Huntingdonshire Music School Association

In addition to the practical examinations (Grade 1 to Grade 8 .. and beyond for diplomas) the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music also provides graded music theory examinations. In order to progress to Grade 6 and beyond on an instrument you need to have first passed at least Grade 5 theory. At the Huntingdonshire Music School we run theory classes at all grades and past theory papers are useful in getting students ready to take the examination (at the end of the Autumn, Spring and Summer terms). Up to now we’ve relied on teachers marking papers to provide an indication of progress and providing help. It looks as though some additional help is to be provided from the ABRSM by providing specimen (model) answers to papers.

From the ABRSM:

NEW Theory Model Answers

Each January, ABRSM Publishing produces volumes of the theory papers used in the previous year’s Associated Board theory of music exams at grades 1 to 8.

In January 2007, theory of music exam papers from 2006 will be published, four papers per grade at grades 1 to 8, offering excellent practice material for exam candidates.

Due to customer demand, Answer Books will be available for the first time. The answer books will be published in January 2007 and correspond to the 2006 exam papers at grades 1 to 5.

The model answers given in these books provide a list of answers where appropriate, and for questions where the answer can be expressed in a variety of ways, a selection of likely options is given; for questions where a composition-style answer is required, a single exemplar is given.

Theory Papers and Model Answers offer a helpful and practical resource for students and teachers preparing for Associated Board theory of music exams.

Further information from:

Debbie Butler
ABRSM Publishing
24 Portland Place
London W1B 1LU
tel: +44 (0)20 7467 8272
email: dbutler@abrsm.ac.uk
www.abrsmpublishing.com

Spotted in The Metro (free paper) on the commute this morning:

Germans Wee in Brass Instruments

Thursday, May 7, 2009

A drinker is bold as brass as he spends a penny - into a tenor horn.
The unusual urinals at a pub in Freiburg, south Germany, were put in by landlord Martin Hartmann.

‘Most people see the funny side but we’ve had a few complaints from musicians,’ he said

Some of us are old enough to remember some of the fine polished brass in management urinals but they were never like this! You have to feel sorry for the instruments. Not that they aren’t being put to use but it does seem a shame to spend the end of your days being the butt of this sort of treatment. I suppose it’s lucky there weren’t any spare tubas lying around.

Probably time to start thinking of some appropriate musical terms or expressions or indeed time signatures ... ‘P-major’ springs to mind and ‘pp’ has a whole new meaning!

During 2007 the BBC ran a series (Play It Again) following the fortunes of 6 adult celebrities as they took on the challenge of learning a new instrument and then performing in public. The BBC also laid on events all over the country giving the public the opportunity to play with a BBC orchestra no matter what level of musical ability or, as we found out, the instrument!

Some of the adults and teenagers from the Huntingdonshire Music School took part in the event at Comberton (see photo) and had a brilliant time. Some of us missed this opportunity because we were busy promoting the school at the accompanying exhibition and instead took part at the event at the Watford Colosseum. The recordings taken formed the basis of a couple of episodes of the HUMS Aloud podcast.

All in all a brilliant opportunity and very inspirational.

The BBC have been very good at keeping in contact with attendees and we’ve received an email stating that another Play It Again style event, their Fabulous Family Music Day, will be held at Watford on Saturday 20th June 2009. It also features the very same Tim Steiner who did such a good job encouraging a motley collection of musicians and all abilities to play alongside their professional counterparts in the BBC Concert Orchestra.

As the BBC say:

Come & Play 10am - 1pm

Members of the BBC Singers

BBC Concert Orchestra

Tim Steiner animateur

Christopher Warren-Green conductor

This free event is aimed at people who would like to, literally, Come & Play with professional musicians. So whether you’re an absolute beginner, a seasoned performer or just haven’t played in a while, there’s no need to worry because you’ll get lots of help from the BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Singers. Dust down your instruments, loosen up those vocal chords and come and join the BBC Concert Orchestra for a morning of music-making.

Led by composer Tim Steiner and conductor Christopher Warren-Green, we will be creating our very own piece based on Bizet’s much-loved opera Carmen. Open to everyone, no matter what your musical ability or experience.

If you have an instrument, you can bring it along to play, and if you haven’t, then you can play the percussion instruments provided or sing. The sessions will be led by acclaimed musician and composer Tim Steiner.

Further information and ticket applications can be found on the BBC website.