Remeber remember...

PRACTICE LESSON NOTEBOOKS

If I don't remember to write things down they get forgotten. This is why, many long years ago when I was teaching woodwind to a wonderful bunch of little girls, it seemed like a good idea to make notebooks for them.

The books were small, and fitted into most instrument cases, so didn't get forgotten.

For each lesson they have a space for
Scales
Studies
Pieces
Special points to remember

They acted as a reminder to the teacher to fill them in
and to check the following week that the work had been done.

Some of them are now out of print, but a few are still available.
Younger pupils particularly love them.

E37a Flute Lesson Notebook
E37b Oboe Lesson Notebook
E37d Bassoon Lesson Notebook
E37e Saxophone Lesson Notebook
E37g Piano Lesson Notebook
E37h Violin Lesson Notebook (yes we even did violin ones!)
E37j Recorder Lesson Notebook
£2.50 each

Uncle Ernie...

Ernest Read CBE 1879 - 1965

A biography of this dear man can be found on Wikipedia, for those of you too young to remember him. He was the first person who instilled in me my lifelong love of orchestras. 

For a few brief years my family scraped together enough cash to send me to Queenswood School, near Hatfield in Hertfordshire. They were extremely happy years, and I loved being at a boarding school, set within woods in peaceful countryside, larking about with a load of other girls.

The school had a strong musical tradition, and Ernest Read was our Director of Music. Being near London meant that he could bring distinguished musicians to perform for us, and give us occasional lessons.

On Thursday afternoons it was ORCHESTRA. I would sit in the second violins, hating the sound I made, but loving the experience of orchestral playing under his baton. He would sometimes come down from his rostrum and lean over me, whispering 'smile!' as I always looked so serious. He showed us how to conduct 2/4 with one hand and 3/4 with the other, and of course how to conduct 5/4. He also demonstrated how to count bars in your head, and on your fingers, while discussing the latest football results with your neighbour. He was full of fun.

For the school choir he arranged the entire Messiah for four-part female voices, so that we could sing it at Christmas. There were also exciting coach outings to The Central Hall, Westminster, where groups of us would attend the Ernest Read Children's Concerts. A huge London orchestra, playing short themes, and illustrating the sound of their instruments to the delight of us youngsters, before performing the complete works. There were always lots of jokes of course.

It was on an Ernest Read Summer School course at our school that I first heard a bunch of bassoons playing. From that moment the violin was set aside, and my life changed for ever.

Thank you, Uncle Ernie!

Queenswood School, and the school song he composed for us.

https://www.queenswood.org/news/dedication-of-the-ernest-read-hall/

Huddersfield Saxophone Day

Seventh Annual Saxophone Day
University of Huddersfield - 8th March 2020

 

Directed by Sarah Markham, the University of Huddersfield Saxophone Day is in its seventh year. The day will focus on the saxophone from its inception to modern day. This will include talks, recitals and playing opportunities encompassing repertoire from across its history.

Composer Charlotte Harding and saxophonist Amy Green present their lecture recital: 'Over 100 Years of Women and the Saxophone’. The lecture highlights the involvement of women on the development of the saxophone and its music. This event is supported by the Centre for Music, Culture and Identity (CMCI)

There will be opportunities to play in the Saxophone Day Orchestra, participate in workshops throughout the day, and learn about technical developments and history from industry specialists.

Tickets £20, with reductions for saxophone groups of 4 or more people, and teachers who bring 3 or more students go free. Students and children free.

 

Tickets and further information:

 

http://sarahmarkham.co.uk/Annual/

 

 

 

UK Shipping Rates

When we launched our new website in 2017 we also announced that shipping would be free of charge on all UK orders. We have been very happy to be able to offer this to our customers, but it has become apparent that we cannot sustain this amazing offer.

It is with some considerable reluctance that we have decided to impose a modest flat rate shipping charge of £1.95 on all UK orders from 1st January 2020.

