberra's terrific ensemble, modelled on the string quartet.

In this clip, Peter plays a bass classical guitar, while Marion plays an octave guitar, crafted by Australian luthier, Graham Caldersmith.

Bach's well-known Bourrée in E Minor inspired Paul McCartney's song Blackbird, featured on The Beatles white double album.



Watching videos on Youtube is enjoyable, but is a pale reflection of a live music concert. And Mitchell Conservatorium's Orchard Room is a great intimate venue for live musical performances.

See you there!

Do all children have the ability to be musical?

When I was an HSC Music Examiner, I once went round Newcastle high schools with Anne Clipsham, who was teaching at Kambala, a Sydney K to 12 girls' school.

She made an interesting comment about our ability to be musical. She didn't believe people who said they were tone deaf, and pointed out that in her many years teaching at the school there had been only one girl who hadn't learnt to sing tunefully. "And she," said Anne, "began in Year Seven." She was confident that if this one student had begun earlier, she too would have sung beautifully.

In her interesting article Unlocking Kids' Musical Gifts, Fiona Baker says that everyone can enjoy music, but that lessons need to be geared towards what people want to learn.

When she was a girl, she had her heart set on singing and playing The House of The Rising Sun like Joan Baez, but instead her guitar teacher insisted on her learning Spanish and classical style guitar, which she deeply resented and which turned her off.

You won't find that attitude at Mitchell Conservatorium. We certainly have many students learning to play classical piano and taking music exams, but many others are playing and singing a wide range of musical styles. They are encouraged to develop their musicianship in areas of interest to them (and also gently prodded to increase their enjoyment of Music by exploring styles they are not yet familiar with).

The article also shares insights from Amanda Niland, who coordinates Macquarie University's Institute of Early Childhood Music . Ms Niland believes that

... a love of Music is inherent.
We can start to love music before we're born. Humans are hard-wired to be able to process music. A musical instinct is in all of us.

Everyone has the ability to be musical and love music. It's highly likely that those people who say they're not talented musically just weren't exposed to music early enough.

She says that the best music to expose children to is their parents' own singing voices.

Singing to children gives them an ear for music from an early age. Hearing their mum sing relaxes them, entertains them and makes them happy.

Singing traditional lullabies and nursery rhymes to babies and infants has been described as "an essential precursor to later educational success and emotional wellbeing."

Learning to love Music can begin before birth (someone once said that the best age to begin is 9 months before the birth of the mother!) and can be developed by enrolling your child in our Early Childhood Music classes.

You can find out more by phoning 6331 6622 between 10 AM and 5 PM, Monday to Friday, or by coming along to the conservatorium in the west wing of the Bathurst Court House in Russell St.

This blog is one year old today. Happy birthday MitCon blog.