We have kept the cost to you as low as we possibly can and hope that you can understand why we had to make this particular decision.

Thank you for your continued custom - you have no idea just how much you are appreciated!

June Emerson Wind Music

Last Posting Dates - Christmas 2019

To ensure you don't miss the last post before Christmas,
these are the December deadlines that Royal Mail have issued:

INTERNATIONAL

(Applies to all international airmail services)

Monday 9th December:

Africa, Asia, Caribbean, 
Central & South America, Far & Middle East

Tuesday 10th December:

Cyprus & Malta

Wednesday 11th December:

Eastern Europe
(except Czech Republic, Poland & Slovakia)
Thursday 12th December:

Australia, Greece, New Zealand & Turkey

Friday 13th December:

Canada, Czech Republic, Finland,
Italy, Poland, Sweden & USA

Monday 16th December:

Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland,

Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia,
Spain & Switzerland
Wednesday 18th December:
Belgium, France, Ireland & Luxembourg

UK

Friday 20th December:

Royal Mail First Class
&
Royal Mail Special Delivery
(delivery on Monday 23rd December)

Christmas Closing Dates

Our office will close at 5pm on Friday 20th December 2019
and will re-open at 9am on Thursday 2nd January 2020.
All orders placed online during that period will be despatched as soon as possible.
If your order is particularly urgent, please let us know and
we will prioritise despatch for Thursday if at all possible.

The ocean is a mighty harmonist... Wordsworth

NORTH YORK MOORS CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
9 - 22 August 2020

                                 

Now entering its 12th year, the next festival will celebrate Beethoven (the ‘revolutionary’) and beyond, as we enter the great composer’s 250th anniversary. Living through the French Revolution undoubtedly had a profound effect on many artists and as we explore Beethoven’s life and influences (both received and passed on), we delve into the 1848 German Revolution and Russian Revolution, the Revolution of the Great Wars - and indeed the Industrial Revolution.

The North York Moors Chamber Music Festival celebrates great music through friendship, sharing, the landscape, history and architecture - taking audiences on a journey throughout the North York Moors National Park, stirring the musical spirit within us all.  Over 30 musicians, 2 weeks, 10 churches, around 40 chamber works all create a friendly and passionate environment within one of this country's most spectacular regions. As we don’t make a habit of advertising, please do join our emailing list for updates and news of extra concerts outside of the festival throughout the year.

The festival takes you on a tour through and much of the National Park and along the spectacular Jurassic coastline.  We are incredibly fortunate to have these extraordinary historic buildings, some which date back to the Anglo-Saxons.  In a sense the concert begins the moment you set out to travel over the moors to your destination - the landscape is very much part of the artistic experience.

Everyone is welcome - music is for all!

All tickets £12.50 Children and any adult under 30 - free admission

https://www.northyorkmoorsfestival.com/

Photograph: Paul Ingram

Grade Five, then what?.

Grade Five - then what?

When a student passes the landmark of Grade 5 we thought it would be a good time to offer them the experience being a soloist. This was the thinking behind a phone call I made to Alan Ridout. He was a man who loved to write for actual performances, and spent a lot of time encouraging musical youngsters.

The result of a long and riotous conversation, which puzzled the people in my office at the time, was a delicious series of Concertinos. Each piece could be played with piano, but was also scored for strings, so that the player could have a first taste of performing with a small orchestra (or string quartet.)

Once he had started he kept going, completing Concertinos for:

Flute

Oboe

Cor Anglais

Clarinet

Saxophone

Bassoon

Horn

Trumpet

Flugel Horn

Trombone

Tuba

Bassoon

Several of these have been on exam syllabuses over the years, but not everybody is aware that there are string parts available for performance. If you have a student who would benefit from a bit of stage experience, please give them this opportunity.

https://www.juneemersonwindmusic.com/search_advanced_ss.php?mode=advs&adv_q=ridout%20concertino